Search over 1 million properties and 550 airlines worldwide
Members save 10% more on select hotels, cars, activities and holiday rentals. Sign up.
Free cancellation on most hotels. Because flexibility matters.
Reviewed on 17 Jan 2021
Reviewed on 11 Aug 2021
Reviewed on 19 Sep 2021
Reviewed on 17 Jul 2021
Reviewed on 29 Sep 2021
Reviewed on 12 Sep 2021
Reviewed on 21 Aug 2021
Reviewed on 20 Aug 2018
Reviewed on 3 Dec 2019
Reviewed on 31 Aug 2021
Reviewed on 20 Sep 2021
Reviewed on 12 Jul 2021
Reviewed on 13 Jul 2021
Reviewed on 5 Sep 2021
The small town of Ballyhaunis in County Mayo was once dubbed the most cosmopolitan small town in Ireland by the Irish Examiner, and it’s this diversity that has helped put it on the map as a travel destination for people visiting Mayo. The first town in Mayo that many visitors heading west will see, Ballyhaunis is positioned right in the centre of Connacht, allowing you to easily explore the counties of Mayo, Roscommon, Leitrim, Sligo and Galway.
Ballyhaunis is a great location for cycling and walking enthusiasts. Not only are you surrounding by acres of greenery, the area is flanked by a network of country lanes and fields and bogland area that is of great environmental importance. The rich flora and fauna countryside is one of the finest in Mayo, allowing you to marvel at the birds and other local wildlife flow freely in their natural habitat.
This diverse town is home to Ireland’s first purpose-built Mosque, while St. Mary’s Augustinian Friary and the Convent of Mercy are also popular sites for visitors to the town. If you’re travelling with kids, the Graune Pet Farm & Play Centre is a great way to spend a few hours before you depart to explore wider Mayo.
Ballyhaunis lies just over 10 kilometres from the pilgrimage town of Knock, making it a great base to explore arguably Ireland’s most famous religious attraction – Knock Shrine. If you are looking for a pilgrimage retreat, then Mayo is just what you are looking for, with the county attracting tens of thousands of visitors across the year. Knock and Croagh Patrick in Teevenacroaghy are the two premier pilgrimage destinations for visitors to the area, with many visitors scaling Croagh Patrick every week. Some even take up the challenge of climbing the 764 metres to the top of the mountain barefoot, in a nod to those pilgrims that have done so in years gone by.
The towns of Castlebar and Westport often attract big crowds during the busy summer months and are famous for their nightlife. Other must visit attractions when visiting Ballyhaunis in Mayo include Ballycroy National Park, the islands of Clew Bay, Keem Bay and Achill Island, the stone age Céide Fields and the impressive Downpatrick Head. Mayo is also home to the National Museum of Ireland – Country Life, a museum that focuses on the country living over the years in Ireland. Located in Castlebar, about 40-minutes from Ballyhaunis, this museum brings you on a journey as you discover the traditional ways of life in Ireland over the centuries, through trades, crafts, farming, hunting, fishing, domestic life and festivals.
Due to its central location in Connacht, there are several accommodation options in and around Ballyhaunis, all leaving you well placed to explore this picturesque province. As you depart Ballyhaunis, you can find yourself in Galway, Leitrim, Roscommon or Sligo in less than 30-minutes, while the stunning west coast of Mayo is less than one hour away.