Westport, County Mayo: The Alluring Gem of Ireland

Updated On: April 08, 2024 by   ConnollyCove

When people think of visiting Ireland, they usually travel to its capital, Dublin. However, it is mainly in the smaller towns that people will experience the warmth of Irish culture and heritage. One such small town is Westport in County Mayo, which has also been voted the best place to live in Ireland.

The ever-vibrant and lively Westport (even amidst the winter season) is located on Ireland’s west coast and is considered County Mayo’s nightlife hub. Its central location makes it even more convenient and enjoyable to tour around and explore. The town was designed in Georgian Style with tree-lined streets, riverside walkways, and great vibes. There’s plenty to see and do around Westport, and we’re here to help you.

Quick Facts about Westport

• This town was almost entirely designed and planned in 1780 by an English architect named James Wyatt, who also finished the Westport House. Westport is one of the very few planned towns in Ireland.
• With a population of just 6198 (Census 2016), Westport has over 100 active community and volunteer groups. In 2012, the town won the Irish Times competition for the “Best Place to Live in Ireland”. Westport won this title after being pitted against 500 other cities around Ireland. (By the way, it is hilariously adorable that Ireland has a contest for the tidiest towns.)

Westport is home to Grace O’Malley, the Pirate Queen. In the 16th century, she was the chieftain of the O’Malley clan and has become a significant figure in Irish Culture and history. Nowadays, there’s a lot of folklore attached to her, and for those interested in the history of Ireland, this area has many fascinating places to see.

Westport is a 3-hour drive from Dublin. You can also take the train or a bus from Dublin or almost anywhere else in Ireland.

What to pack: The temperatures in Westport vary greatly each season, but even in summer, it can be cold (like how it is in most of Ireland). Always consider having a light down jacket, warm socks, waterproof outer layer, rain jacket, and hiking boots. If you visit in winter, you’ll want to bring heavy-duty layers.

What to Do in Westport

Walking by The Carrowbeg River

Westport has whatever it takes to make it look aesthetically pleasing. The streets are perfectly designed; the shops, cafes, and pubs are colourfully dotted and delightful.

Walking near the centre of town, you will notice the gentle Carrowbeg River that cuts through it. Stunning bridges are on top of the river decorated with plants and flowers. The banks of the river are called The Mall, and there are benches everywhere to sit and enjoy the Westport scenery.

Visiting Achill Island

No trip to Westport and Mayo would be complete without a visit to Achill Island. The island was first inhabited almost 5,000 years ago and is the largest of all islands off the coast of Ireland. A bridge can access it. It’s only one hour away from the centre of Westport.

The island offers spectacular views from the top and rewards its visitors with equally spectacular beaches. Keem Bay and Keel Beach are perhaps the most popular and most astonishing.

Achill Island is a paradise for lovers of all outdoor pursuits and water sports. Popular water sports on Achill Island include swimming, windsurfing, kite surfing, kayaking and canoeing. Moreover, Achill Island also has Europe’s third-highest sea cliffs on the northern slope of Croaghaun Mountain—just another thing to gaze at.

To add to its awesomeness, County Mayo organises The Achill Seafood Festival. The festival is held in mid-summer, around July, and offers the best delicious gourmet seafood in Ireland, with plenty of restaurants and pubs participating.

Snorkelling at Keem Bay

Keem Bay is one of the most picturesque bays in Ireland. It is where the postcard photos from Achill Island come from. It is accessible by road over a steep clifftop route on the side of Croaghaun Mountain. Keem Bay is almost uninhabited (the only building there is a former coastguard station), and it’s a peaceful retreat. You will feel as if you were transferred to some exotic country.

Keem Bay is very popular for water sports, and there are surfing schools in the local area. The beach is lifeguarded during the bathing season, and more information can be found on the notice boards.

The bay has a strong connection with fishing. It was the location for much of Achill’s shark fishing industry during the 1950s and 1960s. At that time, the basking shark was a frequent visitor to the waters around Keem Bay and was hunted for its liver oil. Much of this fishing took place in currachs, the traditional canvas-covered wooden vessels of the west of Ireland.

Visiting Westport House and Pirate Adventure Park

Marked as “the loveliest historic house in Ireland”, Westport House is the city’s biggest tourist attraction. The House combines a heritage home museum, amusement park, campground, and train ride. It dates back to the 18th century, and it is privately owned and operated by Jeremy Browne (The 11th Marquess of Sligo) and his family, who are direct descendants of Grace O’Malley, the famous 16th-century pirate queen.

