Updated February 2025–Is Ballina in County Mayo on your itinerary as you explore Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way?
The town of about 11,000 people may not suddenly come to mind since most tourists choose Westport, about 35 miles/57 kilometers away (an hour’s drive), but there’s more to this bustling town that you might think.
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Situated on the River Moy, Ballina is a favorite spot for serious anglers. In fact, the river is known for its salmon fishery, giving the town the monkier, “The Salmon Capital of Ireland.”
If you’re a history buff like me, you might want to know a bit about the history of the town before visiting.
The History of Ballina
Originally known as Belleek, the town has a long history, having been founded in 1723 by Charles O’Hara, the First Baron of Tyrawley, locally known as Lord Tyrawley, who was commander-in-chief of the Royal Irish Army.
During the Irish Rebellion of 1798, a small group of French soldiers walked through the estate on their way to Killala to fight against the British Crown forces.
With the development of The Quay in 1836, Ballina became an important seaport and market town, and indeed many new houses built at that time were for merchants and others engaged in trade and commerce.
The Great Famine of the 1840s greatly affected County Mayo in general, including Ballina where a workhouse was constructed.
It was formally known as the Ballina Poor Law Union, one of the largest workhouses in the country, designed to accommodate 1,200 people.
The only reminder of its existence today is a dispensary building.
In 2003, a memorial plaque was erected on the building, which acknowledges the presence of two mass graves nearby.
From this workhouse, 87 young girls were sent in three ships to Australia.
They are known as the Mayo Orphan Girls.
Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, Ballina was a busy place, importing coal, cement, tar, timber, as well as food (mostly tea, fruit, and coffee).
During World War II, livestock was regularly exported to England from Ballina.
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Read Christine Kinnealy’s book, “A Death-Dealing Famine: The Great Hunger in Ireland”
What to See When You Visit Ballina
If you’re in Ballina for any length of time, be sure to visit Belleek Castle and in particular, its fascinating armor collection.
The house (named after a 13th-century tower house called Belleek Castle that stood on the banks of the Moy), was built in 1825 and completed in 1831.
Commissioned by Sir Arthur Francis Knox-Gore, the total cost to build the Tudor Gothic revival mansion, considered the finest in Connacht at the time, was £10,000.
Nestled on the edge of Belleek Woods, the new house replaced a structure previously built by the Knox-Gores.
On the first floor alone, you’ll discover a large entrance hall, an equally large drawing room with a carved white mantelpiece bearing the Knox-Gore coat of arms, in addition to a dining room, library, study, and morning room.
Knox-Gore lived in the house until his death in 1873. A large Neo-Gothic monument located in the nearby Belleek Woods marks the spot of his internment.
His wife and favorite horse are also said to be buried there, as is Knox-Gore’s son, Charles, along with his beloved dog Phizzie.
In 1942, it was sold to the Becketts, a local family. They subsequently sold it to Mayo County Council, which turned it into a hospital and military barracks.
It wasn’t until Navy Merchant Officer Marshall Doran purchased it that Belleek Castle was returned to its former glory.
Doran was an avid collector of medieval treasures. You can see many of them in the basement of the castle when you take a guided tour.
They include a large collection of medieval armor and weaponry, some rare fossils, even the bed of the Irish Pirate Queen Granuaile, otherwise known as Grace O’Malley! A virtual tour of the castle/hotel is available.
Belleek Woods
The Belleek Woods that you see today is in many ways due to the vision of Knox-Gore, a benevolent man who took care of his workers and tenants and also had a keen interest in planting and agricultural practices.
During the development of the estate, Knox-Gore planted thousands of natural broadleaf deciduous trees, including oak, ash, elm, and larch trees.
Many of them form the basis of the present-day Belleek Woods, which stretches for six miles along the banks of the River Moy, making it one of the largest urban forests in Europe.
If you pick up a brochure in the car park before entering the woods, you’ll find details on the various stops along the popular Heritage Trail.
Some of those include the lime kiln built in 1830 to produce lime and modernized in 1940 to produce charcoal; the Hermitage, built in 1855 and occupied by two monks until 1940; the Ice House, which was used by the Knox-Gores to keep foodstuffs cold for use in their nearby castle, the graves of Sir Charles Knox-Gore and his pet dog, Phizzie; the Mausoleum where the remains of Sir Arthur Know-Gore and his horse remain, as well as a Fairy Trail and much, much more.
