The History of Castlebar

Hear what local issues and external forces shaped local government in Castlebar over four hundred years from the establishment of Castlebar Corporation in 1613 to the abolition of Castlebar Town Council in 2014. For questions, comments and queries about the show please contact us at [email protected]. 'The History of Castlebar' by Noel Campbell & John Healy

This episode looks at Castlebar's reputation as a town of music, from the legendary Stephen Garvey through the operettas and pantomimes, grand concerts and martial music, to the outstanding success of the Castlebar Song Contest. "Music Town" was a title richly deserved, and the podcast recounts how and why that accolade was achieved.For questions, comments and querie

From sailing regattas on Lough Lannagh, to week-long horse racing festivals and televised local boxing competitions, Castlebar has enjoyed much sporting success over the past three centuries. This episode looks at the history of major sports clubs and sporting events in the Mayo capital. For questions, comments and queries about the show please contact us at historyofcastlebar@gmai

From the halcyon days of the Bacon factory to the rise and fall of Western Hats and the success of Baxter, this episode outlines the industrial development of Castlebar. Hear how the Bacon factory became the backbone of local employment, how the Hat factory offered an escape route for those fleeing persecution in Europe, and of how Baxter was saved from closure in 1986. For questio

Take a walk through commercial Castlebar in the 19th and early 20th centuries when the streets were filled with the smells and noises from the breweries, blacksmiths, butter dealers and bakeries; hear about the growth of the working class into organisations and the move by local businesses to do likewise. For questions, comments and queries about the show please contact us at histo

This episode outlines the history of education in Castlebar from the hedge schools of the Penal days to the new A.T.U. and how the Sisters of Mercy and the De La Salle brothers brought primary education to the town. The old Vocational School (now Davitt College), the Western Care schools, the Gaelscoil and Educate Together, form part of that history, as did the Church of Ireland Sc

The old Infirmary on the Mall was founded in 1765, and its last resident surgeon, Dr. McBride, encashed his own life assurance policy to make up the funds for an operating theatre. It was succeeded by the Mayo County Hospital, where Matron Duffy had to impose a ban on stiletto heels in order to protect the floor covering. This episode also looks at the Sacred Heart Hospital and St.

The early decades of the twentieth century saw Irish nationalist and republican groups grow in strength across the island of Ireland. Those groups quickly gathered much support in Castlebar. This episode looks at the local origins of nationalist and republican activity and traces the rise of revolutionary sentiment to the War of Independence. For questions, comments and queries abo

This episode looks at the evolution of places of worship from the days of the first Patrician church on the hill over Lough Lannagh. It outlines the controversy surrounding the building of the Church of the Holy Rosary; John Wesley's Methodist Church on the Mall; Christ Church, the town's oldest building, and the Presbyterian Church, which became a restaurant.For question

This episode looks at the different forces that policed Castlebar since the 1600s and the various crimes they came up against. When confronted by invasion, agrarian violence and rebellion, the often heavily armed military and police did not always enjoy the support of the local population.For questions, comments and queries about the show please contact us at historyofcastlebar@gma