PLACES TO VISIT (SHORT DISTANCE DRIVE)

Foxford Woollen Mill & Admiral Brown Museum

The historic mill still has working looms. There is an historical tour, shopping opportunities, and a cafe. Open daily all year round. Adjacent to the Woollen Mill is the Admiral Brown Museum  (variable opening hours). Admiral Brown, founder of the Argentine Navy, and great Argentine hero, was born in Foxford. The Argentine Navy visit Foxford at least once per year and parade. You will found various plaques near the car park near the Catholic church about Admiral Brown’s battles.

Enniscrone

The nearest seaside resort. It has a long Sandy beach and is good for surfing, but the water is cold - the surfers will be in wetsuits! Near the old "castle" building on the beach (a former seaweed baths) there are rock pools. Also at Enniscrone is Kilcullen’s seaweed baths, opened in 1912. Enjoy a seaweed bath. Very relaxing. Waterpoint at Enniscrone is an indoor swimming pool, usually open in the late afternoons and evenings during school terms. There is also a short coastal walk along the low cliffs starting from near the harbour.
http://www.kilcullenseaweedbaths.com/

Ballina

Large town on the River Moy. Interesting sights are the river itself and anglers wading in the water, the new (2011) Ballina Arts Centre by the new bridge and salmon traps, and St Muredach’s cathedral. There is also a public swimming pool. Public sessions are 1-2 pm and evenings during school terms. The Ice House on the quayside (on the road leading to Enniscrone following the river) was opened as a luxury hotel a few years ago. It was originally a store of ice for packing fish (particularly salmon) for export via sea. Some original features are retained. There is also a spa at the hotel and hot tubs by the river! Trails in Belleek Woods along the river (opposite side to the Ice House) just outside the town are very pleasant for walking.

The Jackie Clarke Collection is a museum housed in a former bank displaying a fascinating set of historic material collected by local man Jackie Clarke mainly during the battles for independance. Open Tue-Sat 10-5.

On the way in to Ballina, take afternoon tea or walk around the extensive woods and sample the spa facilities at Mount Falcon Hotel.

http://www.coillte.ie/aboutcoillte/community/community_partnerships/connaught/belleek_wood_co_mayo/

http://www.icehousehotel.ie/

http://www.ballinaartscentre.com/

http://www.clarkecollection.ie/home/

http://www.mountfalcon.com/

Castlebar

Mayo’s largest town and the county town of Mayo. Good shopping centre. Various plaques on buildings around town commemorating historic events. In 1798 French forces under General Humbert routed the English Garrison and this event became known as the Castlebar Races.  
Mayo Peace Park and Garden of Remembrance. Memorial to Irish men who have served in US and British forces in the First World War and since.

Museum of Country Life, Turlough, Castlebar

A national museum, free entry. Based on Turlough House with pleasant grounds to walk around and very interesting displays in the museum showing how those who originally lived in the cottage used to work and play. Tea room. Open all year round except Mondays.

http://www.museum.ie/en/intro/country-life.aspx

Hennigan's Heritage Centre, Killasser, Swinford
To see what Morrison Cottage was really like in the 1850s, head to Hennigan's Heritage Centre just off the Foxford-Swinford road (signposted just before the river when driving from Foxford).  Tom Hennigan has restored his old cottage to its original condition, thatched roof and fireplace included.

http://www.hennigansheritage.com/

Westport
This is a gem of Mayo, the Bourton-on-the-Water of Co Mayo. Set in a valley with Croagh Patrick in the distance, a gentle river flowing through the centre and the gateway to the fjords of Lenane and Connemara National Park, it is the tourist and artists Mecca for the area.  There are more pubs than you can count, many with live music in the evenings, and with Westport Quay and Westport House a mile or so from the town it is well worth a long day visit. Head for Castlebar then follow the signs to the end of the N5.  It is also the last stop on the train line from Dublin to the West.

For the super fit it is also the centre for many adventure sports activities such as the gruelling "Sea-2-Summit" and "Gaelforce" triathlon type activities.

Westport House & Gardens
The House was home to the local gentry and as well as being a Stately Home to look around there are a lot of family activities in the grounds in the summer.
http://www.westporthouse.ie/home/

Enniscoe Gardens, Castlehill, Ballina

Restored Victorian walled garden, organic garden and woodland walk to the shore of Lough Conn. Open afternoons daily, except Mondays, April-September. Also small museum and tea room.

http://www.enniscoe.com/garden.html

Straide & Michael Davitt Museum

A few miles south from the cottage on the N58 Foxford-Ballyvary & Castlebar Road. There is ruined 13th century church. The Michael Davitt museum is also in Straide and the grave of Michael Davitt is in the grounds of the abbey. Michael Davitt is very important in Irish 19th and early 20th century history for his work with the Land League. Museum is open all year round.

http://www.michaeldavittmuseum.com

Rosserk Abbey

Located on the west side of Killala Bay on the R314 as you drive from Ballina to Killala. Ruined 15th century Franciscan friary.

