Westport Things to Do

Knockranny Spa within the Knockranny hotel is a beautiful spa on the outskirts of Westport town. It has a freshwater pool surrounded by sandstone paving and muted lighting. There are a number of rooms off the pool including a sauna, steamroom, monsoon shower, brine inhalation room, and aromatherapy room. The best thing about it is that the few times I've been there, there has either been no-one else using the facility or one/two other people.
You can pay to use the pool, or it is included within the price of one of the treatments.

Glenanns sailing club is on an island called Collanmore off the coast of westport, and the pier where you get the boat out to it is about 5 miles from Westport town.
If you want to learn sailing for the week/weekend, I would definitely recommend this place. From about april until october they run sailing courses for all levels. All tuition, accomodation and food is included in the price and they have fantastic 'sessions' in the island pub in the evenings (until 3/4 in the mornings!) just to make it that little bit more challenging to go out in a boat the next morning. What better way to cure a hangover though than to immerse yourself in the 'refreshing' atlantic waters!
Glennans sailing club on collanmore island is one of three the glennans sailing group do. There's one in France, and one also in Baltimore, Co. Cork (larger boats/Cruisers). The Collanmore location teaches Windsurfing and sailing on lasers, picos, and catamarans etc.

one of the loveliest towns in Western Ireland!

It was founded in the 18th Century which you can see......the wide roads & streets, the river that was canalizised and runs along the MALL which is a wide anvenue with rows of lime trees on both sides.

There are wonderfully restored Georgian Houses, such a joy to see....
The Protestant church was built about 1880 in Late-Victorian Style and surprise, surprise....you can discover some nice Art-Nouveau influences here......

Originally Westport was developed as part of a large Estate.
At the end of the 18th Century it was very prosperous by its textile industries...

The local industry declined caused by the new ACT of UNION when cheaper products and goods from England could be imported, such a pity....
why is ONE MAN'S DEAD (always) THE OTHER MAN'S BREAD ????? SOUR & HARD......

At about 1825 the textile industry had almost completely disappeared.

Nowadays Westport is a market-town and a fishermen's town.

Don't forget: in the direct vicinity of Westport are some very nice beaches.....

Must see, must see....almost everything in Ireland is a MUST SEE......natural beauty, architecture, art, handicrafts, cultural beauty .....

There I shall list some SCENIC ROUTES and the only thing you need to have is a good map!

a. Westport - Newport - Mulranny - Currane - Achill Sound - Atlantic Drive - Keel - Dugort - Westport.

b. Westport - Croagh Patrick - Murrisk - Leenane - Kylemore Abbey - Westport.

c. Westport - Tourmakeady - Lough Mask - Lough Nafooey - Clonbur - Cong - Ashford Castle - Ballintubber Abey - Westport.

d. Westport - Louisburgh - Delphi - Aasleagh Falls - Erriff Valley - Westport.

e. Westport - Newport - Furnace - Shramore - Westport.

f. Westport - Drumming - Sheeffrey - Delphi - Louisburgh - Westport.

DO ENJOY THEM.....

The CROAGH VISITOR CENTRE is situated in MURRISK on the PILGRIM'S PATH at the base of Croagh Patrick and opposite the NATIONAL FAMINE MONUMENT.

Croagh Patrick is only 5 miles from the picturesque town of WESTPORT and its conical shape soars majestically above the surrounding countryside.

Magnificent views of CLEW BAY and the surrounding south MAYO-countryside are spectacular from all stages of the ascent of the mountain!

And then about this famous MOUNTAIN: the mountain itself is renowned for its Patrician Pilgrimage in honour of St. Patrick's fast on the mountain for 40 days in 441 AD and the custom has been faithfully handed down from generation to generation.

On REEK SUNDAY, the last Sunday in July, over 25.000 pilgrims visit the Reek.

Individuals and groups come from all over the world and amongst these are pilgrims, hill climbers, historians, archaeologists and of course nature lovers.

The tradition of the pilgrimage to this holy mountain stretches back over 5000 years from the STONE AGE to the present day and that without interruption, imagine that!
It is such a wonderful thought.....

ABOUT ARCHAEOLOGY....

An archaeological excavation licensed by the National Monuments service started on 2nd August 1994.

It discovered evidence of Christian activity but also showed that Croagh Patrick was a place of trmendous importance in the pre-Christian era, as indicated by the discovery of a celtic hill-fort encircling the summit of the mountain.

The exciting discovery of a dry stone oratory pushes back further in time our knowledge of pilgrimage architecture on the summit.

It is similar to the GALLARUS ORATORY in County Kerry and has been "radio carbon" dated to between 430 and 890 AD!

How very fortunate that we have such ingenious ways of discovering things.....Amazing!

THE CENTRE.

The Director of Archaeological Excavations on the summit of Croagh Patrick, Gerry Walsh, and his wife Gabrielle opened the Croagh Patrick Visitor Centre at the foot of the mountain in March 2000.

The Centre stems from the interest shown by the thousands of Pilgrims and climbers in the archaeological discoveries on the summit.
Gerry realised that people would love more information in an accessible and user-friendly way and.....he made his dream come true!

He also realised that people visiting the mountain were not being supplied with general information on the South Mayo Region, an area of unspoiled natural beauty and so he decided to make this all available too in the Centre, which was a great idea!

The building housing the Centre maintains the natural appeal of the area with a profile which blends in with the existing environment, which is wonderful.

CEAD MILE FAILTE!! WELCOME!!

ABOUT THE FACILITIES:

Safety is important for anyone wishing to climb the mountain which rises to a height of 765 metres.

It is essential that climbers pay serious attention to weather conditions and are wearing proper footwear.

The use of (at least) 1 stick (I myself prefer 2)
is advisable.

A brief climb to the statue of St. Patrick is fine for most people and for this short distance, no special footwear is needed.

Guided tours to the Statue are available from the Centre during peak season (with advanced notice).
These tours also give information on Clew Bay, the National Famine Monument and Murrisk Abbey, all of which can be seen from the place where the statue is!

The Visitor Centre is a half way stop on the archaeological trail from Westport to Louisburgh, promoted by the Croagh Patrick Archaeoligical Committee and Westport Tourism.

And..............thisis really fabulous: for a minimal charge climbers and pilgrims are offered showers....

The craft shop sells: maps, books on local history and archaeology, walking sticks, socks, raingear, T-shirts with logo as well as a selection of crafts .....everything stocked in the shop and....sourced locally!

Of course there also is a coffee shop-cum-self-service-restaurant at the Centre to cater for visitor needs....and we can be so hungry and thirsty while climbing and hiking, can't we??

This restaurants seats 50 inside and another 40 outside on a terrace where both the food and the view can be savoured.