“I believe profoundly in the importance of museums; I would go as far as to say that you can judge a society by the quality of its museums.” – Richard Fortey
North Mayo is home to an extraordinary collection of museums, heritage centres and cultural attractions that tell the story of Ireland’s ancient landscapes, revolutionary past, maritime traditions and remarkable people. From Neolithic field systems and medieval abbeys to world-class collections and interactive visitor experiences, there is something to inspire every visitor.
Here is our guide to some of North Mayo’s most fascinating museums, heritage centres and historic places of interest.
Jackie Clarke Collection, Pearse Street, Ballina, F26 A368
The Jackie Clarke Collection, located in the heart of Ballina, is the single most important private collection of Irish history material in public hands, comprising over 100,000 items spanning 400 years.
The collection comprises an eclectic mixture of artefacts, proclamations, posters, political cartoons, rare books, pamphlets, handbills associated with Theobald Wolfe Tone; letters from Michael Collins, Douglas Hyde, Michael Davitt and O’Donovan Rossa.
It also contains, works by Sir John Lavery, maps, hunger strike material and personal items from Leaders of the 1916 Rising.
The collection is located in the stunning old Hibernian Bank – a beautiful building in its own right. The main exhibit space showcases the treasures with an interactive touch screen illustrating and detailing hundreds more items. Adjacent, stored in the old cast iron bank vault is an original 1916 Proclamation – Jackie’s “Holy Grail” – and the reading of this is an experience not to be missed.
Call: +353 (0)96 73508 | Visit: clarkecollection.ie | Email: [email protected]
The Céide Fields, Glenurla, Ballycastle, F26 PF66
The Céide Fields are among the oldest known field systems in the world and one of Ireland’s most important archaeological sites. Hidden beneath the blanket bogs of North Mayo lies a remarkably preserved Neolithic farming landscape dating back almost 6,000 years.
The award-winning visitor centre offers an engaging interactive experience exploring the lives of Ireland’s earliest farmers and the archaeology of the region. Visitors can also enjoy spectacular panoramic views across the Atlantic coastline from the rooftop viewing platform. The dramatic location, perched high above sea cliffs along the Wild Atlantic Way, makes Céide Fields both a fascinating historical site and a breathtaking scenic destination.
Booking not essential, but it is advisable to call ahead if you are with a large group.
Call: +353 (0)96 43325 | Visit: The Céide Fields | Email: [email protected]
Michael Davitt Museum, Straide, F26 FX37
The Michael Davitt Museum is located in the picturesque and historic village of Straide in Co. Mayo on the N58 route between Ballyvary and Foxford beside the cosy Copper Beech pub.
The museum, which tells the story of the prominent Irish social justice activist and agrarian campaigner who founded the Irish National Land League, is housed in the magnificently restored pre-Penal Church that was used prior to the enactment of the 1690’s Penal Laws in Ireland. The building is a beautiful setting for the fascinating story of this huge character in Irish history, a close ally of Charles Stuart Parnell, the leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party and campaigner for Home Rule.
The Michael Davitt Visitor Centre includes the beautiful surrounding grounds of Straide Abbey, which together with parking and picnic area provides an ideal destination for a great family day out in Mayo.
Call: +353 (0)94 903 1942 | Visit: www.michaeldavittmuseum.ie | Email: [email protected]
Belleek Castle & The Marshall Doran Collection, F26 KV04
Belleek Castle is one of North Mayo’s most iconic historic buildings. Built between 1825 and 1831 in striking neo-Gothic style, the castle overlooks the ancient Belleek Woods along the banks of the River Moy.
The castle houses the renowned Marshall Doran Collection, featuring medieval armour, fossils, antiques and historical artefacts collected by former owner Marshall Doran, who restored the castle during the 20th century.
Guided tours offer visitors a fascinating glimpse into the history of the castle, its architecture and the unique collection housed within its atmospheric interiors.
