Louisburgh, County Mayo

"Louisburgh" redirects here. For other uses, see Louisburgh (disambiguation).
Louisburgh
Cluain Cearbán
Town

Louisburgh town centre
Louisburgh

Location in Ireland

Coordinates: 53°45′43″N 9°48′32″W / 53.762°N 9.809°W / 53.762; -9.809Coordinates: 53°45′43″N 9°48′32″W / 53.762°N 9.809°W / 53.762; -9.809
Country Ireland
Province Connacht
County County Mayo
Elevation 5 m (16 ft)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Town 811
 • Urban 422
 • Environs 497
Irish Grid Reference L803812

Louisburgh (Irish: Cluain Cearbán) is a small town on the southwest corner of Clew Bay in County Mayo, Ireland. It is home to Sancta Maria College and the Gráinne O'Malley Interpretive Centre.

Transport

Road access

Louisburgh is located on the R335 regional road. It can be approached from Westport (13 miles) or from Leenane (19 miles). Both approaches are stunning as the former passes along the beautiful Clew Bay on one side and Croagh Patrick on the other while the latter passes through lake and mountain scenery past Doo Lough and Delphi Lodge.

Public transport

Bus services

Bus Éireann local route 450 Louisburgh-Lecanvey-Westport provides two to three journeys in each direction daily except Sundays. On Thursdays the route extends west to Killadoon.[2]

Rail access

The nearest rail services may be accessed at Westport railway station approximately 24 km distant. There are several trains a day from Westport to Dublin Heuston via Athlone.

History

Most of Louisburgh lies within the townland of Clooncarrabaun (an anglicisation of Cluain Cearbán). The town was constructed in 1795 by the 3rd Earl of Altamount, (later 1st Marquess of Sligo), John Denis Browne of Westport to house Catholic refugees who fled sectarian conflict in the north of Ireland. Originally a planned town, it retains many of the eighteenth century features in style and scale. The 1st Marquess of Sligo named the town Louisburgh in memory of his Uncle - Captain Henry Browne - who fought on the British side, against the French, in the 1758 battle of Louisburg. Louisburg (or Louisbourg in French) was a French named fortress on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada. As a result of the British victory, a temporary unit of Louisbourg Grenadiers was formed, in which his Uncle was a captain.[3]

Geography

Louisburgh is built on the Bunowen River, part of which is a salmon fishery. Nearby Roonagh Pier, approx 6 km from the town, is the departure point for ferries to Clare Island and Inishturk. There are a number of stunning beaches in the area renowned for their cleanliness. Nearest to the town are "majestic Old Head", Bunowen and Carramore while Carrowniskey, Cross, Lecanvey are within easy reach. Further to the west is the famed White Strand of Tallabawn. Each year, on the May Bank Holiday Weekend, the town hosts a traditional music festival - Féile Chois Chuan - which attracts a large number of enthusiasts from many parts of Ireland and abroad.

The main geographical features around Louisburgh are Croagh Patrick to the east, the Sheaffrey and Mweelrea Mountains to the south, the Atlantic to the west and Clew Bay to the north.

Economy and culture

Louisburgh in 2005

Louisburgh experienced an upturn in its fortunes during the economic boom in Ireland. For many years emigration and joblessness prevailed. During the boom there was high employment especially in construction due to a large a number of holiday homes being built. Many local people commute to work in nearby towns such as Westport and Castlebar, each of which have a growing industrial base.

Louisburgh has facilities for fishermen, surfers, hill walkers, beach-walkers and photographers.

Recently the theatre has received a major boost in the town with the addition of a second drama society. The new group entitled Ceol agus Dramá i gCluain Cearbán (Music and Drama in Louisburgh) formed with a focus on children's theatre and pantomime. They then went on to perform the first ever pantomime in Louisburgh helping to raise over 1,000 euro for the local Order of Malta group. Since the group's inception in 2006 they have produced 4 annual pantos Dick Whittington (2006), Cinderella (2007), Aladdin (2008) and Snow White (2009).

Notable people

Notes

  1. ↑ "Census 2006 – Volume 1 – Population Classified by Area" (PDF). Central Statistics Office Census 2006 Reports. Central Statistics Office Ireland. April 2007. Retrieved 2011-06-05.
  2. ↑ http://buseireann.ie/pdf/1277982245-450.pdf
  3. ↑ Westport House & The Brownes, 2003, The 10th Marquess of Sligo, published by Westport House
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