Westport House & Grounds

Are you interested in the fascinating story of Ireland’s most beautiful historic house? Interested in learning about Ireland’s pirate queen Grace O’Malley? Looking for art, antiques and architecture? Want to enjoy peaceful, natural gardens in a superb parkland setting? If so, and you plan on visiting Westport Town, with it’s tree lined streets, beautiful canal river, harbour and gorgeous flower arrangements throughout, you can’t leave without visiting Westport House and Grounds – where the Browne family, who were the main planners of the town, inhabited for centuries.

Step back into the 18th Century with a visit to the home of Grace O’Malley. Westport House has been open to the public for over 57 years and has welcomed over 4 million visitors. It was designed by the famous architects Richard Cassels and James Wyatt in the 18th Century and enjoys a superb parkland setting with lake, terraces, wonderful gardens and magnificent views overlooking Clew Bay, the Atlantic Ocean, Achill, Clare Island and Ireland’s holy mountain Croagh Patrick. There are opportunities to enjoy art, activity, history and culture – for both adults and children alike – in this beautiful historic house with over 30 rooms open to the public with original antiques, architecture and artwork. It is also notable to mention that Westport House features all of it’s original contents. Visitors love special treasures like the Mayo Militia flags, the Chinese room, original parquet floors and plaster work. Six permanent exhibitions are located in the house including, ‘The Last 50 Years at Westport House’, ‘Grace O’Malley Pirate Queen’, ‘Howe Peter and the Abolition of Slavery’, the Waxwork exhibition of famous visitors to Westport and ‘Lady Sligo’s Letters’.

After taking it all in, enjoy a cup of tea and a scone in the restored Olde Kitchen Tea Rooms or pick up a souvenir from the gift shop. Your visit won’t be complete until you stroll around the beautiful natural parkland gardens where you’ll find the tree trail or enjoy a 1km looped riverside walk. Be sure to visit the West Gardens to take in the Greek Sarcophagus, Spanish Armada Cannon, Famine Soup Pots, the Sun House, Lily Pond and other treasures.

Alongside the historical house, Westport House also offers its guests an array of activities onsite such as a train tour which travels around the town of Westport, explaining it’s 250 year history, a Birds of Prey Centre where guests can enjoy daily birds of prey demonstrations at 4pm* in the courtyard, an activity centre hosted by local Adventure company ‘Killary Adventure Co.’ where guests can partake in a range of exciting activities such as orienteering, zip-wire and archery. Westport House can also play host to a more decadent affair, with the availability of renting our stunning long gallery or drawing room for private lunches or dinners.

Westport House is also home to the famous Pirate Adventure Park. If you have children under the age of twelve, the Pirate Adventure Park is the perfect location to make long lasting family memories that you will treasure forever. Named after the famous pirate queen of Connaught, Grace O’Malley, a day pass to Westport House & Pirate Adventure Park provides unlimited use of the rides and attractions all day long. This three time winner of Best Family Visitor Attraction by Primary Times is sure to put a spring in your little one’s step! Enjoy rides such as the Cannonball Run Slide, pirates Swinging Ship and Pirate’s Plunge log flume ride. Paddle yourself fit on the Giant Swan Pedalo Boats on the lake or take a turn on the Bouncy Castle. Go Karting and the Westport House Express are ideally suited to the ‘littler’ visitors.

NEW to the Pirate Adventure Park in 2017 is the addition of two new exciting rides; the Helter Skelter and the Chair-O-Planes. Alongside this, Europe’s largest mobile Ferris Wheel has arrived to call Westport House it’s home for the summer. You can also test your competitive streak with a range of new carnival games throughout the park.

Westport House is the perfect place to make family memories that will last a lifetime.

Collanmore Island Lodge, Westport’s Multiple Activity Company, has a number of bases around County Mayo including Rosmoney pier, which is an 8 minute drive from Westport; and on Collanmore Island in Clew Bay.

They provide a host of water activities which include

Stand-up paddleboarding.

• dinghy and cruiser sailing
• sea kayaking
• deep sea fishing
• Sea Safari power boat rides
• scuba diving
• water skiing
• wake boarding
• surfing
• kite surfing
• stand-up paddle boarding
• cliff diving and coasteering

On land, their activities include

Zorbing experience at The Adventure Islands

• archery
• guided bike tours & treks
• bike hire – Greenway cycle
• horse riding and
• mountain trekking

The Adventure Islands provide flexible and tailor made professional accredited activities and training school programs to suit different group sizes, all ages and offer value for money.

The Adventure Islands encourages people to experience the fun, exhilaration and camaraderie of adventure activity programs in safe, well-managed enviroments. They cater for school groups, corporate groups, clubs, families, individual thrill seekers or quieter mountain walkers, sport teams who want a change of environment or couples who want to have fun together.

you won’t be able to stop talking about the time with us and with your  family, friends and workmates and of all the things to do in Westport

If you’re looking for an adrenalin rush, fun with all your mates, corporate team building or simply enjoyable mountain, horse or bike trekking with some of Ireland’s most picturesque scenery as a backdrop, The Adventure Islands can provide it all.

For more information, visit our website