Call: +353 (0)96 22400 | Visit: www.belleekcastle.com | Email: [email protected]
Foxford Woollen Mills & The Foxford Experience, F26 H9E4
The Foxford Woollen Mills established in 1892 by Sister Agnes Morrogh-Bernard, Foxford Woollen Mills remains one of Ireland’s best-known weaving mills and an important part of Mayo’s industrial heritage.
The Foxford Experience offers visitors the opportunity to explore the story of the mill, its founders and the generations of craftspeople who helped shape the local community. Guided tours provide a behind-the-scenes look at the working mill and traditional weaving processes still in operation today.
The visitor centre also includes a café and retail space showcasing beautifully crafted Irish textiles and homeware.
To book your factory tour:
Call: +353 (0)94 9256104 | Visit: www.foxford.com | Email: [email protected]
Father Peyton Centre, Attymass, Ballina, F26 X884
Nestled at the foot of the Ox Mountains, the Father Peyton Centre in Attymass parish celebrates the life and legacy of Fr. Patrick Peyton, the Mayo-born priest (1909 – 1992) who became internationally known for promoting family prayer and organising massive Rosary rallies around the world. Interactive exhibits and guided tours tell the story of how a young man from rural Mayo went on to work with some of Hollywood’s biggest stars including Bing Crosby, Maureen O’Hara and James Stewart to spread his famous message:
“The family that prays together stays together.”
The centre also offers beautiful surroundings, walking trails and peaceful spaces for reflection.
Call: +353 (0)96 45374 | Visit: fatherpeytoncentre.ie | Email: [email protected]
The North Mayo Heritage Centre, Castlehill, Ballina, F26 FR94
Located within the beautiful Enniscoe Estate between Crossmolina and Lahardane, the North Mayo Heritage Centre is dedicated to preserving and promoting the rich history and genealogy of the region. The centre provides family history research services for visitors from around the world and includes exhibitions exploring local heritage, rural life and emigration stories connected to North Mayo. The surrounding estate, gardens and woodland walks make it an ideal destination for visitors interested in both history and nature.
Call +353 (0)96 31809 | Visit: www.northmayogenealogy.com | Email: [email protected]
The Ballinglen Museum of Art, Ballycastle, F26 RX61
The Ballinglen Arts Foundation opened in 2020 and showcases an extraordinary collection of contemporary art gathered over more than 25 years by the Ballinglen Arts Foundation. The museum houses hundreds of works created by artists from around the world who have lived and worked in Ballycastle through the foundation’s residency programme. It is now regarded as one of the most significant collections of contemporary art in Ireland.
The museum provides a unique cultural experience in the heart of North Mayo’s rugged coastal landscape.
Call: +353 (0)96 43 184 | Visit: www.ballinglenartsfoundation.org | Email: [email protected]
Blacksod Lighthouse, Blacksod Bay, F26 KC7V
Comharchumann Forbartha Ionad Deirbhile, with the support of Údarás na Gaeltachta and Fáilte Ireland, is delighted to announce that Blacksod Lighthouse has opened its doors for guided tours.
This new guided experience explores the history of the lighthouse and the people that lived and worked there. The tour allows visitors to view some of the ground floor rooms before climbing the steep stairs to the top of the tower. There they can view the lens at close range, and experience an uninterrupted view of Blacksod Bay, across to Doohoma Peninsula and Achill Island.
Visit: www.visitblacksodlighthouse.ie | Email: [email protected] | Call: +353 (0)97 85727
Solas Visitor Centre, Aghleam, Co. Mayo, F26 X316
Located in the heart of the Erris region, SOLAS celebrates the maritime heritage, island traditions and cultural identity of North Mayo’s Atlantic coast. The visitor experience explores the stories of the sea, emigration, coastal communities and the unique relationship between people and landscape in this remote and beautiful part of Ireland.
Combined with nearby attractions including Blacksod Lighthouse and the Inishkea Islands, SOLAS provides visitors with a deeper understanding of life along Mayo’s rugged western seaboard.
