COUNTY MAYO - HERITAGE CENTERS
Clew Bay Heritage Center
Westport
The Clew Bay Heritage Center, housed in a 19th century building contains a nostalgic collection of artifacts, documents and photographs connected with the general Westport area in County Mayo. The Center also provides a genealogical research facility, complete with an extensive computer database, based on church records, schools registers, rent rolls, cemetery records, census returns, local newspapers and street directories. These records cover the entire Clew Bay area, from Achill Island to Louisburgh.
Clogher Heritage Complex
Clogher, Claremorris
The Clogher Heritage Complex, near Claremorris, consists of a typical one bedroom laborers cottage and garden. Large families often lived in houses of this size, where typical features included a loft, which was used as an extra bedroom and a half door entrance, which also provided light and ventilation.
Surrounding the cottage is a display of artifacts and old farm machinery which were donated by locals. The tranquil garden also features a picnic area, water feature and sundial. A forge stands within the grounds. This forge in Newtown, originally one of half a dozen working forges in the district, was in the Staunton family ownership since the 19th century. Restored in 2001, the forge contains original features such as bellows and an anvil.
The Heritage Complex is also the starting point for the Clogher Bog Walk, a loop walk of 5 miles. The walk takes in the biodiversity of the flora of the bogland, which is a unique habitat for both common and rare protected species. There are many archaeological features worth viewing on the walk and in the locality. A selection of these is on this site as well as a collection of folklore tales and history of the area.
Enniscoe House
Enniscoe, Castlehill, Ballina
Enniscoe House is one of Ireland`s listed heritage houses and has passed by descent from the 1660s through twelve generations to the present owner. Set in parkland and mature woods on the shores of Lough Conn in North Mayo, the Georgian mansion offers the visitor friendliness, peace, and relaxation. It is a very special place for anglers and other visitors with a natural empathy for the untamed wildness of the area. The house offers accommodation and meals – but there is much of interest around converted outbuildings at the back of the house, including a genealogy center (the Mayo North Family History Research Center) and a small agricultural museum with working blacksmith.
Enniscoe House is surrounded by beautiful woodlands, with a network of paths, and there are restored walled gardens (both ornamental and productive - one is run commercially as an organic market garden), which are open to the public and have tea-rooms and a shop. A working run of an old bog railway is to be opened in the near future. There is brown trout fishing on Lough Conn and other trout and salmon fishing nearby; boats, ghillies, tuition and hire of equipment can be arranged.
The Mayo North Family Heritage Center, situated on Enniscoe country estate, is dedicated to promoting the rich heritage of the region. Family History Research Center, designated by the Irish Family History Foundation (IFHF), offering a service to people tracing their North Mayo roots.
Belcarra Eviction Cottage
Elmhall, Belcarra
The Belcarra Eviction Cottage was the scene of the final eviction in this area; when the Walshe family were evicted by the landlord`s agents in October 1886. This cottage has now been restored as a heritage center and has been refurbished to how it would have looked before the eviction. There are life sized cut outs in the cottage produced by local artist, Bridie Geraghty and it is furnished with typical household implements of the era. Other interesting contents include a history of local place names, Griffith`s Valuation of 1848, the 1901 census of Elmhall and Belcarra, plus headstone inscriptions from the local Guesdian, Elmhall, Drum and Protestant graveyards. Also nearby is a `tigín`, a simple shelter built by the neighbors to house the evicted family.
Hennigan`s Heritage Center
Killasser, Swinford
Hennigan`s Heritage Center is situated in unspoiled countryside overlooking Creagaballa Lake 4 miles from the workhouse at Swinford where thousands of people from the region died during the 19th century due to starvation. Hennigan`s Heritage Center tells the story of the lives of local West of Ireland people over the past 200 years.
Guided tours of this small holding are provided by Tom Hennigan who is the sixth-generation of his family to live here. See and hear how this family survived on less than ten acres of poor land for twenty decades. Information displays range from prehistoric to the 19th century land estates and tenants, through Independence and to present times. Working demonstrations of the implements on display plus archaeological tours of the surrounding historic area can also be provided. Hennigan`s Farm also features a lake, which is available for angling, and a picnic area.
Ionad Deirbhle Heritage Center
Aughleam
Located in Aughleam at the tip of scenic Mullet Peninsula, the Ionad Deirbhile Heritage Center gives the visitor an insight into the past history and culture of this west Mayo area. Set in the southern tip of the Mullet peninsula, with Blacksod Bay to the south and east and the Atlantic along the western shoreline, this is one of the most stunningly beautiful and unspoiled landscapes in Ireland. Discover a former way of life that involved currach fishing and the construction of the distinctive local houses. Artifacts on display include local crafts such as creels baskets woven from sally rods that were packed with turf and carried from the bog to home by donkeys, quilt making and straw hats. These were made from straw and worn by strawboys who attended local Erris weddings in the house of the bride to dance with both the bride and guests. The hats were also adorned with stripes of red and green cloth which are the traditional Mayo colors. A unique feature of the building is a 9 foot high stained glass window illustrating the story of St Deirbhile, after whom the center is named. The ruins of her 6th Century church, (a national monument) are in the old Fallmore cemetery, while close by in the sand dunes, lies a holy well also named after her.
Foxford Woollen Mills
Foxford
As one of the last working mills in Ireland, Foxford was founded by an Irish Sister of Charity in 1892 and has overcome many challenges over the years in order to survive. At that time, the area around Foxford was considered to be one of the poorest in the West of Ireland. Mother Agnes Morrogh-Bernard felt the best way to combat these poor economic conditions was by establishing viable local industries. Foxford was built on a river and this inspired her idea of building a woolen mill. The River Moy could provide the power, the sheep farmed by the local people would provide the wool and the people of Foxford would provide the labor.
Today, it is a thriving mill with master craftspeople creating beautiful pieces for sale in Foxford`s three nationwide stores and in stores worldwide. There is also a visitor center that tells the story of the remarkable nun who founded the mills and made Foxford synonymous throughout the world with high-quality tweeds, rugs and blankets. Visitors are taken right through parts of the working mill as it is run today, where they can see firsthand the mastery of tradition, design and craftsmanship that goes into every single Irish-made Foxford product. There is also a chance to enjoy the gourmet cafe and peruse the treasure trove of gifts in the bright and airy Foxford store. Foxford Restaurant features a wide array of local, seasonal produce. Using herbs from the restaurant`s own herb garden, the chefs put the finishing touches to all dishes served.