Westport, County Mayo: Difference between revisions
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* The [[N5 road (Ireland)|N5]] [[roads in Ireland|national primary route]] also connects the town to Castlebar, as well as connecting to the [[N4 road (Ireland)|N4]] near [[Longford]] that leads onward to Dublin. The other major road passing through Westport is the [[N59 road|N59]] secondary route, which rambles around the West of Ireland both to the north and south of the town. |
* The [[N5 road (Ireland)|N5]] [[roads in Ireland|national primary route]] also connects the town to Castlebar, as well as connecting to the [[N4 road (Ireland)|N4]] near [[Longford]] that leads onward to Dublin. The other major road passing through Westport is the [[N59 road|N59]] secondary route, which rambles around the West of Ireland both to the north and south of the town. |
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===Air=== |
===Air=== |
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* The regional airports are [[Ireland West Airport Knock]], 60 km (36 miles) away with Scheduled flights departing daily to the [[United Kingdom]] |
* The regional airports are [[Ireland West Airport Knock]], 60 km (36 miles) away with Scheduled flights departing daily to the [[United Kingdom]] and [[Galway Airport]], with daily flights to the rest of the nation, [[France]], and the [[United Kingdom]]. |
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==People== |
==People== |
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Revision as of 20:00, 17 October 2009
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2009) |
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1821 | 4,326 | — |
| 1831 | 4,448 | +2.8% |
| 1841 | 4,365 | −1.9% |
| 1851 | 4,114 | −5.8% |
| 1861 | 3,819 | −7.2% |
| 1871 | 4,417 | +15.7% |
| 1881 | 4,469 | +1.2% |
| 1891 | 4,070 | −8.9% |
| 1901 | 3,892 | −4.4% |
| 1911 | 3,674 | −5.6% |
| 1926 | 3,488 | −5.1% |
| 1936 | 3,409 | −2.3% |
| 1946 | 3,240 | −5.0% |
| 1951 | 3,104 | −4.2% |
| 1956 | 2,947 | −5.1% |
| 1961 | 2,882 | −2.2% |
| 1966 | 2,927 | +1.6% |
| 1971 | 3,023 | +3.3% |
| 1981 | 3,378 | +11.7% |
| 1986 | 3,456 | +2.3% |
| 1991 | 3,688 | +6.7% |
| 1996 | 4,520 | +22.6% |
| 2002 | 5,634 | +24.6% |
| 2006 | 5,475 | −2.8% |
| [1][2][3][4][5] | ||
Westport, historically known as Cahernamart[6] (Irish: Cathair na Mart), is a town in County Mayo, Ireland. It is situated on the west coast of Ireland, at the south-east corner of Clew Bay, an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean. Westport has a gracious town centre in the Georgian architectural style, as one of the few planned towns in the country (by James Wyatt in 1780). The planning of the town was commissioned by Lord Sligo of the stately home, Westport House, as a place for his workers and tenants to live. Among the picturesque features of the town are its tree-lined, flower decorated, promenade (The Mall) and several stone bridges over the river Carrow Beg.
The famous pilgrimage mountain of Croagh Patrick, known locally as "the Reek" lies some 10 km west of the town near the villages of Murrisk and Lecanvey. The mountain presents a striking backdrop to the town. The church on the summit can just be made out with the naked eye from Westport.
Westport has won the Irish Tidy Towns Competition three times in 2001, 2006 and 2008.
History
Westport is unusual in Ireland in that it is a planned town. The original village of Cathair na Mart was moved to its present site in the 1780s by the Browne family. The town was laid out by James Wyatt, a famous English architect. He also completed Westport House,the stately home of the Marquess of Sligo and designed the dining room. Westport House had originally been built by Richard Cassels, the German architect, in the 1730s, on the original O' Malley Castle. The dungeons of the O' Malley castle still remain. The most notable feature of James Wyatt's plan is the lovely tree-lined boulevard, the Mall, built on the River Carrowbeg.
Westport House
Designed by the famous architects Richard Cassels and James Wyatt in the 18th century, Westport House is considered one of Ireland's most beautiful historic homes open to the public. Westport House is situated in an impressive parkland setting with a lake, terraces, gardens and magnificent views overlooking Clew Bay, the Atlantic Ocean, Achill, Clare Island and Ireland's Holy Mountain, Croagh Patrick. It was built and is still privately owned by the Browne family, who are direct descendants of the 16th century Pirate Queen Grace O'Malley.
During the 16th century, Grace O'Malley or Gráinne Mhaol was a famous Pirate Queen of Connaught. After her death, a report stated that for forty years she was the stay of all rebellions in the West. She was chief of the O'Malley Clan and ruled the seas around Mayo. Grace O’Malley had several castles in the west of Ireland and it was on the foundations of one of these that Westport House was actually built. There is still an area of her original castle in the basement of the House (the Dungeons), which is on view to visitors.