Visit: ww.visitsolas.ie| Email: [email protected] | Call: 353 (0)97 65035
National Museum of Ireland – Country Life, Turlough Park, F23 HY31
Located in nearby Turlough, Castlebar, the National Museum of Ireland – Country Life is an essential stop for anyone interested in Irish heritage and rural traditions.
The museum showcases the everyday lives of people in rural Ireland from the 19th and early 20th centuries through beautifully curated exhibitions featuring farming tools, household items, clothing, crafts and traditional customs.
Admission is free of charge and the museum is regarded as one of Ireland’s finest cultural attractions.
Visit: National Museum of Ireland | Email: [email protected] | Call: +353 94 903 1755
Wild Nephin National Park & Ballycroy Visitor Centre
The Ballycroy Visitor Centre serves as the gateway to the vast wilderness of Wild Nephin National Park – one of Ireland’s last truly unspoilt landscapes. The visitor centre includes interactive exhibitions exploring the unique blanket bogs, wildlife, geology and cultural heritage of the region. Visitors can also enjoy the nearby Tóchar Daithí Bán nature trail and scenic viewpoints across the Nephin Beg mountain range.
The centre provides an excellent introduction to the natural and cultural history of North Mayo’s wild Atlantic landscape.
Visit: https://www.nationalparks.ie/wild-nephin/| Email: [email protected] | Call: 098 49888
Coming soon:
Historic & Significant Places of Interest
While not museums in the traditional sense, North Mayo is also home to a number of historically significant sites and heritage landmarks that tell the story of the region’s fascinating past.
– Rosserk Abbey & Moyne Abbey, Killala
The historic abbeys of Rosserk and Moyne stand as striking reminders of North Mayo’s rich medieval heritage. Located along the scenic Monasteries of the Moy Greenway between Ballina and Killala, these beautifully preserved Franciscan friaries date back to the 15th century and remain among the finest ecclesiastical ruins in Ireland.
Visitors can explore their atmospheric cloisters, towers and stone carvings while enjoying peaceful riverside and coastal scenery.
– Addergoole Titanic Memorial, Lahardane
The Addergoole Titanic Memorial commemorates the 14 people from the Lahardane area who boarded RMS Titanic in 1912. Tragically, 11 lost their lives in the disaster. The memorial stands as a moving tribute to the local families affected by one of the world’s most famous maritime tragedies and forms an important connection between North Mayo and global history.
The memorial and surrounding story continue to attract visitors from across Ireland and beyond who wish to learn more about the personal stories connected to the Titanic tragedy.
– Killala Round Tower & Ecclesiastical Heritage
Killala holds a unique place in Irish history as one of the country’s earliest Christian settlements. The town’s impressive Round Tower and nearby ecclesiastical remains reflect centuries of religious and cultural importance. Killala is also closely associated with St. Patrick and later became famous as the landing point of General Humbert and the French forces during the 1798 Rebellion.
The town offers visitors a fascinating blend of early Christian heritage, medieval history and revolutionary connections.
– Admiral Brown in Foxford
Foxford is also closely associated with Admiral William Brown, widely regarded as the “Father of the Argentine Navy.” Born in Foxford in 1777, Brown emigrated with his family before eventually rising to become one of Argentina’s most celebrated national heroes.
Visitors to Foxford can explore this unique international connection through the Admiral Brown heritage trail and riverside walk along the beautiful River Moy, where interpretive signage and monuments help tell the story of his remarkable life and legacy linking Mayo and Argentina.
North Mayo’s museums and heritage attractions offer visitors an extraordinary journey through thousands of years of history, culture and tradition. From ancient archaeological wonders and medieval abbeys to revolutionary collections and maritime stories, every corner of the region reveals another fascinating chapter in Ireland’s past.
Whether you are tracing your ancestry, exploring Ireland’s history or simply discovering the stories that shaped this remarkable landscape, North Mayo offers a truly unforgettable cultural experience.