Westport

Westport, a Georgian planned town of 6,200, sits at the head of Clew Bay beneath Croagh Patrick, Ireland's holy mountain. The N5 connects directly to Dublin (254km), while the N59 brings visitors from Galway through Connemara. Most arrive via these major routes or from nearby Castlebar, just 18km east. The town serves as a natural stopping point on the Wild Atlantic Way touring route. James Wyatt's 1770s design created the distinctive tree-lined Mall following the Carrowbeg River, centered around an octagonal square that remains the commercial heart.