March 2017

This year Westport is celebrating its 250th anniversary. The year 1767 is stated as Westport's foundation year following an advertisement published by the Hon Peter Browne Kelly and the architect William Leeson in Faulkner's Journal on March 17th 1767.

The advertisement read a new town was going to be built near the Old Town of Westport. According to Plans a large and elegant Market house, situated in the centre of an Octagon area, twelve large well finished slated Houses, three avenues for Streets of thirty slated Houses, and several very large Streets for great number of thatched Houses and Cabins were to be built.

Also in the advertisement Peter Browne Kelly and William Leeson sought Bricklayers, Masons, Stone Cutters, Carpenters, Joiners, Sawyers, Slaters, Plasterers, Glaziers, Painters and all other Artificers in the Building Branch.

The official one year long celebration will be launched on St Patrick’s week-end starting from Thursday 16th March to Saturday 18th March.

On Thursday, 16th, in Westport Town Hall the hit theatre show, “Patrick”, will be performed.

On Friday, 17th, along the main streets there will be an open-air traditional ceili at 1pm followed by the traditional parade at 2pm.

On Saturday 18th, from 12pm on the Piper's Trail and the street theatre “Westport Story” will take place. In the afternoon the celebration will be held at the Harbour at Westport Quay. A perform by some street performers, including Arcana’s giant U2 heads, and a spectacular 250 fireworks sky fest at dusk will be the end of the launch.

The fireworks display has been cancelled as a mark of respect to the Irish Coast Guard rescue services following the crash of the Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue 116 around Blackrock Lighthouse off Blacksod Coast, North Mayo.

The event will take place on Mayo Day 29th April 2017.

Along the year the celebration will include many events such as an Air Show, a historical conference, children's arts festival, a worldwide gathering of Mini car enthusiasts and the Westport of the World on September 17th.