The Downhill Inn, Sligo Road, Ballina, Co. Mayo.
Ph: +353 (0) 96 73444 | Fax: +353 (0) 96 73411 | Email: info@downhillinn.ie
Local Attractions
Ceide Fields
An award winning visitor centre, the Ceide Fields marks the remains of a Neolithic settlement – walls, houses and tombs that extended over many miles were preserved under blanket bogland peat. It is located on the dramatic coastline of north Mayo with views of the cliffs and sea stack at Down Patrick Head.
Click here to read more about the Ceide Fields.
Foxford Woollen Mills
Located on the River Moy in the heart of Foxford it is one of Ireland’s oldest working mills. It was founded in 1892 by a nun to generate employment – it still produces its acclaimed blankets, travel rugs and tweeds which are on sale in the Visitor shop. Tours are available.
Click here to read more about the Foxford Woollen Mills.
North Mayo Family Heritage Centre
Trace your Mayo ancestry with the assistance of a professional genealogist – located at Enniscoe House on the shores of Lough Conn near the farming town of Crossmolina.
Click here to read more about the North Mayo Family Heritage Centre.
National Museum of Country Life
This is a must to see when in North Mayo, located just off the N5 in Turlough en route to Castlebar. Set in the period home in Turlough Park, the museum combines both classical and modern architecture. The museum’s exhibits display the story of Irish life between 1850 – 1950. There are interactive elements for children, as well as crafty making displays and story telling. Admission is free.
Ballycroy National Park
Ballycroy National Park was established in November 1998, it is Ireland’s sixth National Park and is located on the Western seaboard in northwest Mayo.It comprises of 11,000 hectares of Atlantic blanket bog and mountainous terrain,covering a vast uninhabited and unspoilt wilderness dominated by the Nephin Beg mountain range. Between Nephin beg and Slieve Carr, at 721metres above sea level, the highest mountain in the range, lie the Scardaun Loughs. To the west of the mountains is the Owenduff bog. This is one of the last intact active blanket bog systems in Ireland and Western Europe and is an important scientific and scenic feature of the National Park. The Park also protects a variety of other important habitats and species. These include alpine heath, upland grassland, heath and lakes and river catchments. Greenland
White-fronted geese, Golden plover, Red Grouse and Otters are just some of the important fauna found within the Park. The National Park is itself part of the Owenduff/Nephin Complex Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Special Protection Area (SPA).
These European designations are part of the Natura 2000 Network, which protect rare and important habitats and species under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives.
