Westport Town
"Few towns in Ireland can match Westport’s charisma
and continental flavor. Cheerful, multi-colored shop fronts jostle for
attention with an attractive selection of shops, pubs, cafés and
restaurants. Little wonder it has become one of Ireland’s most popular and
cosmopolitan holiday destinations.
A safe haven, Westport kisses the south east shores of the Atlantic inlet
of Clew Bay and lies against the backdrop of the protective Croagh
Patrick – under the watchful eye of the chapel at its peak.
In 2012, award-winning Westport was crowned The Best Place to Live in
Ireland, Ireland’s Tidiest Large Town, Ireland’s Best Kept Large
Town, and the Retail Excellence Best Town in Ireland. In addition,
the Erris area of Co Mayo was selected by The Irish Times as the "Best
Place to go Wild" in recognition of the many and diverse outdoor
experience opportunities.
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| Photo by Pawel Sadowski |
There are literally hundreds of things to do in Westport and places to visit nearby. The award-winning Great Western Greenway, one of Ireland’s most-talked-about walking and cycling trails starts here. Westport House and Country Estate, one of Ireland’s most recognizable tourist attractions is 5 minutes walk from the center of town. Ireland’s iconic pilgrimage mountain, Croagh Patrick is just up the road. Lots of sandy blue flag beaches near Westport are just a short drive away, along the shores of Clew Bay, County Mayo.
For an evening’s entertainment, Westport offers plenty of pubs, cafés and restaurants and there’s live music almost every night of the week. Westport also offers the opportunity to take in a live show in the summer months, and there are numerous festivals throughout the year.
As a designated Heritage Town and three-time overall winner of the National Tidy Towns Competition, the words picturesque and Westport go hand in hand.
The Mall, an enchanting tree-lined boulevard, punctuated with clusters of
blooms, features several stone bridges over the serenading waters of the
Carrowbeg River; while a network of streets, flanked by flowers give way to an
orderly series of neat-fronted shops, restaurants and pubs which have
retained the culture and charm typical of Irish towns in days gone by.
The charming Quay area is just a few minutes from Westport’s town center and
possesses a unique character of its own with pubs, restaurants, hotels, shops
and galleries now occupying the old coastguard station and warehouses."
Source: DestinationWestport.com
