History & Culture in County Mayo
The village of Cong is situated along County Mayo’s border with County Galway. The village is one of the most beautiful and picturesque villages in Ireland. It is well known as the film location for John Ford’s film The Quiet Man. It is also the place where the great Irish writer Oscar Wilde spent a lot of his time. Cong Abbey is a historic site in Cong, the ruins of this former Augustinian abbey date back to the 13th century and have been described as featuring some of the finest examples of medieval ecclesiastical architecture in Ireland.
Cong Abbey
Ballintubber Abbey stands one mile off the main Castlebar – Galway road, just seven miles outside the town. Founded in 1216 by Cathal Crovderg O’Connor, it is an important sacred Irish historical site which celebrates its 800 year anniversary in 2016.
Croagh Patrick is perhaps one of the most famous ancient historical sites in County Mayo. Patrick’s sacred mountain. Croagh Patrick is situated five miles from Westport, with the mountain’s conical shape soaring majestically above the surrounding countryside and Lough Lannagh.
The Céide Fields are the oldest known field systems in the world, over five and a half millennia old. It is a unique Neolithic landscape of world importance. Visit the multi-award winning Centre, which has exhibitions, audio-visual show and tearooms and take a guided tour with thier professional guides.
Finding your Irish roots in County Mayo
Tracing your family roots has never been easier with access to various records. You can now trace your ancestors online through The National Library of Ireland (NLI) who hold a web-repository of Catholic parish records, dating back from the 1740s to the 1880s. Also search County Mayo records on Roots Ireland Mayo. Another good resource is The South Mayo Family Research Centre which is situated in Ballinrobe, a short drive from Turin Castle. The centre specialises in the production of individually researched family history by professional genealogical researchers.
Lough Corrib Cruises
Spend the afternoon on Lough Corrib and visit Inchagoill Island, of all the 365 islands on Lough Corrib Inchagoill is the most famous and most visited. Corrib Cruises is a family run passenger boat service on Lough Corrib, County Galway, Ireland, operated by brothers Patrick and David Luskin. They offer a variety of different cruises on this beautiful lake to suit everyone.
Contact: Corrib Cruises
Kylemore Abbey
Take a drive to Kylemore Abbey and visit the large walled Victorian Gardens. The gardends are open to the public for tours and ‘nature’ walks. This Benedictine monastery was founded in 1920 on the grounds of Kylemore Castle, in Connamara. The abbey was founded for Benedictine Nuns who fled Belgium in World War I.
Contact : Kylemore Abbey
Rachel’s Irish Adventures
Rachel can take you on a bespoke adventure anywhere throughout Mayo or Sligo and beyond. Starting by welcoming you into the heart of her native North Mayo, she will bring you with her on an exhilarating outdoor experience through the wonderful landscapes of the Wild Atlantic Way.
Contact: Rachel’s Irish Adventures
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