Carnacon

Carnacon (in Irish Ceathrú na gCon, meaning 'Quarter of the hounds') is a small village in beautiful countryside in south west Mayo. It is situated approx 12 miles from Castlebar, 10 miles from Balla and 8 miles from Claremorris and Ballinrobe. The village has a church, a shop, a pub, a community centre and a vibrant modern National School.

Carnacon Rose

The 2005 Rose of Tralee was Carnacon native Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin - the Mayo Rose.

Lough Carra

Located on the shores of the renowned mayfly fishing lake, Lough Carra, Carnacon is traditionally a rural agricultural village. Lough Carra is a relatively shallow limestone lake, approx 4,000 acres in area, very popular for trout fishing. There are beautiful walks around the shores of the lake and through the forest surrounding Moorehall, a lot of which is planted conifers but also quite an amount of native broadleaves.

History & Archaeology

The National Census of 2006 records a population of 713 and 255 houses in Carnacon, but for a rural area of its size, it is richly endowed with historical and archaeological sites, ringforts and stately homes.

The archaeological site of Doon is an inland promontory fort on Lough Carra, with sites dating from Late Bronze Age and is an area of great beauty, enriched by history, natural woodland and unspoilt lakeshore features.

Other significant heritage sites in and around the Carnacon area include:

• Moorehall, only a short distance away, the famed birthplace of writer George Moore and John Moore, first President of Connaught. For more information check out the history of the Moores of Moorehall.

• Castle Carra, a 13th century rectangular great tower on the shores of Lough Carra. Built originally by the Staunton family, who later adopted the Irish version of their surname - Mac an Mhilidh, meaning 'son of the warrior' - which today is pronounced MacEvilly or MacAvelly. At one time the area around Carra was known as MacEvilly's country.

• Towerhill House, once the home of substantial landlords, the sporting Blake family. It was here that the Mayo football flag originated in 1885.

• Clooneen Mill - located on the grounds of Towerhill

• Carnacon House was the home of General James McDonnell, a leader in the rising of 1798.

• Burriscarra Abbey, founded in 1298 for the Whitefriar or Carmelite Brothers.

• Mass Rock

• Ringforts

The millennium stone in Carnacon depicts all of the above, representing the different aspects of the community.

Carnacon National School

Carnacon National School
Carnacon
Ballyglass
Claremorris
Co Mayo
Ireland
Tel: + 353 94 936 0122
Fax: + 353 94 936 0122