Westport House

Worth the price of admission alone is the chance to wander the extensive estate, with its magnificent parklands, lakes, terraces and extensive gardens, all overlooking Clew Bay.

Westport House is an impressive architecture work. Built in 1730 with the finest local limestone by Richard Cassels, who also designed many fine Georgian mansions across Ireland, Westport House was completed by James Wyatt in 1778, the renowned English architect who was also responsible for designing the town plan for Westport.

Visitors to Westport House enjoy wide access to explore its stunning rooms, complete with original contents. Much of the ceilings, cornices and fireplaces remains as it was originally designed. Westport House also houses an extensive art collection, including impressive landscape paintings by James Arthur O?Connor, Chalon, Barrett, Gibson and Carver and portraits by such names as Reynolds, Beechy, Oppie, Brooks and Lavery. Among the pictures are portraits of historical figures from the West of Ireland, Earls and Marquesses that provide a strong sense of Ireland's gentry over the centuries.

Other original items on show in Westport House, of particular interest, include a fine collection of old English and Irish silver, Waterford glass, a library with many old Irish books. There is also a collection of waxwork figures by Gems Display Figures, which are a tribute to the literary, arts and music achievements of the West of Ireland.

If You Go: Westport House is open March to Nov. In March: Mon-Fri & Sun: 11.30-16.00; Apr-Jun & Sept: Mon-Fri & Sun: 11.30-17.00; Jul-Aug: Mon-Fri & Sun: 11.30-18.00; Oct-Nov: Sun only, 11.30-16.00. Admission is ?9.50 for adults and ?6.00 for Children.