Discover Castlebar
Mayo's county town, between the Mall and the mountains
The county town that fought the Crown and named a word
Castlebar grew up around a castle of the de Barra family, was planted with Ulster linen workers in the 1770s, and then made history on 27 August 1798 when a combined French and Irish force routed a much larger British army in what wags christened the Races of Castlebar, for the speed of the redcoats' retreat. A short drive away, the Lough Mask estate gave the English language a brand new word in 1880 when Captain Charles Boycott was ostracised by his own community.
Today it is a working county town of around twelve thousand people: the seat of Mayo County Council, home of Mayo GAA at MacHale Park, and the base for a food and arts scene that punches well above its size. The Linenhall Arts Centre, the Mall, Lough Lannagh and the greenway out to Turlough give you plenty to do before you point the car west towards Westport, Clew Bay and Croagh Patrick.
The Mall, the long green park in the centre of Castlebar, County Mayo
What's On
Upcoming events and things happening in Castlebar
Linenhall Arts Centre Programme
RecurringYear-round theatre, music, film and exhibitions at the Linenhall.
Castlebar St Patrick's Day Parade
RecurringVolunteer-run St Patrick's Day parade from Main Street at noon.
Mayo GAA Championship Matches
RecurringMayo home football fixtures at MacHale Park through the season.
Castlebar International 4 Days' Walks
RecurringInternational walking festival with 10km and 20km routes and guided rambles.
Castlebar Right Now
Castlebar weather is inland Mayo weather: soft, wet and quick to change, a touch calmer than the wild coast but no drier. Pack a proper waterproof and shoes that can take a damp path on the Mall or around Lough Lannagh, and treat a bright spell as a window to get out in rather than a promise that it will last.
🚆 InterCity from Castlebar
Iarnród Éireann InterCity departures
InterCity service from Castlebar. Updates every minute.
Where To Eat
From fine dining seafood to fish and chips by the harbour
House of Plates
Chef Barry Ralph's farm-to-fork sharing-plates restaurant on Upper Chapel Street.
Bar One
Award-winning gastropub on Rush Street, strong on seafood and live music.
Café Rua
Beloved family-run café and deli championing Mayo produce.