PLACES TO VISIT (FURTHER AWAY/ LONGER DRIVE)

Ceide Fields, Ballycastle

Neolithic field system discovered under a thick blanket of bog, the oldest known in the world. Unusual Visitor centre built partly underground, outdoor tour. Tea room. Open daily Easter - October.

http://www.ceidefields.com/

Clare Island

It is possible to do a day trip to Clare Island off the Mayo coast in the summer months and have a very good walk around there. The ferry goes from Roonagh.

http://www.clareisland.info/

Achill Island

Actually joined to the mainland so easily accessible. Try the very scenic "Atlantic Drive" (Wild Atlantic Way, follow the strange blue wavy signs). Also look for the Secret Garden at Bleanaskill Lodge, Irelands most Westerly public garden, developed since 1870. Open June, July, August

http://www.achilltourism.com/

http://www.achill-island-bed-and-breakfast.com/

Cong and Ashford Castle

Respectively scenic village and luxury hotel on shore of Lough Corrib. Grounds accessible to general public and tea room available.  Famous guests included Oscar Wilde, King George V, Ronald Reagan, John Wayne, John Lennon, Brad Pitt, Earl of Wessex etc.

Strokestown Park, Co Roscommon

There are 3 things to see at Strokestown Park – the 18th century  mansion, the Famine Museum and the restored Victorian walled garden. Tickets can be purchased separately for each. The Irish National Famine Museum tells the story of the 19th century famines, of landlords, emigration and then the modern context of today’s famines in other parts of the world. Very thought-provoking. There is also a woodland walk around the estate. Restaurant and gift shop on site. Open all year round.

http://www.strokestownpark.ie/

Boyle & Lough Key Country Park. Co Roscommon

Boyle is pleasant town and has the restored Georgian mansion "King House" to visit, which is open daily April-September. The forest park  a few miles outside Boyle has extensive grounds, canopy walk, lake and some historic features to explore. Open all year round.

http://kinghouse.ie
http://www.loughkey.ie/

Kylemore Abbey and Garden

Kylemore Abbey started out as a Victorian mansion but became home to Benedictine nuns during the early 20th century and was a girl’s boarding school until 2009. At the abbey is a pottery, shop, café, tour of part of the house, walk by the lake to the restored church and mausoleum of the first residents. As a Millennium project, and part of a general move to restore Irish historic gardens, for the last dozen years the original extensive Victorian walled garden has been undergoing restoration. The head gardener’s house and bothies have been restored as well. Access to the garden is by ticket and minibus as it is several minutes’ drive away through woods.There is also a café at the garden.

http://www.kylemoreabbey.com/

Knock

Mostly of interest to devout Catholics, Knock is a Marian shrine where the Virgin Mary appeared to children in  the 19th Century. There is also a folk museum at Knock. The parish priest there in the 1970s and early 80s, Monsignor Horan,  was the instigator of the Knock airport.

http://www.knock-shrine.ie/

Connemara National Park, near Letterfrack, Co Galway

Quite a drive from the cottage but very pleasant to visit and walk.

http://www.connemaranationalpark.ie/index.html

Leenane and Killary Harbour

Leenane is famous as the location for the 1989 film “The Field” and for the play entitled “The Beauty Queen of Leenane”  a play set in the 1990s by Martin McDonagh. Leenane village has a hotel with seaweed baths and spa and is the starting point for Killary Harbour cruises. Killary Harbour is a fjord-like inlet where you can also see shellfish farming taking place. Just outside Leenane (on the road to Doolough) is Ashleagh Falls. The route from Westport via Croagh Patrick  and Doolough to Leenane is very scenic. The return journey can be made by shorter route back to Westport.

http://www.spas.ie/spa/galway/leenane_hotel_seaweed_baths-393.html

http://www.killarycruises.com/

Ballintubber Abbey

One mile off Castlebar to Galway road, seven miles from Castlebar. Founded 1216 – important Irish historical site. Celtic Furrow historical museum is near the Abbey.
http://www.ballintubberabbey.ie/
Also from Ballintubber is 22 mile walk to Croagh Patrick (Ireland’s holy mountain)

Croagh Patrick

A Climb up Ireland's Holy Mountain, known locally as "The Reek" is a must for all reasonably fit visitors to the area.  It is the mountain that looks like a volcano which can be seen looking West from the driveway to the cottage. The base car park is about a 1 hour drive from the cottage, the other side of Westport.  A walk to the top and back takes about 3½ hours.  It is hard going, particularly the top section which is a large scree boulder slope.  Nonetheless there are still a few hardy pilgrims do the climb barefoot on Reek Sunday, the last Sunday in July.  There can be up to 15,000 people climbing on this day, going to the services held in the small church on the top.

