Castlebar

Castlebar is the county town of County Mayo, Ireland, and the largest town in the county. It is located in the western part of the country and serves as the administrative and commercial hub for Mayo and the surrounding rural area.

History and name: The town grew from a medieval fortress established to guard an important ford and bridge across a local river. It developed as a market town in the 17th century. In 1798, during the Irish Rebellion, French forces under General Humbert briefly captured the town in what became known as the Castlebar victory or the Castlebar Races.

Economy and education: Today Castlebar has a diversified economy centered on retail, services and education. It hosts Mayo University Hospital, a regional health facility, and the Castlebar campus of the Atlantic Technological University (ATU), formed from GMIT in 2022. The town also functions as a retail and service centre for west Mayo.

Culture and points of interest: Nearby Turlough Park hosts the National Museum of Ireland – Country Life, and the Great Western Greenway cycle route passes through the region, along the old railway corridor that connects Westport with Castlebar and surrounding towns. The town contains sports and cultural facilities, including theatres and markets.

Transport and climate: Castlebar is connected by the N5 road and lies on the Dublin–Galway railway line, with Castlebar railway station serving passenger services to Dublin and Galway. The climate is temperate maritime, with mild winters and relatively cool summers.