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A Brief history of Westport Town
Westport, on the banks of the river Carrowbeg is one of only two planned towns
in Ireland and is but 250 years old. It's Gaelic name Cathair na Mart translates
as 'The Stone Fort of the Beeves'.
The territory around Westport, known to the Geals as 'Umhalls' was for a long
time the strong hold of the Clan O'Malley. When the Normans came to Ireland they
adapted to the Irish ways becoming 'more Irish than the Irish themselves'. It
was the Bourkes (Norman de Burgos) who settled in this area in 1235
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and soon became the allies of the Clan
O'Malley. Three centuries later the English Governor of Connact, Sir Nicolas
Malbay was to destroy the O'Malley strong -hold but after years of struggle and
confusion Tibod-na-Long', son of Grainne O'Malley and Richard Burke was named
Viscount Mayo. It was his sucessor, John Browne who is credited in planning
Westport town between 1750 and 1760. John Browne, married to Maud Bourke, was
one of the men who drafted The Treaty of Limerick. In 1732 he engaged Richard
Cassel, (the archetect who designed Leinster House and Carton House), to start
work on Westport House. At this point Westport was still a small village.The
first buildings in the town were 2 storey and built in stone with slated roofs
and small windows. The original town was to spread from John's Row to Tubberhill
and from West Road & Peter Street to Church Street. These streets were named
after local features or members of the Browne family.
Over the next 50 years, under the supervision of the Browne family, the town was
to expand significantly and with the expansions came hightened prosperity. A
linen industry was established in the the early 1770s. Next came a small port on
the quay and markets for linen and agricultural produce. Further work was
carried out on Westport House by James Wyatt and English architect in 1780 and
extensive oyster and herring fishing occured in Clew Bay. The port was fully
developed by 1818 as were the Malls on the banks of the Carrowbeg. Westport was
becoming a major financial center of the West and the Bank of Ireland and Post
Office were completed by 1825.
Tragically, Mayo was one of the counties worst hit by The Great Famine and the
Brownes, (now the Earls of Altamont) were forced to move from Westport House to
the town. The industrial revolution caused further problems to Westports
prosperity.With it came the decline of the linen industry and railways came to
replace ports in the transporting of goods. In fact, it was not until the 1950s
that Westport town again began to flourish. Today Westport is a vibrant and
booming town with a healthy tourist industry and a great reputation for sea
angling, golf and sailing. Westport is also an affluent centre of commerce,
hosting such companies as Allergan Pharmaceutcals, Gammaster, Trouw and Berry
Print Group.
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