Westport lies at the south-east corner of Clew Bay, an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean. A visit to the town center is an option when in Connemara on your guided tour. Westport was designed by James Wyatt in 1780, in the Georgian architectural style. Its layout follows a medieval principle of urban design which was introduced by the Normans in the 13th century.

The design for the town was commissioned by the Lord Sligo of the nearby stately home, Westport House, as a place for his workers and tenants to live. The Carrow Beg river was diverted to run straight through The Mall and is contained for two blocks by low stone walls producing, on each side of the river, attractive tree-lined streets with several stone bridges over the river. The Mall is an enchanting tree-lined boulevard lined with clusters of flowers and blooms. It features several stone bridges over the diverted waters of the Carrowbeg River. There Westport Mallis a network of streets, that gives way to an orderly series of multi-colored shops, restaurants, and bars. While modern, they have managed to retain the culture and charm typical of Irish towns and villages of a past era.

The captivating Quay area is just a short distance from the town center and has a unique character of its own with bars, restaurants, hotels, shops, and various galleries which now occupy what once were an old coastguard station and warehouses. Westport is a designated Heritage Town and many times overall winner of Ireland's National Tidy Towns Competition.

Clare Island

Clare Island lies off the coast of Westport in Clew Bay. The island is closely associated with the famous 16th-century pirate queen, "Granuaile" (Grace O'Malley), who lived in a castle on the island during the course of her life as a chief commander and director of thieves and murderers at sea, according to contemporaneous accounts. She is reputedly buried in the O'Malley tomb in the island's 13th century Cistercian Abbey.

Croagh Patrick

The famous pilgrimage mountain of Croagh Patrick, known locally as "the Reek", lies about 10 km west of the town near the village of Murrisk. The mountain offers a striking backdrop to the town. There is a small church on the summit and it can just about be seen on a clear day with the naked eye from Westport.

Murrisk is a small village at the foot of Croagh Patrick and the haunting and eerie bronze sculpture which is the "National Famine Memorial".

YouTube Video  1        By The Irish Times          Duration  1:25

YouTube Video  2          By Drifter Planet          Duration  2:31