Castlebar Town Map

The History is on the Streets of Castlebar –  First settlement of note can be traced to the 13th century de Barra (Barry) family. Norman settlers, they constructed a castle in 1235 which lent its name to the town. Barry’s Castle, alas it remains no more. It was located between the Convent and the Military Barracks.

The Mall – Lined with beautiful trees, once the cricket pitch of Lord Lucan, who was known as ‘the Great Exterminator’ during the Famine 1845-47. 

The Methodist Church – Founded by John Wesley in 1785. 

Christchurch – Oldest building in town, founded 1739. Churchyard contains gravestone of Scottish soldiers killed in action in 1798.

The Races of Castlebar, 1798 & General Humbert – The defeat of the Redcoats by General Humbert and the United Irishmen in 1798 in a battle that has become known as The Races of Castlebar. The victory celebrations were held in what now houses the Visitor Information Point and the Linenhall Arts Centre. 

1798 Memorial – This monument was erected in 1948 to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the Races of Castlebar.

John Moore’s Grave – He was selected by General Humbert as 1st President of Connaught in 1798.

Davitt & The Land League – Formally Daly’s Hotel, where Michael Davitt (In conjunction with James Daly, editor of the Connaught Telegraph) founded the National Land League in 1879.

The Courthouse – Court sittings are recorded in Castlebar as far back as the 1600s. The present courthouse underwent reconstruction in the 1822. Beside here also is the birthplace of famous Soprano Margaret Burke Sheridan- Prima Donna. 

The Linenhall, now the Linenhall Arts Centre, and Visitor Information Point – The original Linen Hall was built in 1790 by Lord Lucan as a clearing house for the flax and linen produced in the region and also as a storehouse for looms and tools. Visit www.thelinenhall.com

Cavendish Lane –  Called after Lord Frederick Cavendish, who founded the Connaught Telegraph newspaper on St. Patrick’s Day 1828. This is the oldest provincial paper still published in Ireland. The paper has as its Motto: “Be Just and Fear Not”.

Market Square – was originally known as Shambles Square. A Shambles or slaughterhouse once stood 

Chapel Street – The Church of the Holy Rosary was dedicated in 1901. Replacing the previous church built in 1800

The Linen Industry –  The streets in this area of town took their names from the fact that planters were moved into the area from Ulster in the 1770s to develop the flax growing and linen industries.

Main Street and Staball Hill – In 1798 ‘The Year of the French’, one of the most important events in the history of the town took place. The major battle in which the British General Lake was defeated took place on the Main Street bridge. Prior to this the British had been chased down Staball hill, the Franco-Irish forces were cheered on by local tenants who shouted “Stab them All.” Hence the name Staball still exists up to the present day. 

Castle Street – A jail once stood at the junction of here and Ellison Street. Stephen Garvey the famous musician was born on Castle Street. The de Barra’s original castle was built on the site overlooking Castle Street where the later military barracks was built. 

Mayo Memorial Peace Park – A green oasis, created to commemorate the men and women of Mayo, killed in the world wars of the last century. A perfect place to pause for peace. www.facebook.com/mayopeacepark