Having read about the plentiful blue flag beaches Mayo has according to Paddyogall, ORH and the clan have decided to spend a week in Mayo before the childer go back to school. I was just wondering what other delights Mayo has? Staying at Breaffy House, anyone stayed there or any views on it? I also aim to get a round of golf in at some point (unknown to Mrs ORH) and was going to book a round at Clew Bay. Is this a good course and what are the green fees like?

I have a two day pass to Pirate land or something in Westport and a couple of days set aside for the beach depending on the weather. Climbing Croagh Patrick is not an option so what else can we do. I would also like to know about decent pubs in Westport/Castlebar

omaghredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 3656 - 21/08/2010 17:34:03    752329

Down there myself ORH
heading down middle of the week for a few days
Staying in westport - Itenary involves getting kids to bed about 8ish and sprinting down to Matt Molloys for a half a dozen porter
Mrs Omar happy to sit on with a mug og coffee and access to Big brother or whatever equivalent garbage is next weeks rage-
Prirateland for a day - and Louisburg if weather is anyway clement

Omar.d (Cavan) - Posts: 1141 - 21/08/2010 18:07:20    752359

I used to work in Breaffy house years ago. Its all different now it has since been redeveloped. Nice hotel though woith good leisure facilties.

Castlebar:
Second biggest theatre in Ireland after the O2 you might catch a gig there
http://www.theroyal.ie/
Johhny McHales would be the best pub in Castlebar.
Natural Museum of country life out the N5.
The Mayo Peace park is well worth a look .
Nice walk area around the lake.
Bowling alley, Cinema etc on the way into Castlebar from Breaffy house

Westport
Westport House
Sheebeen pub out towards Croagh park brilliant food
The Helm also a good pub and restaurant out in the Quays beside the entrance to Westport house
Old head beach
Good general atmopshere in westport plenty of good pubs restaurants etc

Newport Mulranny Achill
The Greenway has been opened from Newport to Mulranny. Its an 18kn cycle with spectaluar views. Mulranny is a nice village with a class beach. Nice places to stop off for food pint etc.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNMVG7pMRvs

paddyogall (Mayo) - Posts: 5110 - 21/08/2010 18:25:43    752373

I must point out that Breaffy is a few miles outside Castlebar and about 20 Miles from Westport. On the way from Castlebar to Westport you'll pass through the magical Islandeady. Acroos from Breaffy house there is a nice country pub called the shamrock.

paddyogall (Mayo) - Posts: 5110 - 21/08/2010 18:27:53    752376

well lads - breaffy is an excellent hotel with all the leisure facilities - the munster team have trained there as far as i know. castlebar has good shopping and id recommend checking out the theatre royal (biggest indoor venue outside dublin) to see what music acts are on. castlebar has some good bars, like bar one, coxes, the irish house but westport is 100 times better for night life.
every pub in wesport is lively but when im there is usually head to cosy joes, mj heneghans, matt molloys, o'gradys etc... if the wife lets ya, id go to the nite club at the castlecourt hotel.

during the day - old head beach or keel beach in achill. the drive from westport to achill is very nice or why not head south towards conamarra. you can get to clare island via ferry at ronnagh quay (near louisberg). the pirate adventure centre is located at westport house which is popular with kids.

there are plenty of more beaches which id recommend you ask locally. if your into castles, head to the lovely village of cong and visit ashford castle (top 10 hotels in the world) or kylemore abbey over the border in galway.

overall id say enjoy the scenery, take it easy and enjoy the pints at night. ive left out loads of other things so if ye have any other questions, just ask.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11718 - 21/08/2010 18:41:07    752387

Ceide fields is a well worth the spin.

dhorse (Laois) - Posts: 11374 - 21/08/2010 19:40:27    752425

Thanks lads. I'm aware that the hotel is a bit away from Westport but the bean ceile can manoevure the oul veh-icle so I should get a few pints handy enough. One last thing, what about the oul golf does anyone know?

omaghredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 3656 - 21/08/2010 19:59:45    752440

Omar, would I be looking for a Caaavaaan accent or a Donegal wan hi if I'm on the look out for you?

omaghredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 3656 - 21/08/2010 20:01:06    752442

Omaghredhand

There are lots of good quality golf courses in Mayo. There are nice parkland golf courses in Ballinrobe and Claremorris. There is also a nice Links course in Mulranney(on the way from Westport to Achill). There are also other courses in Castlebar, Westport etc. but I haven't played them.

