Castlebar: Art, History and Walking Routes

Castlebar offers art, local history and walking routes for different interests during your stay. Specific places to visit include an arts centre, historic churches and memorials, and routes along the Castlebar River and at Lough Lannagh.

Art and History in Castlebar

The Linenhall is an arts centre in Castlebar. Its programme includes theatre, music, dance, visual arts, film and workshops for children and adults of all ages; it serves people in Mayo and beyond. The original Linen Hall was built by Lord Lucan in 1790. As Castlebar’s principal landowner, he established a collection point for the flax grown and linen made in the region.

Christ Church Castlebar on the Mall was built in 1739 and renovated between 1800 and 1828. It is one of the town’s most significant historic monuments. Visitors can explore Castlebar’s history from 1590 to 1914 through its many memorial plaques. The Old Methodist Church is also one of Castlebar’s oldest buildings. It was built in the neo-Romanesque style; John Wesley blessed its foundation stone in 1785.

The Mayo Memorial Peace Park commemorates the men and women from Mayo who fell in the First and Second World Wars of the last century. The park’s memorials complement the town’s art and architectural heritage.

Routes along the River and at Lough Lannagh

The Castlebar Network of the Great Western Greenway is an easy, 7.3-kilometre linear walking route from Castlebar Town Park to the Museum of Country Life in Turlough. The route follows the Castlebar River through riverside scenery, open countryside and native woodland. It can be used for walking and cycling. The Mall is Castlebar’s town park, located in the heart of the town.

A different type of route runs at Lough Lannagh: the 1.9-kilometre circular path goes around the eastern part of the lake. A distinctive bridge crosses the lake on the Westport side. This gives you a choice between a linear route to the museum and a circular lakeside walk, without conflating their lengths or routes.

Discover County Mayo

Near Castlebar is the National Museum of Ireland at Turlough Park, where Victorian and contemporary architecture come together. Inside the museum, objects, rare archival photographs and films convey Ireland’s rural past. In County Mayo, the museum offers workshops, talks and guided tours year-round. A daily bus service connects the museum at Turlough Park with Castlebar and Ballina; Route 454 is operated by Mayo Local Link. Check the timetable before travelling.

Indoor Activities and Getting There

Mayo Leisure Point is an indoor entertainment park in Castlebar with activities for the whole family. These include a cinema, spa, bowling, an Adventureland for children, snooker, pool and laser games. The cinema complex has seven screens and digital surround sound; the venue also has accessible facilities. Activities and facilities may change, so it is worth checking what is currently available before visiting.

Castlebar is accessible by train via Irish Rail. Together with the bus service to Turlough, this information provides a starting point for planning your stay around the art, history and routes that matter to you.

Discover more destinations: Achill Sound, Sheean, Toormakeady, Kilsallagh, Charlestown, Crossmolina, Cornaroya, Bunnacurry.

For the wider travel overview: County Mayo.