There is a Bronze statue of Grace O’Malley by the artist Michael Cooper situated on the grounds of Westport House.
The original House was built by Colonel John Browne, a Jacobite, who was at the Siege of Limerick, and his wife Maude Bourke. Maude Bourke was Grace O’ Malley’s great-great granddaughter. The House then did not have the lake or a dam and the tide rose and fell against the walls.[7]
Today Westport House is one of Ireland's premier visitor attractions, having welcomed over 4 million visitors since opening its doors to the public in 1960. The historic home and its original contents are on full show combined with a Pirate Adventure Park which includes a Pirate Ship thrill ride and Ireland's first log flume ride - The 'Pirate's Plunge', among many other attractions.
Westport Town Council
Westport Town Council consists of nine members who are elected every five years by local electors (persons whose names are in the Register of Electors). Any person of 18 years and over is eligible to register and to vote at elections. Council members are elected according to a system of proportional representation. The next local elections will be held in 2014. Each year the Council elects a Cathaoirleach at its Annual Meeting which is held in May or June.
Culture
People from Westport town are traditionally known as Coveys. Some decades ago the Covey dialect still existed and was unintelligible to outsiders. For example the Covey word for a woman was a "doner". To this day inhabitants of nearby areas, including Castlebar, refer to the people of Westport, sometimes mildly disparagingly, sometimes somewhat affectionately, as Coveys.
Matt Molloy of the Chieftains has a vibrant musical pub on Bridge Street at the heart of the town.
-
Matt Molloy's Pub -
Westport is a lively entertainment town -
McCarthys Pub.
Westport through the year
Several festivals are held in and around Westport each year.
- The Westport Horse & Pony Show is held on the first weekend in June.
- The Sea Angling Festival is held annually in the third or fourth week in June. This is internationally acclaimed and in existence for over 42 years, attracting sea anglers from all over the world.
- The annual Croagh Patrick Pilgrimage is held annually on the last Sunday in July.
- The Arts Festival is held in the second two weeks of September. This is a festival of arts, music and literature. Last year there was a revival of the [Westport music festival]. This five day event will now run annually in July at the Fairgreen. It began July 18 2006.
- The Westport Seafood Festival is held on the October Bank Holiday weekend.
- The Westport Wellness Week Festival is also now growing in popularity and was last held in the last week of February 2007.
Media
Westport has one newspaper based in the town, the Mayo News, founded in 1892. It is the place to find what is happening in Westport and the surrounding region. The free weekly Mayo Echo is also available throughout the town. There are also copies of the Mayo Advertiser delivered door to door to houses in the area, as well as being available in many businesses around the town. Other local papers widely available are The Western People, The Connaught Telegraph and The Mayo Advertiser.
Tourism
Westport is a major tourist draw with visitors coming for several reasons. The most important is the magnificent scenery of the area, and the proximity to Connemara, Achill, Clew Bay and Croagh Patrick.
Westport is well known for sea-angling and freshwater fishing is popular on nearby Loughs Mask and Carra and on the Eriff river. Westport House and Pirate Adventure Park is a particular draw for families, many of whom stay at the caravan and camping park which belongs to Westport House. Westport has an 18-hole golf course, popular with visitors. A nearby 9-hole course has an attached guest accommodation.
In January 2008, Westport became Google Earth's first fully 3D town[8][9] allowing potential tourists and other visitors to the town stroll through the streets whilst sitting at their computers
International ties
- Westport is twinned with the town of Plougastel Daoulas in the département of Finistère in western Brittany. Schoolchildren from the two towns regularly exchange visits.
- Westport is also partnered with the town of Aror in Kenya, and the people of Westport have often contributed to improving the infrastructure of Aror.
Religion
- There are three churches in the town namely, the Catholic Church, called St Mary's and the Anglican church, called Holy Trinity. There is also a Bible centred Church called Calvary Church Westport, meeting in the leisure Park at 10.30am each Sunday. Westport has no synagogue or mosque.
- There used to be a Methodist church on the Mall, but it has not been used for some years. It was renovated a few years ago and is currently a restaurant.
- Religious genealogical records for the 19th century for the Westport area (Church of Ireland, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Civil, Gravestone Inscriptions, etc.) are held at the South Mayo Family Research Centre in Ballinrobe and The Clew Bay Heritage Centre at Westport Quay.
