A Car Trip to Westport House

To truly appreciate Ireland’s architecture, you are going to need a hire car and a flexible itinerary. This makes it much easier to visit sites such as Westport House. This famous mansion is easily reached by rental car from Shannon, securing its position as a popular daytrip destination.

 

This estate was built in the 18th century over the site of the preexisting O’Malley Castle. In fact, the dungeons of the demolished castle are still intact below the house. The house was subsequently improved by descendents of Colonel John Browne over the centuries. The house is still in the family today. Jeremy Browne, the Marques of Sligo, is the current owner. He lives in the country park that houses the estate and can take credit for the estate’s modern commercial success. Regarded as one of the most beautiful homes in Mayo, Westport House is well worth visiting. It is open from April to September.

 

The Pirate Adventure Park is also on the grounds. It features flume rides, pedal boats, playgrounds and fishing facilities. This is a popular caravan and family camping destination.

 

Furthermore, Westport town is itself worth visiting. It is a well-manicured town that has won the “Irish Tidy Towns” competition three times in the 21st century. It is also a good launching point for a trip by hire to Croagh Patrick, where the legendary saint is said to have fasted for 40 days and nights before banishing all snakes from Ireland.

 

<<Back to Knock Airport Car Hire