Castlebar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Castlebar
Caisleán an Bharraigh
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Town
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    A montage of Castlebar. From top: The Mall, Market Street, Lough Lannagh Bridge viewing towards Croagh Patrick.
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| Motto(s):
Ar Aghaidh
(Meaning: Forward) |
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 Castlebar
Location in Ireland
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| Country | Ireland | |
| Province | Connacht | |
| County | County Mayo | |
| Founded | 1235 | |
| Incorporated | 1613 | |
| Elevation | 49 m (161 ft) | |
| Population
(2022)
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13,054 | |
| Time zone | UTC±0 (WET) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+1 (IST) | |
| Eircode routing key |
F23
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| Telephone area code | +353(0)94 | |
| Irish Grid Reference | M146905 | |
Castlebar (Irish: Caisleán an Bharraigh, meaning Barry's Castle) is a lively town in County Mayo, Ireland. It's known as the county town, which means it's an important center for the area. The town got its name from a castle built there in the 1200s by the de Barry family.
Today, Castlebar is a busy place for shopping, work, and fun for people living nearby. In 2022, about 13,054 people lived here. It has grown quite a lot, making it one of Ireland's fastest-growing towns in recent years.
You can find a campus of Atlantic Technological University and the National Museum of Ireland – Country Life here. The town is also connected by train to big cities like Dublin and other towns like Westport and Ballina. The main road connecting Castlebar is the N5.
Contents
Exploring Castlebar's Past
Castlebar started as a small settlement around a castle. This castle was built in 1235 by a Norman adventurer. It later became a base for English soldiers. The castle was located at the end of Castle Street, near where the town's river used to flow.
In 1613, King James I of England gave Castlebar a special charter. This allowed the town to have its own mayor and council. It also meant Castlebar could elect two people to the Irish Parliament. The Linen Hall, which was used for trading local linen, was finished in 1790.
The 1798 Rebellion
Castlebar has a history of important battles. In 1798, French soldiers led by General Jean Joseph Amable Humbert helped Irish rebels. They defeated the British army in the town. This victory was so quick and complete that it became known as "The Races of Castlebar".
After this win, John Moore was named president of the Connacht region. His grave is now in a part of the town green called the Mall. This area used to be a cricket ground owned by the Bingham family, who owned much of the land.
The Castlebar Military Barracks was built in 1834. It closed in 2012, and the local councils bought the land. The Irish National Land League was started in Castlebar in 1879. It was founded by Michael Davitt to help farmers.
Understanding the Town's Crest
The name Castlebar comes from the castle built in 1235. You can see this castle at the top of the town's crest. On either side of the castle are two yew trees. This is because Castlebar is the main town of Mayo, and Mayo means "plain of the yew trees" in Irish.
The crosses on the crest represent the local church parish, Aglish. The pikes in the top left corner remind us of the 1798 "Races of Castlebar" battle. Below these symbols, you'll find the words 'Ar Aghaidh'. This Irish phrase means 'Forward'.
How Castlebar Has Grown
Castlebar's population has increased a lot over the years. It grew quickly in the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s. For example, between 1996 and 2002, the number of people living here went up by one-third.
In 2016, the population was 12,068. This was three times more than in 1926, when only 4,256 people lived in the town.
Fun Things to Do and See
Castlebar is home to many interesting festivals and traditions. One popular event is the International Four Days' Walk. For many years, the town also hosted a well-known blues music festival.
From the 1970s to the 1980s, Castlebar held the International Castlebar Song Contest. This event was shown on national TV. The National Museum of Ireland – Country Life is just outside Castlebar. It's the only part of the National Museum of Ireland that's not in Dublin.
Arts and Entertainment
The Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar shows visual art all year round. It also hosts live plays and music concerts. For bigger shows and popular music concerts, there's The Royal Theatre and Event Centre. It can hold up to 2,200 people seated or 4,000 standing.