As you come close to the end of the trail, be sure to turn toward the river where you’ll get a bird’s eye view of the concrete tug boat known as the “SS Crete Boom.”
The vessel was built by the British during World War I but was never used.
The Ballina Harbour Commissioners purchased the wreck with the intention of using it to form a sand barrier at the entrance of the river.
The plan didn’t work, and it sank and remained underwater until 1974.
Connacht Whiskey Distillery
Close to Belleek Castle and woods is the Connacht Whiskey Distillery, which is one of close to 50 whiskey distilleries in operation throughout Ireland.
The 2,500-meter facility houses three copper pot stills that are used to make its signature brand, Connaught Irish Whiskey.
Its double distilled single malt whiskey is reflective of the local landscape as local grains are used in its making as well as water from two County Mayo lakes, Lough Conn and Lough Cullin.
The Connacht Whiskey Distillery also produces a number of other brands, which can be found on its website.
Bottles can now be shipped to many U.S. states, except for Arkansas, Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Utah.
The distillery is about a 2.5-hour drive from Dublin.
If you are interested in a tasting of the Connacht Whiskey Distillery brand, you must pre-book in advance.
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The Jackie Clarke Collection
What might seem like an unassuming place at first glance is actually a fascinating look into Irish history.
The Jackie Clarke Collection is housed in the former 3-story Provincial Bank building on Pearse Street in the center of town.
It was designed by the Victorian architect Thomas Manly Deane, who also designed the National Museum in Dublin and that city’s government buildings.
The rare and precious items that you’ll discover here are the result of years of collecting by the late Jackie Clarke, a local businessman.
The Jackie Clarke Collection Ballina Mayo InflightFlix from InflightFlix on Vimeo.
His love of historical items began when he was a schoolboy in the 1940s.
What started out as memories and collections in a scrapbook soon turned into a true passion as Clarke gathered the letters of Irish political figures, rare books, posters, and an impressive collection of maps, some as old as 400 years.
Some of the items that are housed here include letters from Michael Collins, Douglas Hyde, Michael Davitt, and O’Donovan Rossa, as well as plenty of personal items related to the leaders of the Easter Rising in 1916.
The attraction is open from Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Leigue Cemetery
If your ancestors came from Ballina, you’ll no doubt want to visit Leigue Cemetery, one of the largest burial grounds in County Mayo, with over 3,000 graves in a space that is about 15 acres.
It is located on the R314, locally known as the “Killala Road.”
There are 300 headstones in the oldest sections of the cemetery, which also includes the ruins of Kilmore Church, which was built during the 7th century on a site where another church once stood that is said to have been founded by Saint Patrick.
Other points of interest in this fascinating cemetery include a series of stones from the Bronze Age, with one of them bearing a motif with a circle and a cross.
Local legend says that Saint Patrick carved them on to the stone.
Bill Duffy from Really Great Tours and Debbie McCole, the Sleepy Scholar, both local guides and folklorists, provide tours of this Ballina gem and have many more interesting stories to tell.
The Monasteries of the Moy: Rosserk Friary and Moyne Abbey
It is here that you will discover the ancient ruins of Rosserk Friary and Moyne Abbey, both National Monuments and once belonging to the Franciscan Order.
Both were destroyed in the 1500s after King Henry VIII ordered that all monasteries in Ireland close.
Rosserk Friary, which was built in 1460 by the Joyce family, is a peaceful place along the banks of the Moy and about a 13-minute drive from Ballina.
Look out for the finely carved west doorway, the single-aisle church, and its unique double piscina (a stone basin near the altar used for washing vessels during mass).
Moyne Abbey, about 6 miles (9 km) from the town, is also along the Moy estuary. It was founded by the McWilliam Bourke family and consecrated in 1462.
Its extensive ruins include a church and domestic buildings situated around a central cloister.
Both friaries were built in the late Irish Gothic style.
If you want to truly explore this area around Ballina in County Mayo, hop on your bike or take a walk on the Monasteries of the Moy Greenway, a 14-km (8-mile) off-road walking and cycling route between Killala and Ballina.
You can rent bikes from Killala Bike Hire.
Have you visited Ballina in County Mayo? If so, let me know the attractions you enjoyed in the comments section below.