Dublin

There are several services per day by Bus Eireann so it is possible to do a day trip, though the journey is long. The bus departs Foxford at the bus stop near the post office at 7.13 arriving Dublin 10.45. Return from Dublin (Busaras - main bus station) either 17.45 (arrive Foxford 21.30) or 1900 (arrive Foxford 22.30) There is also a train that leaves from Foxford Station (about 2 miles outside town) early morning 07.17, arriving Dublin 10.40 (change at Manulla) and one that returns from Dublin around 18.30pm (change at Manulla) arriving Foxford 21.37 (Check times before travel). Parking is available at the railway station.

Galway

Galway is about a 2 hour drive from the Cottage.  Head for Knock Airport but stay on the N17 for Galway. The road is all single carriageway but is mostly to a good standard. There are also a few services a day by Bus Eireann so it is possible to go there and back in a day.

It is a busy, bustling city with a compact centre and lots of tourist facilities. Galway is also home to the main University for the West of Ireland so has a lively night life.

THEATRE

There are plays, musicals, recitals and concerts in Castlebar and Ballina. In Castlebar the TF Theatre Royal gets big names such as Jedward and Jools Holland and also some stages plays by touring companies. The Linenhall in Castlebar has plays and traditional and classical music events. There are also films presented by Castlebar Film Society.

http://www.theroyal.ie/
http://www.thelinenhall.com/
http://www.ballinaartscentre.com/

CINEMA & FILMS

There are multi-screen cinemas in Castlebar and Ballina. Mayo Movieworld in Castlebar is easier to find and has parking. Turn right at the first roundabout as you arrive at Castlebar.  Movieworld is on the left after around 50 metres. Parking is available at the front and back of the cinema.
Films are also screened by the Castlebar Film Society at the Linenhall, Castlebar and by Ballina Film society at Ballina Arts Centre.

http://www.ballinaartscentre.com/
http://www.thelinenhall.com/
http://www.mayomovieworld.ie/
http://www.imccinemas.ie/home.asp?venue=ballina

WALKING
See Separate leaflet. Website for Mayo walks in general
http://www.mayowalks.ie/home/

SWIMMING

There is a swimming pool in Ballina. Public sessions are 1pm-1.45 pm during school terms and in the evenings. There is also a pool at Enniscrone ("Waterpoint").
People go swimming and surfing at Enniscrone but the sea is cold! In high summer there is a life guard on duty. Enniscrone is a Blue Flag beach. There is also the possibility of swimming in the rather shallow Lough Cullen from the "beaches" along the Foxford-Pontoon road.

GOLF

Ballina 18 hole golf course is on the R294 road from Ballina to Tobercurry, approx 2 miles out of town.
http://www.ballina-golf.com/

Enniscrone links course is by the sand dunes and is a championship course. Access is from the Ballina to Enniscrone road before reaching the town.
http://www.enniscronegolf.com/

Castlebar also has an 18 hole golf course

http://www.castlebargolfclub.ie/

FISHING

Fishing requires permits. The river Moy is a salmon river. There are various points for fishing in and near Foxford. Lough Conn is also popular with anglers. Ask at Tiernan Brothers shop in Foxford for information on angling. Tiernan's is also a fishmonger’s  so you buy the fresh salmon that you nearly caught there as well.

RESTAURANTS/EATING OUT/TAKEAWAY

The Mayfly Hotel in Foxford does meals. There is a cafe open during the day at Foxford Woollen Mill that also provides lunches. Above Jordan's Bar is the Golden Dragon Chinese restaurant, which also does takeaways. There are a number of fast food takeaways in Foxford. Castlebar and Ballina have a range of cafes, restaurants and pubs providing food. The Pontoon Bridge Hotel at Pontoon does Sunday lunches and evening meals.

Healeys at Pontoon provides Lunches and Dinners. Nice location looking out onto Loch Cullen.

The expensive Ice House Hotel & Restaurant in Ballina specialses in local/Irish sourced produce. The Restaurant is where the ice used to be stored for use in exporting fish.

If you prefer castle dining to ice houses, try the Belleek Castle restaurant.

http://www.mayflyhotel.com/

http://www.healyspontoon.com/

http://www.icehousehotel.ie/

http://www.belleekcastle.com/

SURFING

Enniscrone is the nearest surfing resort.

HORSE RIDING

There are several  establishments in the area providing horse riding/pony trekking eg

Iceford Stables near Ballina

http://www.icefordstables.com/

Drummindoo Stud and Equitations Centre, Knockranny, Westport

http://www.drummindoo.com/

Coolcroonan Equestrian Centre, near Foxford

http://www.coolcronanequestrian.com/