What’s breathtaking about Westport House is the beauty and simplicity of the architecture. There is a lawn that surrounds this Georgian mansion, and there’s also a lake on the other side. Walking along the lake and looking back, you will see a total reflection of Westport House in the water.

It still contains dungeons reputed to have belonged to Grace O’Malley. But history hasn’t encompassed it — the estate continues to evolve, offering camping, a pirate adventure park and adventure activities like zorbing.

Getting into the Atlantic at Old Head

Old Head is a fascinating small beach 16 kilometres west of Westport on Louisburgh Road. It has a little something for everyone: a vast area of sand, rock pools to explore, a nearby ice cream shop, and incredible views of Croagh Patrick. It’s also a tasty spot for budding snorkelers.

Old Head is one of the only sites on the coast that represents the rapid and perpetual development of Atlantic oakwood.

Enjoying the Fabulous Food

If you enjoy seafood, you’ll have a good time in Westport, a coastal town. Mark your food interests around fresh mussels, hake fish, Dexter beef, soda bread, and traditional Irish seafood chowder.

Indeed, Westport hasn’t quite hit the heights of Kinsale or Dingle when it comes to food; if you know where to eat, then you’re in for a treat. An award-winning restaurant like An Port Mór and Knockranny House Hotel are sound bets for an evening out, and the Westport Food Festival is a cracker.

Cycling The Great Western Greenway

Who would’ve thought that a 42km cycling trail linking Westport and Achill along an old railway line would be one of the great success stories of 21st-century Irish tourism? Who would’ve thought that a simple, off-road cycling and walking trail would prove popular with visitors, inspire a gourmet food trail spin-off, and provide the model for fledgeling greenways nationwide?

An ancient and unused train line from Westport to Achill Island has been converted into the Great Western Greenway — an incredible cycling path leading through some of Ireland’s most ruggedly beautiful countryside. You will pass by coastline, mountains, bogs, rivers, and villages once you hit the road on this very well-planned cycle path.

The trail is impressive. There are a few small stretches on the road, but otherwise, the vast majority is off-road, and you really feel away from everything in some parts. You don’t have to make as much physical effort as walking but enjoy all its benefits. Besides, it keeps you fit.

Cycling is an integral part of Westport’s culture and is encouraged. The town is small enough, so it is easy to cover it by cycling around. You can rent a bicycle from the Clew Bay Bike Hire in the main town. It’s a delightful experience.

Going on top of Croagh Patrick

Climbing Croagh Patrick isn’t just a hike but a pilgrimage for some. Croagh Patrick is considered Ireland’s “holiest mountain” mainly because of its Patrician Pilgrimage in honour of Saint Patrick, Ireland’s patron saint. In 441 AD, Saint Patrick climbed the mountain’s summit and fasted there for 40 days of penance.

Ireland’s Holiest Mountain sits on the south side of Clew Bay. It is worth noting that the summit offers tremendous panoramic views of the landscape of County Mayo. The hike is just under half a kilometre and, on average, takes about 2 hours to climb up and one and a half hours to descend.

Regarding the pub at the foot of the reek, fitness to climb the mountain is irrelevant. Whether you stop in for a pint and a chat with the pilgrims or a cup of tea or hot chocolate while browsing cabinets laid out like shrines to a bygone Ireland (check the rosary beads, Infants of Prague and photos of JFK and Jackie), it’s a beautiful little burst of atmosphere. The nearby Murrisk Tavern is a better food bet, mind you.

Sightseeing at Clew Bay and Kayaking

Another fun thing to do at Westport is sea kayaking in Clew Bay. Clew Bay has 365 islands (!), and paddling among them with the fascinating backdrop of Croagh Patrick is an experience you must have whether you are into kayaking or not. You can rent a kayak at Clew Bay Bike Hire and be sure there isn’t a more serene way to spend a few hours in Westport.

Clew Bay is one of the most gorgeous bays on the whole west coast of Ireland. The bay is surrounded by dominant mountains on both sides and is full of small islands called “Drumlins.” These Drumlins were created as glaciers from the last ice age 10,000 years ago melted and retreated, leaving small sand and shale islands. If you’ve ever wanted to own your island, this could be an excellent place to look. John Lennon even owned one in the 1970s.

A Wholly Different Town

Westport is ideally located for those who want to explore the gems and wonders of Ireland’s west side. There are so many sights and places of interest in the surrounding area that it would be impossible not to witness them while walking through the alluring streets of the city.

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