Traditional music
Matt Molloy’s
Traditional music seven nights a week. Seating is first come, first served and no food is served. A listening stop, not a reserved group dance floor; ask before dancing.
Check the latest programmeA place to begin
Perhaps Mayo?
Westport & beyond
Where the mountain meets the sea.
See the countyClew Bay · History & folklore
Gráinne’s shore
An island on the horizon. A sea captain’s story. A good place to begin.
Look towards Clare Island and imagine Clew Bay as Gráinne Mhaol knew it: a way out into the world. The sixteenth-century sea captain made these shores her territory, with strongholds on Clare Island and at Rockfleet.
Folklore tells of her shutting her husband out of Rockfleet after a year of marriage. The historical account is less tidy; they remained married. Both threads belong to the telling: the woman who commanded ships, and the stories that kept her name alive.
On a Clew Bay outing, look towards Clare Island and let the landscape give Gráinne’s story its scale. Then bring what caught your imagination back to the table in Westport.
This is a story of the wider bay. A Rockfleet or Clare Island visit is not included automatically. For another chapter of Mayo’s history, choose the separate North Mayo day to Downpatrick Head and Céide Fields.
Music, food and unhurried evenings.
Jive & social dance
Castlecourt dance breaks
An established place to look for jive, ballroom and country social dancing. Its published breaks run on their own dates; check before extending your stay.
Check the latest programme
Country music calendar
TF Royal, Castlebar
A wider Mayo option for country acts. Check whether a particular event is a seated concert or a dance, and arrange the journey home.
Check the latest programmeGood places. A little local knowledge.
Get to know the place.
Research checked Donegal: 25 October 2026 · Sligo, Clare, football & Race Week: 10 October 2026 · other cards: 7 September 2026. Dates and bookings need confirmation.
Bridge Street, Westport · Your town base
Traditional session · listen
An evening at Matt Molloy’s
Follow the music to Bridge Street. The pub currently advertises traditional sessions every night, with the easy intimacy that makes Westport special.
Before you go
First-come seating and no food. Go in smaller groups; a reserved space for 50 or a dance floor is not implied. Recheck the weekend’s programme.
Current details & booking informationCountry & social dancing · join in
Look for the right local dance
Castlecourt is a local lead for live country and social dancing. A jive or Céilí outing could be a lovely addition when a suitable event falls on the weekend.
Before you go
Published January and February 2027 dance breaks do not confirm a 21–23 May event. Confirm admission, format and space; classes are excluded.
Current details & booking information
Around the table · small groups
A taste of An Port Mór
Make an independent dinner with a few friends part of your Westport stay. This is a small-group dining idea, separate from the proposed shared dinners.
Before you go
The restaurant’s group-booking limit is 7–15, with a rolling 90-day reservation window. It is not a whole-group dinner venue for 50.
Current details & booking informationRain plan · culture
Rural Irish life at Turlough Park
Explore the National Museum of Ireland’s Country Life collections near Castlebar. A thoughtful indoor alternative, with free museum admission.
Before you go
Self-guided groups up to 50 require at least one week’s notice; guided groups are 10–20. This needs a separately quoted coach outing from Westport.
Current details & booking informationGaelic football · local conversation
Spend time in the champions’ county
Mayo won the 2026 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, beating Kerry 1-20 to 1-17 on 26 July for their first title since 1951. Ask someone in Westport what that day meant to them.
Before you go
For a possible May or June 2027 visit, look for a pub screening or local match only when fixtures and admission are confirmed. The title-defence calendar is provisional; no tickets, fixture or screening is included.
Current details & booking informationIndependent local ideas, not confirmed events or extra inclusions in your budget. Check dates, group capacity and any additional costs before adding them.