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County Mayo
Province: Connacht
Location: Maritime county on the west coast
County Size: 3rd in Ireland
Land area: 2,159 sq. miles
Highest point: Mweelrea Mtn (819 m)
Main Rivers: Oweniny; Deel; Moy
Main Lakes: Carrowmore Lake; L Conn; L Allen; Beltra L; L Mask; L Carra; L Cullin.
Main Islands: Inishkea North; Inishkea South; Inishbiggle; Clare; Inishturk; Caher; Achill; Inishcottle; Inishgort; Inishtyre
Areas of Geographical Interest: the Inishkea bird sanctuaries, the new Mayo National Park in the Owenduff-Nephinbeg area. Moy river (renowned for jits angling, exceptional salmon fishery and a choice of over 100 game and coarse fish), Lough Conn (spans 15 square miles, holds an estimated 1 million Trout), Killala Bay (holds a large range of species of seafish and marine mammals), the Nephin mountain range.
Areas of Historical Interest: Ceide Fields near Ballycastle (dating back 5,000 years, one of the oldest enclosed farms in the World, its interpretive centre is built to an award winning design), Cong (famous for its cross and as the location of the film The Quiet Man), Micheal Davitt Museum, Moore Hall, Ballintubber medieval abbey (founded in 1216), the round Tower and ancient Cathedral at Killala, the great Famine walks at Bonniconlon, the Foxford Woollen Mills (its history centre gives 100 years of sights, sounds and smells of the Woollen Industry), the Dolmen of the four Maols, The portal-tombs (at Ballyknock, Achill and Killasser)
The County
Total Population: 111,524 (1996)
Growth Rate: 0.7% increase since 1991
County Capital: Castlebar
Largest Town: Ballina
Main Towns: Ballina, Ballinrobe, Ballyhaunis, Charlestown, Claremorris, Crossmolina, Swinford.
Ballina Town
The largest town in Mayo is Ballina, an angling centre on the River Moy. The Moy is excellent for salmon and trout and nearby Lough Conn has equally good fishing; golf (9) and hunting are other attractions. The original settlement at Ballina was at Ardnaree, on the east side of the river. This site is marked by the ruins of a 14th century Augustinian friary, dwarfed by the Victorian cathedral of St Muredach. In the 18th century Ballina developed on the west side of the river and it today, a thriving industrial and commercial town.
Transport
Main Routes: is served by major routes N57-N5-N4 (to Dublin); N59-N17-N15-N16-A4-M1-A3-M1 (to Belfast); N57-N58-N5-N60-N84-N84-N18-N21-N20 (to Cork); N57-N58-N5-N60-N84 (to Galway).
Miles from: Dublin (154); Belfast (167); Cork (184); Galway (74).
Nearest Travel Centre (Bus): Bus Office, Ballina. Tel 098-71800
Nearest Rail Station: Ballina. Tel 096-71818
Nearest Airport: Knock International Airport. Tel 094-67222
Nearest Ferry Port: Dublin (+154 miles).
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