Westport, County Mayo

Westport ( Irish: Cathair na Mart ) is a town in County Mayo on the west coast of Ireland. It is located at the southeast end of Clew Bay, an arm of the sea of the Atlantic Ocean, and has 5,163 inhabitants ( 2006). Westport is one of the few planned cities in the country applied. The city center consists of an ensemble of townhouses in the Georgian style. Especially picturesque is the Mall, a tree- lined promenade on both sides of Carrowbeg.

History

Westport is the unusual case of a planned city in Ireland. Cathair na Mart The village was originally located here was built in the 1780s replaced by the present city. The order issued for Lord Sligo English architect James Wyatt. The city should serve as a residence for persons employed in Westport House people. Westport House had been built around 1730 by the German architect Richard Cassels. Wyatt gave the building its present appearance and also designed the dining room of the house.

Tourism

Westport is, for several reasons, attracting tourists. The most important is the beautiful landscape of the area and the proximity to Connemara, Achill Iceland, Clew Bay and Croagh Patrick. The Croagh Patrick, a famous pilgrimage destination lies 10 kilometers west of the town near the village of Murrisk. It provides a striking background of the cityscape represents the small chapel on the summit can be seen with the naked eye. The city also offers opportunities for deep sea fishing. Popular fishing spots are also nearby Lough Mask and Lough Carra, river Eriff. Westport House with its especially interesting for children animal and bird park is a magnet for families. Many of them sleep on the accompanying campsite. The city also has an 18- hole golf course. Another major attraction especially for lovers of Irish folk music is the pub of the internationally well-known folk flutist Matt Molloy, presented nightly concerts or sessions of a very high level in the.

Traffic

The town is the terminus of the railway line from Dublin, which leads via Castlebar, the county town of Mayo. By 1977 the railway line leading to the Westport Quay. There was formerly a branch line to Achill. This was in 1937 decommissioned. In Westport, the National Road N5, which connects the city with Castlebar and continue on the N4 Dublin ends. The other main road through Westport is the N59. It leads across the County Mayo to Sligo. To the south it passes through Connemara to Galway. The Regional Knock Airport is about 60 kilometers away. It offers internal Irish flights inter alia also links to the UK.