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Hosted by the Westport Historical Society A guided historical walk of Westport will commence at the Clock at the top of Bridge Street and will progress through the oldest part of Westport dating from the 1760's. Holy Trinity Church, built in 1868 in the German Gothic revival style will be visited and the tour will then progress along the elegant tree-lined Georgian Mall which is the centre piece of the town. The unique history of Westport, its people and landmarks will be unfolded in this relaxed walking tour of Old Westport. Holy
Trinity Church |
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EXCURSION 2: Aughagower Patrician Foundation
Hosted by the Westport
Historical Society
"Aghagower", the seat of the Parish Church is a Patrician
Foundation with round Tower and Ruined Abbey. It is situated
three and a half miles south east of Westport off the
Ballinrobe/Westport Road. Aghagower is unique in being the
only parish church in the diocese of Tuam that dates from
Saint Patrick's time and that was founded by him.
Aghagower (Acadh Fabhair) means the field of the spring. St
Patrick established a church here early in his missionary
work. He must have stayed some time there as he instructed
the local chieftain, Sinagh, in the Christian faith and
consecrated him a bishop. It is believed that St Patrick
spent the winter of 400/441AD in Aghagower in preparation
for his Croagh Patrick pilgrimage. Saint Patrick is reputed
to have left Aghagower on Shrove Saturday to make his
journey to Croagh Patrick, then known as Cruchan Aigle, to
spend forty days in prayer on its summit. Having completed
the forty days he came back to Aghagower to celebrate Easter
with Bishop Sinach.
For the next seven hundred years Aghagower was the chief town of Umall and its church held dominance over all the churches in Umall, having a bishop, a seminary, convent and school. Saint Patrick, having linked Aghagower with his Croagh Patrick station certainly makes the Aghagower to Croagh Patrick pilgrimage the greatest in Ireland. In no other place can one travel in Saint Patrick's footsteps.
Adapted from a pamphlet by Brian Mannion, Aghagower
EXCURSION 3: Quaternary Geological Sites of the
Westport Area
Hosted by the Irish
Association for Quaternary Studies (IQUA)
In association with the Mayo through the Millennia Conference, IQUA will hold a short half-day field excursion on Sunday 8th October, at 14.00 hours. The excursion will depart from Hotel Westport and will examine some of the drumlins in the vicinity of Westport; then will travel southwards into the Erriff Valley to look at evidence of glaciation in the locality around Mweelrea. Features in this area include corries, moraines, spectacular kame terraces and roche moutonnees. It will offer the chance for field-enthusiasts to satisfy their need to attend an IQUA Field Event at least once a year!!
Erriff Valley, County Mayo © Joe Brett
Further information on this trip can be had from Dr.
Robbie Meehan
Phone: 01 8460644
E-Mail: rmeehan@kinsealy.teagasc.ie
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Conference - Held in October
2000 Gaeilge: | Baile | Reamhrá | Taispeantais |
The Mayo through the Millennia Conference was organised by The Archaeological and Historical Societies of Mayo. It was grant aided by the Heritage Council and supported by Mayo County Council, FÁS, Mayo Naturally, Meitheal Mhaigheo, NUI Galway and Westport UDC.
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