A huge county jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean from the rest of the island. It has some dramatic natural scenery but also many interesting buildings and places. The following is a small selection of sketches from various times when I have visited. While these highlight some interesting places, there is much more for a visitor to see.
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Moyne Friary, Killala Co Mayo, constructed around 1460 for the Franciscans. Located about 3 miles outside the town, it is now an impressive ruin overlooking the bay. I visited in 1991 and did a quick sketch.
Crosspatrick cemetery near Killala, Co Mayo is a pace full of character beside the road to Ballina.
The Octagon, Westport, Co Mayo, cetrepiece of the town plan designed by the eminent Eighteenth Century architect James Wyatt. The central monument was erected in 1845 to commemorate George Glendenning, Agent of the Bank of Ireland and key to the devlopment of the town in the early nineteenth century. In addition to the statue on top of the column, two more sat at either side of its base. Damaged in 1922 the staues were removed in 1945 and, in 1990, St Patrick was put on top of the column and new panels inserted at the base recounting his life’s story.
Westport House , has a town gate near to the Octagon. Set in fine grounds it is well worth a visit. This is the west front of 1730 overlooking the ornamental lake. The house was redesigned by Richard Cassels in the 1730's and completed by James Wyatt in the 1770's
A sketch of Torlough Round Tower, Co Mayo from the carpark of the nearby garden centre. The Round tower probably dates from the 11th century and is much smaller than most, but it is still an important landmark in the area and a reminder of ancient monastic endeavour.
One of my favourite places, a dramatic modern museum contrasted with a small Victorian country house. Its landscaped setting interspersed with modern sculpture. It is a well considered and sensibly designed place. The museum is not bad either. The modern museum was designed in 2001 by the Office of Public Works and the house bears an 1865 date stone. It was home to the Fitzgerald family relocated here under the Cromwellian land settlement of the Sixteenth Century from richer land to the east. They still had a large estate of 8,500 acres until this was purchased and redistributed from them in 1915 by the Congested Districts Board. This had been established to initiate economic improvements along the western seaboard.
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