Mayo Tourist Information.

                         "Mayo Moves"! 

Its quite possible to be constantly active in Mayo if outdoor activity is your thing.  Riding stables are plentiful, with three in Westport alone.  If a cantour through woodlands or along the shore lines is a little ambitious for you perhaps you would prefer to have a leisurely round of Golf on one of the several lush green fairways.  Many towns offer guided walks and hill walking and details of these can be had at any local tourist office.  Mayo also has several beaches, many of which have a blue flag.  Some places along the coastline have fantastic waves and each year more and more surfers are descorving the exhilaration of these fantastic waves. The beach for surfers in particular is Carrowniskey situated four miles outside Louisburgh.  In addition, if all that is not enough for you then head to any of the Outdoor Pursuits Centers, where you have the opportunity to do everything from Rock Climbing, to Canoeing!

There are a number of festivals throughout the year too.  Ballina is best renowned for its Salmon festival, which attracts a lot of street entertainment.  The June Bank Holiday in Castlebar brings its Blues' Festival. Westport has an Annual Arts Festival for a week in October. These are to name but a few, details of more can be got from Board Fáilte.  Apart from festivity and fun Mayo is home to a number of interesting historical sites, which in there own way, are also very enjoyable.  Apart from our five castles (Ashford in Cong being the most famous) there is a pre historic site just outside Ballycastle called the Ceide Fields - a state of the Art Centre.  It explains the origins of this marvelous site at Turlough House, there is a very impressive Museum of Irish County Life and a few miles up the road at Foxford another Museum can be explored in the towns Wollen Mills.  On route from Turlough to Foxford one can pull in at Straid to visit the birthplace of Michael Davitt - the founder of the Irish Land League. 

Some people feel a break is not complete without a little retail therapy and again shopping in Mayo will not be disappointing.  Without the hustle and bustle of city life browsing around shops and boutiques can be enjoyed at a leisurely pace.  Many major stores are now in Mayo town's life Castlebar and Ballina including Easons, A Wear,  Next, Shaw's, Lifestyle and many more ...  Designer boutiques are in these towns along with a variety of craft shops, coffee shops and bakeries.  Most towns have a weekly county market and organic markets enabling buyers to savour authentic and wholesome home produce such as baking, vegetables and preserves.

Apart from its beauty, Mayo is unique, despite its many tourist distractions, the character of the county has remained intact and so if it is an authentic taste of Ireland you are after then this is the place to be!!! A Quality Holiday all around........