This autumn, North Mayo once again features strongly in Architecture at the Edge, a festival exploring the buildings, landscapes and places that shape our communities.
Running from 17–27 September 2026 across Mayo and Galway, this year’s festival takes the theme ‘Le Chéile – the Architectures of Belonging’, exploring how architecture and place contribute to community, identity and a sense of belonging.
A Strong North Mayo Offering
From historic houses and medieval abbeys to walking tours and exhibitions, the North Mayo programme offers plenty of opportunities to discover familiar places from a different perspective. Events include:
– On Site at Enniscoe House
Enniscoe House, Castlehill
Wednesday 23 September | 12.30pm – Free, prebooking essential
Explore the history and architecture of Enniscoe House, one of North Mayo’s best-known historic houses, during this special guided event with Susan and DJ Kellett. Set at the foot of Mount Nephin overlooking Lough Conn, the house and its surrounding estate offer a fascinating insight into North Mayo’s architectural and social history.
Find out more and book On Site at Enniscoe House
– Autumn Equinox at North Mayo Heritage Centre Organic Garden
North Mayo Heritage Centre, Enniscoe
Wednesday 23 September | 2.30pm – Free, prebooking essential
Join head gardener Áine Bell for a guided walk through the historic two-acre organic walled garden at Enniscoe. Discover the garden’s historic structures, its heritage apple collection and traditional vegetable varieties, including Mayo cabbage, while exploring how this historic space continues to be used today.
Find out more and book the Autumn Equinox event
– Wonder Wander Walking Trails – Ballina
The Clarke Museum of Irish History, Ballina
Friday 25 September | 4.30pm – 6.00pm – Free, no registration required
How well do we really know the buildings and streets of Ballina?
The Wonder Wander Walking Trails project invites the community to help shape a new self-guided architectural trail highlighting the town’s distinctive buildings, architectural details and local stories. The team will introduce the project and gather local memories and knowledge before the interactive trail and family-friendly scavenger hunt launch in spring 2027.
Find out more about Wonder Wander Walking Trails
– Whispers of the Moy: Ballina Heritage Walking Tour
Starting and finishing at The Clarke Museum of Irish History, Ballina
Friday 25 September | 5.00pm – 6.30pm – Free, prebooking essential
Discover Ballina’s history on foot with local guide Clodagh Fleming on this special 90-minute heritage walking tour. Following a route through the heart of the town, Whispers of the Moy explores Ballina’s buildings, streets and riverside setting while bringing to life the people and events that have shaped the town over more than three centuries.
Find out more and book Whispers of the Moy
– On Site at Rosserk Abbey & Moyne Abbey
Rosserk Abbey & Moyne Abbey
Friday 25 September | 2pm – Free, prebooking essential
Join conservation architect Pat Ruane for a special visit to two of North Mayo’s remarkable medieval monuments, Rosserk Abbey and Moyne Abbey. The event explores the architecture, history and development of both sites, offering a chance to experience these historic buildings on site and hear more about their construction, architectural details and changing use over time.
Find out more and book On Site at Rosserk Abbey & Moyne Abbey
– Ballycastle Architectural Drawings
Ballycastle, Co.Mayo
19 September – 19 October | Free admission
Discover a fascinating snapshot of Ballycastle’s architectural history through a collection of drawings created by architecture students in 1973–74. The exhibition documents the village as it was more than 50 years ago, including its buildings, streetscapes and possible ideas for future development. The drawings have been preserved in the Ballinglen Arts Foundation archives and provide an interesting opportunity to reflect on how Ballycastle has changed. A discussion with architect and historian Dr Freddie O’Dwyer, who was involved in the original survey, takes place on Saturday 19 September at 5pm.
Find out more about Ballycastle Architectural Drawings
– Yeats Revisited
Ballinglen Arts Centre, Ballycastle
15 August – 19 October
Running throughout the festival period, Yeats Revisited explores the enduring connection between artist Jack B. Yeats and North Mayo. The exhibition brings together selected works from the Ballinglen Arts Foundation Permanent Collection, highlighting the continuing influence of the North Mayo landscape on artists.
A roundtable discussion exploring Yeats’ connection with North Mayo takes place on 18 September at 5pm.
Find out more about Yeats Revisited
Discover North Mayo Through Architecture
Architecture at the Edge offers a different way to experience North Mayo, connecting our buildings and landscapes with the people, stories and communities that have shaped them.
Whether you’re exploring Ballina on foot, visiting the historic estates around Enniscoe, discovering the medieval abbeys of the Moy or seeing Ballycastle through the eyes of architecture students from the 1970s, the programme offers plenty of reasons to slow down and look a little closer.
Many of the events are free, although some require advance booking and places may be limited.
If you’re visiting North Mayo for the festival, allow some extra time to explore the wider area too, from the River Moy and Ballina to the coast, countryside, heritage sites, galleries, cafés and local businesses that make this part of Mayo Wild at Heart.
Plan Your Visit
Architecture at the Edge 2026
17–27 September 2026
For full programme details, booking information and updates, visit:
Architecture at the Edge – Festival 2026