County Mayo - Definition and Overview

County Mayo
Area:	5,585 km²
Capital:	Castlebar
Code:	MO
Population:	117,446 (2002)
Province:	Connacht

County Mayo (Irish: Maigh Eo) is a county on the west coast of Ireland. It is in the province of Connacht. The county town of Mayo is Castlebar. Ballina is the largest town.

The shrine of Knock is in Mayo close to the border with County Roscommon. Mayo is also home to Croagh Patrick a mountain where St. Patrick is said to have fasted for forty days and nights.

The highest point in Mayo and Connacht is Mweelrea (814 metres). The river Moy in the northeast of the county is renowned for its salmon fishing. Ireland's largest island, Achill, is in Mayo.

Mayo is also noted for its Gaelic Football team, famed for their inability to win All-Ireland finals. They last won a title in 1951.

Michael Davitt, founder of the Land League, was born in Mayo. The bridge to Achill is named after him.

The south of Inishturk island has a small secessionist movement which seeks to join with Co. Galway, although so far they have made little progress.

Towns in County Mayo

• Balla - Balla
• Ballina - Béal an Átha or Béal Átha an Fheadha
• Ballycastle - Baile an Chaisil
• Ballyhaunis - Béal Átha hAmhnais
• Belmullet - Béal an Mhuirthead
• Castlebar - Caisleán an Bharraigh
• Claremorris - Clár Chlainne Mhuiris
• Killala - Cill Ala
• Newport - Baile Uí Fhiacháin
• Tourmakeady - Tuar Mhic Éadaigh
• Westport - Cathair na Mart

Other places in County Mayo

• Achill Island
• Knock International Airport
• Lough Mask
• Nephin Beg Mountains

External link

• Mayo County Council's website (http://www.mayococo.ie/)

	Traditional counties of Ireland
Connacht: Galway | Leitrim | Mayo | Roscommon | Sligo
Munster: Clare | Cork | Kerry | Limerick | Tipperary | Waterford
Leinster: Carlow | Dublin | Kildare | Kilkenny | Laois | Longford | Louth | Meath | Offaly | Westmeath | Wexford | Wicklow
Ulster: Antrim * | Armagh * | Cavan | Donegal | Down * | Fermanagh * | Londonderry * | Monaghan | Tyrone *
* Counties in Northern Ireland (other counties are in the Republic of Ireland)
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