Louisburgh lies amidst stunning & dramatic scenery.

Surrounded by the most wonderful natural landscape.

The Féile Chois Cuain is held every May Bank Holiday Weekend when the town hosts a traditional music festival which attracts traditional Irish Music lovers from many parts of Ireland and abroad.

The Bunowen River travels from Killary Harbour, Irelands only true fjord through some of Ireland’s most spectacular countryside before entering the Louisburgh village on its way to the sea at Clew Bay.

There are a number of sheltered, uncrowded, blue flag beaches in the area renowned for their cleanliness, ideal for swimming, sailing, surfing and other watersports.

Nearby Roonagh Pier is approx 7km from the town and is the departure point for regular ferries to Inishturk and Clare Island.

Louisburgh is close to the holy mountain of Croagh Patrick to the east, the Sheaffrey and Mweelrea Mountains to the south, the Atlantic to the west and Clew Bay to the north. Louisburgh is located in south-west Mayo, on the R335 regional coastal route linking Westport (to the east), and Delphi and Killary harbour to the south.

Louisburgh sits on the banks of the Bunowen River and is surrounded by an outstanding landscape composed of unique mountains and beaches. Although there are a number of archaeological sites in the surrounding areas which indicate the presence of settlements as early as the Megalithic, the modern day Louisburgh has its origins in the 18th century. Louisburgh is known as Cluain Cearbán – Meadow of Buttercups.

The village was named after the fortress town of Louisburg in Nova Scotia, where a member of Lord Altamont’s family had taken part in a siege. Modern day Louisburgh has lots to offer with spectacular beaches such as Old Head,  Bertra, Carramore, Cross, Carrowniskey, Silver Strand & White Strand all close by for swimming, walking, surfing/wind surfing, fishing both sea and river.

Events during the year include our St Patrick’s day parade, the Féile Chois Cuain (traditional Irish music festival), the Doolough National Famine Walk, the tri-burgh triathlon, the Louisburgh Horse Show and the Carrowniskey Races.

Like the rest of Mayo the 1840s Famine had a devastating effect on the Louisburgh area. Still etched in the landscape to the present day are the ridges and furrows of the potato beds (lazy beds) and ruins of the local inhabitants. The is an annual famine walk between Doolough and Louisburgh with more information here.  

Louisburgh

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