On the subject of Islandeady, lock the doors if you find yourself unlucky enough to pass through it. Bandit country is perhaps a more suitable name for it.

maigh_eo (Mayo) - Posts: 1346 - 22/08/2010 12:30:12    752670

Thats a magnanimous gesture ORH, injecting some badly needed cash into the hardpressed Mayo economy, I hope that its duly recognized by all Mayo posters.

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 22/08/2010 14:35:20    752751

Ballycroy. The land that time forgot. Local pub is straight out of the Quiet Man and the locals all look and sound like extras from the movie.

thistle_harps (UK) - Posts: 879 - 22/08/2010 14:46:14    752763

The golf course in Westport is well worth the trip. Croagh Patrick is a good climb but if you want something a bit more challenging try Nephin near Crossmolina and Laherdane or Mweelrea out near Louisbourg (this is the highest peak in Connacht and can be dangerous). Surfing out in Louisbourg or Achill is good too.

roundball (Tipperary) - Posts: 2514 - 22/08/2010 15:17:12    752798

Achill is beautiful and so is Westport and a wee walk around Croke Patrick and a wee day shopping in Castlebar,Aw I love going to Mayo

Orlaith (Derry) - Posts: 4282 - 22/08/2010 15:45:39    752819

How did the holiday go Omaghredhand?

Were you impressed with the fairest county of them all?

maigh_eo (Mayo) - Posts: 1346 - 25/08/2010 21:07:01    756486

You can get a ferry from Ronnagh Quay, just outside Louisburg, to Innishturk island and see one of the most unusual G.A.A. pitches i have ever seen. Its hewn out of rock on the side of a mountain just below the lookout of Grainne Mhaol the famous Irish pirate. You can spend the whole day wandering around this small island, weather permitting, but bring plenty of food and drink as the ferry does not return till about 8 p.m. !!

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 25/08/2010 21:29:27    756521

The Mayo are the friendlist!

Bigapple (Kerry) - Posts: 495 - 26/08/2010 19:08:54    757268

brendtheredhand
County: Tyrone
Posts: 2705

752751 Thats a magnanimous gesture ORH, injecting some badly needed cash into the hardpressed Mayo economy, I hope that its duly recognized by all Mayo posters

Don't know about the magnanimity of the gesture but I know that the Mayo economy got a fair boost. All joking aside, a good time was had by all. People were friendly, food was good and the porter was, well porter!! Went to Old Head beach, nice and then to bertra Strand on another day, too many stones!! Played the course in Castlebar and was a tidy course with a great water feature at the 17th. The hotel was great, friendly staff, great facilities and plenty on for the children. Food a bit dear when eating out but not so much that you felt ripped off. Overall a big thumbs up from the ORH clan and to quote Arnie. " I'll be back".

omaghredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 3656 - 31/08/2010 19:37:25    761852

ORH

Was on Bertra myself on Thursday and Friday evening trying in vain to fly a 5 euro kite
Was on another beach (not old Head) the one about a mile outside Loiusburgh on Friday morning
problem about having the clan in tow is that you look at the all the great things to do if you didn't have kids in tow
Golf,Croagh Patrick, Cycle trails, Matt Molloys etc

Omar.d (Cavan) - Posts: 1141 - 01/09/2010 11:36:51    762254

The wife and I are for the Ice House in Ballina for a few days next week. According to the reviews its a decent spot, is there anything worth seeing in the locality?

caughtredhanded (Tyrone) - Posts: 602 - 01/09/2010 13:13:46    762355

caughtredhanded
County: Tyrone
Posts: 558

762355 The wife and I are for the Ice House in Ballina for a few days next week. According to the reviews its a decent spot, is there anything worth seeing in the locality?

Worth a trip out to Pontoon which is only 20mins away. The views are great especially sitting in Pontoon Bridge hotel or Healy's with a feed of grub and a pint. You can drive round Lough Conn through Crossmalina back to Ballina. Great spot. Not far away from Foxford as well which is worth a visit with the missus to the woolen mills. Out the road from Foxford is the Michael Davitt museum. All in all a great part of the country.

RoverTin (Derry) - Posts: 228 - 01/09/2010 14:30:53    762475