Places of Worship
Castlebar has several churches, including Roman Catholic, Church of Ireland (Anglican), Elim Pentecostal, and evangelical churches. A mosque also opened in October 2023.
Local Traditions
One of the oldest pubs in Castlebar is John McHale's pub. It's famous for selling a "Meejum" of Guinness, which is a bit less than a full pint. Some even say it once had "the best pint of Guinness in Ireland"!
Castlebar's Economy
Castlebar is home to some important companies. These include Baxter Healthcare, which works in health care, and Fort Wayne Metals, a manufacturing company.
Getting Around Castlebar
Road Travel
Castlebar is connected by the N5 national road. Other roads like the N60 and N84 also serve the town. In 1990, a bypass road was built around Castlebar. This helped to reduce traffic in the town center.
A new, bigger bypass road was approved in 2014 and finished in 2023. This new road helps thousands of tourists travel more easily to places like Westport and Achill Island.
Train Connections
Castlebar railway station is on the train line that goes from Dublin to Westport. You can also travel to Ballina and Foxford by changing trains at Manulla Junction. The train station first opened on December 17, 1862.
Old Airport Site
Castlebar used to have a commercial airport. The area where it once stood is now a retail park with shops.
Learning in Castlebar
Castlebar has many schools for different age groups. There are several national (primary) schools for younger children. For secondary education, students can attend St Gerald's College (a boys' school), St Joseph's Secondary School (a girls' school), and Davitt College (a mixed school).
For older students, Castlebar offers higher education options. These include Atlantic TU's Mayo campus, the Mayo, Sligo & Leitrim Education and Training Board, and Castlebar College of Further Education.
Sports and Activities
Gaelic Games
The local Gaelic football and hurling team is the Castlebar Mitchels GAA club. They have won many championships over the years. The club even reached the All-Ireland Senior Club Football final twice, in 2014 and 2016. Other local GAA clubs include Breaffy GAA and Islandeady GAA.
MacHale Park in Castlebar is one of the biggest GAA stadiums in Ireland. It can hold about 28,000 people. It has a new stand with changing rooms and offices.
Soccer
Local soccer teams include Castlebar Celtic F.C., which started in 1924. They have teams for both boys and girls of different ages. They play their home games at Celtic Park in the town center. Other local soccer teams are Castlebar Town FC, Snugboro United, and Ballyheane FC.
Rugby
Castlebar RFC is a rugby union club. It was one of the first clubs to join the Connacht rugby branch in 1885. The club has two pitches and a clubhouse at Cloondeash. They play in provincial and national leagues. The ladies' team, started in 2012, won the Connacht Development League Final in 2013.
Other Sports
Castlebar also has an 18-hole golf club. You can find clubs for athletics, basketball, racquetball, and tennis. The local council provides an indoor heated swimming pool, and there are many gyms.
There are also several martial arts clubs in the area. Castlebar even hosted the WOMAA World Martial Games in 2007 and 2008.
Famous People from Castlebar
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Many notable people have connections to Castlebar, including:
- Ulick Bourke (1829–1877), a scholar who started the Gaelic Union.
- Louis Brennan (1852–1932), an inventor.
- Margaret Burke-Sheridan (1889–1958), a famous opera singer.
- Pádraig Carney (1928–2019), a Gaelic footballer known as the "Flying Doctor".
- Pádraig Flynn (born 1939), a former government minister.
- Charles Haughey (1925–2006), a former Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister).
- Enda Kenny (born 1951), also a former Taoiseach.
- John MacHale (1789–1881), an Archbishop and Irish leader.
- Ernie O'Malley (1897–1957), an important officer in the Irish Republican Army and a writer.
- Sally Rooney (born 1991), a well-known novelist and screenwriter.
Castlebar's Sister Cities
Castlebar is connected with other towns around the world. These are called "twin towns" or "sister cities":
Images for kids
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Castlebar, around 1880
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See also
In Spanish: Castlebar para niños
