Bus Hire in Castlebar

Castlebar is the county town of Mayo and the main commercial and administrative centre of the county. The town is on the Castlebar River in the central Mayo lowlands, with Lough Lannagh (a town park lake on the western edge) and the Carrowholly marshes to the west. Castlebar is best known historically as the site of the Battle of Castlebar (27 August 1798), in which General Humbert's French and United Irish forces routed a larger British force in what became satirically known as the Castlebar Races (a reference to the speed of the British retreat south).

Ireland West Airport Knock (NOC) is 30 kilometres north-east via the N5 (approximately 30 minutes by coach). Westport (20 kilometres south-west via the N60) is the nearest tourist hub. Dublin Airport (DUB) is 250 kilometres south-east via the N5 and M4 (approximately 2 hours 50 minutes). The National Museum of Ireland: Country Life (in Turlough Park, 8 kilometres north-east of Castlebar via the N5 towards Knock) is the single most important visitor attraction in County Mayo.

National Museum of Ireland: Country Life

The National Museum of Ireland: Country Life (at Turlough Park, 8 kilometres north-east of Castlebar via the N5, approximately 12 minutes by coach) is the fourth branch of the National Museum of Ireland and the only branch outside Dublin. The museum covers Irish rural life and material culture from the Famine period (c. 1850) to the 1950s, with a collection of approximately 50,000 objects including farm implements, domestic items, vernacular furniture, and folklore material. The purpose-built exhibition building (2001, designed by Annand and Viemeister) is adjacent to Turlough House (a 19th-century country house, now the museum's administration building) and its parkland, with Turlough Round Tower (a 12th-century tower in the demesne) visible from the museum terrace. Admission is free; coach parking is in the museum car park. The museum is one of the best free visitor attractions in the west of Ireland.

Ballintubber Abbey

Ballintubber Abbey (14 kilometres south of Castlebar via the R330 to Ballintubber, approximately 20 minutes) is a 13th-century Augustinian abbey founded by Cathal O'Conor, King of Connacht, in 1216 and still in use as a parish church (one of only two churches in the English-speaking world that has been in continuous use since before the Reformation). The church was burned by Cromwellian forces in 1653 but continued in use, roofless, until 1966 when it was restored by the parish. The Tochar Padraig (the ancient pilgrim path from Ballintubber to Croagh Patrick, 35 kilometres, historically the main pre-Famine Mayo pilgrimage route) begins at the abbey. The abbey grounds have a walled garden and a heritage centre. Coach parking is in the abbey car park.

Lough Carra and Lough Conn

Lough Carra (12 kilometres south-east of Castlebar via the R330 and the L-roads to Partry) is a limestone lake (3,100 hectares) with exceptionally clear water (5-metre visibility) due to the marl limestone bed, making it one of the most distinctive angling lakes in Ireland. George Moore, the Irish novelist, lived at Moore Hall on the western shore. Lough Conn (20 kilometres north of Castlebar via the N5 and R310 to Crossmolina) is a larger brown trout and salmon lough (3,400 hectares) with wooded shores and Pontoon Bridge (a narrow one-lane bridge at the connecting channel between Lough Conn and Lough Cullin) as the scenic highlight. Both lakes are accessible by coach on the approach roads; the Pontoon area has a small car park for coaches.

What Bus Hire Costs in Castlebar

As a rough guide, a minibus (up to 19 seats) in Castlebar runs around 255 to 480 EUR per day, a midi-coach (around 35 seats) around 425 to 820 EUR per day, and a full-size coach (49 to 55 seats) around 650 to 1,230 EUR per day. Castlebar is a regional hub with steady year-round demand. The National Museum and the Knock Airport transfer market are the main drivers; Westport and Croagh Patrick groups often pick up from Castlebar. The final figure depends on your route, the date, and how long you need the vehicle and driver. We confirm a fixed price with no hidden charges, so send your details for a free quote.

Services Available in Castlebar