Insel · Co. Mayo
Achill Island
Achill is Ireland's largest western island, connected to the mainland since 1887. It features dramatic headlands, historic lighthouses, and a community that blends farming with tourism.
The town
Locals call it Ballyveaghan. The official name is Newport, or Baile Uí Fhiacháin in Irish. Some maps still show Newport-Pratt. It sits in the barony of Burrishoole, County Mayo. In 2022, the population hit 815.
The N59 road cuts through the town. It’s on the west coast, right along the shore of Clew Bay, north of Westport. Castlebar, the county town, lies roughly 18 km to the east.
The river through it
The Black Oak River flows through the middle of Newport. Walking paths line its banks. Think of the river as the town’s front garden. The water, the paths, and the banks make up the daily walk.
You stroll along the river and up to the bay. Clew Bay sits on the town’s front door. Evening light on the water is usually best. Newport is the quiet spot on the bay shore, positioned between Westport to the south and the Achill country to the north.
The old station
A Newport railway station once existed on the Westport to Achill line. It shut down in 1937. Now, the site forms part of the Great Western Greenway. The station building still stands on the route.
Walking the old line takes you past the building toward the coast. The Greenway acts as the town’s main connection. It links the old line, the path, and the coast. Newport is where the Greenway meets the bay.
Practical
Find Newport on the N59, on the Clew Bay shore. It’s north of Westport and about 18 km west of Castlebar. The Black Oak River runs through the town centre.
Many use it as a base for the bay shore and the Greenway. Morning river walks are common. Afternoons are often spent on the bay.
