Castlebar

Castlebar grew around a castle in the heart of Mayo, east of Clew Bay. It became a market town serving the surrounding countryside and received a charter of incorporation from James I in 1613. Its name would become famous in the upheaval of 1798, when a small French expedition landed on the Mayo coast to support the Irish rebellion against British rule.

General Jean Humbert marched inland with his French troops and Irish allies. On 27 August they attacked the Crown forces defending Castlebar and drove them from the town. The speed of the retreat gave the encounter its enduring nickname, the “Races of Castlebar”. The victory encouraged more local men to join Humbert, although the expedition was ultimately defeated elsewhere in Ireland.