WESTPORT OF THE WELCOMES

William Thackery visited Westport in the mid - nineteenth century and was very high in his praise of Westport and what the town had to offer the traveller. The town of Westport nestles in the Shadow of Ireland's most holy mountain -Croagh Patrick. The ancient Irish name for Croagh Patrick was  Mons Agli or Eagle Mountain - hence the name - Shadow of the Eagle.

Approached from the Castlebar side, the view from the top of Sheeaune is unsurpassed. Mountain, wood and water blend harmoniously. Clew Bay , with its many islands, spreads itself before you, melting into the horizon, with Clare Island standing from the sea like  a large black rock with the white cottages visible on a clear day. To the South-West stands Croagh Patrick, like a giant sentinel.

Approached from any angle, the first impression is that Westport is built in a hollow, having been built in a basin with hills surrounding it on all sides, except the fronting on Clew Bay.

Westport is a very beautiful town, very cosmopolitan and very tourist orientated, while striving to maintain its original character. It is one of the few planned towns in Ireland. It has many outstanding features, most notably the beautiful tree lined boulevard know as The Mall, running parallel to Carrowbeg River. Croagh Patrick is one of the worlds best known places of pilgrimage and provides a tough ascent for thousands of pilgrims each year, some climbing barefoot, in the memory of Saint Patrick, whom legend tells us,  spent forty days and forty nights fasting on the summit more than 1,500 years ago. A small church at the summit of the mountain welcomes you with magnificent views of Clew Bay, with an island for every day in the year, providing inspiration for many walkers and visitors each year.
Over the years Westport has grown from strength to strength as a tourist town with more and more visitors coming each year.

There is much to do for the visitor to Westport from Golf to Freshwater fishing, Walking, Horse Riding or paying a visit to the famous Westport House. Sea Angling and Sailing are very popular with the visitor .  Westport Leisure Park is the ideal place to bring all the family especially with our inclement weather. Places of interest to see are the Clew Bay Heritage Centre,  the Westport Heritage Centre , Clare Island and the Famine Memorial,

For more items of interest check out our Calendar of Events for 2004.

Just a short drive from Westport, towards and beyond Louisburgh, you will find beaches which are among the most beautiful, biggest and safest to be found anywhere in Europe. Most are signposted and very uncrowded. Most of these beaches have achieved the EC Blue Flag Award.

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