Discover Aghamore

In Aghamore, church architecture, pilgrimage and local traditions tell different facets of the town’s history. The wider parish area also offers lakes, bogland and a range of visitor activities. Depending on whether your interests lie particularly in culture, landscape or things to do, these themes can shape your travel plans and choice of a suitable base.

Church architecture and historic traces

Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church in Aghamore was built and consecrated in 1832. Its cruciform layout shapes the overall form; two stained-glass memorial windows date from 1917. The church also has a visible roof structure of braced timbers and a timber-boarded ceiling reinforced with wind bracing. The layout, windows and roof give the building a range of architectural features. The church is considered a significant part of County Mayo’s ecclesiastical heritage from the early 19th century.

The old graveyard in Aghamore contains the ruins of an old church. A local tradition connects the south wall of the old church in Aghamore with the legend of a golden horn. Architectural traces and a local story thus offer different ways of exploring the past. In the wider region around Aghamore parish, a tradition tells that Saint Patrick had a monastery built for his student, St Loarn.

Pilgrimage and finding your way around the village

An annual pilgrimage and Mass are held at St Patrick’s Well in Carrownedan, Aghamore; everyone is welcome. 28 July is listed as Pattern Day. If you would like to include the pilgrimage in your travel plans, check the parish’s latest notices in advance.

A pub, a shop, a post office, a church and a school are part of the local infrastructure in Aghamore village; this may change over time. If the pub or shop is important to your plans, check their current opening hours. The Achadh Mór area is known for a lively music tradition and strong Irish culture. In the wider Achadh Mór area, activities for visitors include walking, cycling, golf, fishing and archaeology.

Landscape in the wider parish area

The wider Aghamore parish area has several small lakes and extensive areas of bogland. These landscape features complement the specific historic sites in the village with a broader view of the surrounding area. When planning your trip, you can decide whether to focus more on church architecture and local traditions, or on the landscape and the activities mentioned for the Achadh Mór area.

County Mayo as a wider travel destination

County Mayo offers further cultural and landscape attractions. The National Museum of Ireland at Turlough Park runs workshops, talks and guided tours throughout the year. Objects, rare archival photographs and films present Ireland’s rural past. The gardens at Turlough Park are home to a diverse range of birdlife, flora and fauna, and are designated a Green Heritage site. Knock Shrine presents the story of the 1879 apparition at Knock and the development of the site into an international pilgrimage destination.

Croagh Patrick also brings landscape and pilgrimage traditions together: the mountain is 764 m high and has been a pilgrimage destination since pre-Christian times. The main summit route starts in Murrisk on the Louisburgh Road (R335) and is 7 km long, including the return journey. The Croagh Patrick Heritage Trail is a 59.9 km long-distance walking route that links ancient monastic heritage with the mountain landscape of County Mayo and views over Clew Bay. Comparing the summit route with the multi-day trail can help you decide how much time to allow for your trip.

Choosing the right base for your trip

When looking for a holiday rental in Aghamore, it’s worth first deciding what you want to focus on during your trip. Would you like to spend most of your time exploring Aghamore’s churches, historic traces and pilgrimage, or include other destinations across County Mayo?

Discover more destinations: Mallaranny, Ballinrobe, Charlestown, Ross Port, Ballina, Swinford, Gweesalia, Mayo

For the wider travel overview: County Mayo.