Transport
Rail
- The town is the terminus of a 250 km railway route from the capital, Dublin, which serves the town and surrounding area. This railway also serves the county town, Castlebar, about 18 km east-north-east of Westport. Westport railway station opened on 28 January 1866.[10] The line originally ran through to Westport Quay station (opened on 1 January 1875 and closed in April 1977)[10]. This line was lifted overnight in 1977 by Córas Iompair Éireann (CIE). In order to pacify local concern, the bulk of the trackbed of this extension was converted to a public walkway, still open today. There was also a branch to Achill Island branching off after the station, but this closed in 1937.
Road
- The N5 national primary route also connects the town to Castlebar, as well as connecting to the N4 near Longford that leads onward to Dublin. The other major road passing through Westport is the N59 secondary route, which rambles around the West of Ireland both to the north and south of the town.
Air
- The regional airports are Ireland West Airport Knock, 60 km (36 miles) away with Scheduled flights departing daily to the United Kingdom and Galway Airport, with daily flights to the rest of the nation, France, and the United Kingdom.
People
- A monument stands on the Mall in memory of Major John MacBride. Born locally in 1865, he joined the Boer army which fought the British in the Second Boer War, rising to the rank of major. He was executed in 1916 for his part in the Easter Rising. He was the father of Sean MacBride, the Nobel peace laureate.
- Cornelius Coughlan who won the Victoria Cross in the service of the British Army is buried locally.
The Quay
- Westport has a small adjoining port, the Quay, once busy but no longer used for commercial shipping, now a suburb notable for its many warehouse conversions.The quay is also known for its restaurants and pubs.
- It also includes the famous "point" pitch, training ground of Westport United.
- A small museum, celebrating the history of Westport and maritime history of Clew Bay, is open to the public here, the Clew Bay Heritage Centre.
Sport
The Gaelic football club, Westport United soccer club and the Rugby club have a venerable tradition in both county and national competition. Westport is perfectly poised as a setting-off point forsurfers nationwide.[citation needed] Adventure sports are moving ahead[citation needed] from hill walking and mountain hiking to a range of water-based sports and indeed mountain running. The Gael Force West event in Autumn 2006 and 2007 signified a topographical recognition of Westport as an idyllic location for adventure sports. Sea angling has always proven a popular fairweather activity. Deep-sea fishing and shore angling in Clew Bay is seen more as a day out than a sport as such, however there are angling competitions and festivals during the summer months.
Gaelic games
The Westport GAA club, CLG Chathair na Mart, have a long history going back to the nineteenth century. Gaelic football is the main sport played within the club.
Golf
Westport Golf Club is rated as one of the top golf courses in Ireland. It is recognised as a prestigious venue and has hosted both the Ladies Home Internationals in 1989 and the Irish Amateur Close Championship on three occasions, most recently in 1997. It also hosted the Irish PGA Championship in 2002.
Soccer
The Westport United club was founded in 1911. Westport United won the FAI Junior Cup in 2005 in front of 2,000 supporters in Kilkenny and play their home matches in the Sports Park; matches are advertised on the local press. The club colours are red and black.
Rugby
The Westport Bulls Rugby Club is located a few kilometres out of town close to the Golf Club. Players from ages 7 to senior age are welcome to participate.
See also
External links
- Westport House & Pirate Adventure Park website
- Westport Tourism
- Tourist site
- Music Festival
- The Mayo News
- Westport Chamber of Commerce
- Westport Branch Toastmasters International
- Adventure race
- Westport Town Council
- The Tidy Towns of Ireland "Celebrating 50 years"
- Westport GAA: CLG Chathair na Mart
References
- ^ Census for post 1821 figures.
- ^ http://www.histpop.org
- ^ http://www.nisranew.nisra.gov.uk/census
- ^ Lee, JJ (1981). "On the accuracy of the Pre-famine Irish censuses". In Goldstrom, J. M.; Clarkson, L. A. (eds.). Irish Population, Economy, and Society: Essays in Honour of the Late K. H. Connell. Oxford, England: Clarendon Press.
- ^ Mokyr, Joel; O Grada, Cormac (November), "New Developments in Irish Population History, 1700-1850", The Economic History Review, Volume 37 (Issue 4): 473–488, doi:10.1111/j.1468-0289.1984.tb00344.x
{{citation}}:|issue=has extra text (help);|volume=has extra text (help); Check date values in:|date=and|year=/|date=mismatch (help) - ^ Placenames Database of Ireland
- ^ 'Westport House A Brief History' published by Westport House 2008
- ^ MyguideTravel Blog Google Earth and Tourism, MyguideTravel.com Blog 3D Westport
- ^ Irish Independent, Western town boldly goes into virtual world
- ^ a b "Westport and Westport Quay stations" (PDF). Railscot - Irish Railways. Retrieved 2007-09-06.
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