Castlebar, Ireland Hotels, Vacations, Tourism

CASTLEBAR , the county town of Mayo, offers little reason to hang around in itself but has recently been given a shot in the arm with the opening of the National Museum of Country Life at nearby Turlough. Historically, the town is notable for a Franco-Irish victory in 1798, at which General Humbert's army routed a stronger force commanded by General Lake – the event has gone down in history as the "Castlebar Races" because of the speed of the British retreat. The tourist office (June–Aug Mon–Sat 10am–5.30pm; tel 094/902 1207) is in the Old Linen Hall, which was the venue for a … more »