What to do and see in County Mayo, Western Ireland: The Best Specialty Museums

The Michael Davitt Museum is dedicated to the life and achievements of Michael Davitt - father of the Land League, International Humanitarian, Author and Parliamentarian. The Museum is housed in a Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland award winning restored church in which Michael Davitt was baptised. The museum is adjacent to the 13th Century Straide Abbey which contains some of the finest medieval carvings in Ireland. The site also features an historic graveyard in which Davitt, and other notable figures are buried, and extensive landscaped grounds, in which to walk or picnic. Food & refreshments available nearby.

Located within the curtilage of Enniscoe House is the North Mayo Heritage Centre. The centre is dedicated to preserving and promoting the rich heritage of the region. It includes a Family History Research Unit, which provides a genealogy service for clients all over the world. The centre also has a small museum of unique domestic and agricultural artifacts from North Mayo, an exhibition area and a Victorian 3 acre walled organic garden. In addition, there are a number of looped walks around the woods of Enniscoe and an ornamental garden to enjoy. If you wish to find out more or have a question, please click on the link to our website.

This award-winning Museum is home to the National Folklife Collection which represents traditional life in Ireland throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Fascinating artefacts deal with domestic life, agriculture, fishing and hunting, clothing and textiles, furniture and fittings, trades and crafts, transport, sports and leisure and religion. Set in the spectacular grounds of Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co. Mayo the Museum treats visitors to a taste of how our ancestors lived their daily lives, in both difficult and joyful times. The excellent ‘hands-on’ public programmes which run throughout the year, consist of art and craft workshops, demonstrations and performances and runs alongside the exciting programme of temporary exhibitions which are ongoing throughout the year. Opening Times: The Museum opening hours are: Tuesday to Saturday 10am-5pm • Sunday 2pm-5pm • Closed Mondays (including Bank Holidays), Christmas Day and Good Friday. Admission to the National Museum of Ireland - Country Life is FREE. Shop & Café open.

Knock Museum captures the unique and compelling story of the Knock Apparition of 1879 and tells of the fifteen ordinary people who witnessed this extraordinary event. Visitors can read original hand-written letters by people cured at Knock and listen to pilgrims sharing stories and memories of Knock. The Apparition is also set in the context of life at that time, from living in the thatched house to working in the forge. At Knock Museum, visitors can read through the amazing stories of ordinary pilgrims in the 'Diary of Cures', a collection of original letters written to Archdeacon Cavanagh in the first year after the Apparition. Visitors are invited to step back in time to 1879, the year of the Apparition and explore what life at this time. Knock Shrine has a rich and fascinating history and has been shaped by a number of remarkable people. At Knock Museum, you can share in the experiences of the millions of pilgrims that have visited here through the years and learn of the ordinary people who witnessed the Apparition, an event that changed their lives and the village of Knock forever.

The Achill Experience contains an Aquarium, an exhibition on Island life, a Replica deserted village boley house complete with artifacts of the era, an art exhibition and a History Room as well as an audio visual room showing documentaries covering historical information from Achills past. It is a great all weather facility, ideal for people of all ages, families and school groups. There is also a stand alone Gift Shop.

The Quiet Man Museum is a must for Quiet Man enthusiasts. Guided walking and chauffeur tours of The Quiet Man film locations depart daily from The Quiet Man Museum. The tours bring film buffs to the original film locations and visitors hear what the film stars were like, how they interacted with the locals and what happened when Hollywood took over the sleepy village of Cong in 1951. The Quiet Man Museum is an exact replica of the exterior of White O’Morn, the ancestral cottage bought by Sean Thornton on his return to Ireland, as the original White O’Morn cottage is unfortunately now in ruin. The Museum is also an exact replica of the White O’Morn interior, which was a Hollywood set. The Quiet Man Museum is transformed into a cinema in the evenings for intimate screenings of The Quiet Man on a large screen, and screenings of a fantastic documentary called John Ford: Dreaming The Quiet Man featuring Maureen O'Hara. The Quiet Man Museum is open from 1 April to 31 October annually.

Blacksod Lighthouse first shone its light on Blacksod Bay in the year 1866. Now, in 2021 you can visit the state of the art museum which will be incorporated into the existing lighthouse and visit the infamous light which has been lighting up the bay all these years. This journey will bring you through life at the four lighthouses of Erris and the vulnerability faced by those on our island lights

A stunning building with 2 galleries exhibiting work all created by renowed Irish & International artists who have spent time at The Ballinglen Arts Foundation. View the area through the eyes of an artist! See these stunning works inspired by the breathtaking cliffs, sea & landscape. A wonderful range of contemporary artwork including Landscapes, Abstract works, Portraiture, Photography & Print.