Swinford or in Irish Béal átha na Muice, mouth of the ford of the pig.
Things to Do and See
Swinford has plenty to offer from activities to festivals with a lively community base.
The River Moy, famous worldwide for it's Salmon fishing, is only 2 miles from Swinford town.
Swinford is also renowned for its brown trout fishing in the Callow lakes with Lough Conn and Lough Cullin nearby. Swinford has a 9 hole Golf Club with many other courses in close proximity. Swinford is also home to a few festivals including, Siamsa Sraide Swinford which is a summer street festival with open-air Ceili, dancing, Heritage Day and International Busking Competitions. There are numerous events every year including the singing and dancing in the streets, historic walks and talks of Swinford and poetry readings.Siamsa Sraide takes place in the town every August Bank Holiday weekend and usually runs from Friday through to the following Wednesday. Lovefest is an open-air twelve hour concert. The festival was set up by local youths in 2003 and has gone from strength to strength. It is now one of the years foremost rock festivals west of the Shannon.
Facts and Figures
Swinford town has a strong tradition of celebrating Irish music within the town. In fact in 1959 the first Mayo branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann was established in the town and in 1961 the first All Ireland Fleadh Cheoil to be hosted in a Mayo town was held in Swinford.
History
Swinford town appears relatively recently in historic documents concerning the area. In fact the first mention of it appears to be from the late 1700's. The Statistical Survey of the County of Mayo published in 1802 lists Swinford as one of the 46 towns of varying sizes in County Mayo. By the mid 1838 the Ordnance Survey Field Name Books of the county of Mayo list the town as having a main street and two smaller streets where 158 families paid rent to the local landlord Sir William Brabazon. At that time the town had a Roman Catholic church, a Church of Ireland church, a police station, dispensary and a market house. Fair days were held on 5 occasions during the year.
The Swinford are in common with much of County Mayo suffered dreadfully during the years of the Great Irish Famine and by1851 there were 942 inmates in the workhouse. The remains and site of the Swinford Union workhouse can still be viewed by visitors to the area. Also one of the best perserved mass famine graves can be visited at the back of the site where some 564 inmates were buried.
Education
Secondary School Scoil Muire agus Padriag National Schools Scoil Muire agus Treasa
Sport
Swinford town has an active sporting community. Some organisations and facilities available in the town include:
Swinford Golf Club Swinford GAA Swinford Soccer Club Mayo Association of Shotokan Karate train on a weekly basis in the community hall in Meelick. Contact Kevin Loftus Swinford Tri Sports
Getting to Swinford
By Rail: Swinford does not have its own station however there are many towns nearby with train stations including, Castlebar, Foxford, Ballina, Claremorris and Ballyhaunis. For timetables and more information, visit Irish Rail. By Car:from Dublin, follow the N5 for Westport. Turn off before coming into Castlebar from Galway, follow the N17 for Castlebar. Then take the N5 to Swinford. By Bus: Swinford is served by a number of Bus Eireann routes. For timetables and more information, visit Bus Eireann. By Air: You can fly to Knock Airport (IWAK) from a number of UK and European locations. Visit the Ireland West Airport Knock website for schedules and carriers.
Also Nearby
Turlough is home to both the National Museum of Country Life (including Turlough House) and the Turlough Round Tower. Swinford is located between Mayo’s two largest towns, Castlebar and Ballina. Both are a shot drive away. Knock Airport is only 10 miles away. Foxford Woollen Mills is only a ten minute drive from Swinford town.
Links
Hennigans Heritage Centre Swinford Chamber of Commerce East Mayo Anglers Association