Louisburgh, County Mayo
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"Louisburgh" redirects here. For other uses, see Louisburgh (disambiguation).
| Louisburgh Cluain Cearbán |
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| Town population: | 207 (2002) |
| Rural population: | 755 (2002) |
| Elevation: | 11m |
| County: | Mayo |
| Province: | Connacht |
Louisburgh (Cluain Cearbán in Irish) is a small town on the southwest corner of Clew Bay. It is home to the Grace O'Malley Interpretive Centre, and close to Old Head Wood and Delphi.
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. Originally a planned town it retains many of the eighteenth century features in style and scale.
Louisburgh is built on the Bunowen River part of which is a salmon fishery. Nearby Roonagh Pier, approx 6km from the town, is the departure point for ferries to Clare Island and Inishturk. There are a number of beaches in the area renowned for their cleanliness and each year, generally in April, the town hosts a traditional music festival - Féile Chois Chuan - which attracts a large number of enthusiasts from many parts of Ireland and abroad.
Louisburgh is experiencing an upturn in its fortunes as is the rest of Ireland. For many years emigration and joblessness prevailed but more recently high employment especially in construction has prevailed 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.
Recreationally, Louisburgh is a paradise for fishermen, hill walkers, solitary beach-walkers and photographers. It is hoped that its unrivalled seclusion and tranquility on the very western edge of Europe will endure into the future.
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Also check out: http://www.louisburgh-mayo.com/
