Your Comfort Assured...
The Westport Plaza Hotel offers luxury 4 star accommodation in the heart of Westport town. Just lie back and let your cares drift away in one of our luxurious bedrooms. With a gorgeous king size bed, jacuzzi and Italian bathroom as standard, all you need to think about is whether or not to have breakfast in bed.
All Guestrooms at the Plaza Feature:
- King Size Bed
- Italian Marble Bathroom with Separate Shower & Jacuzzi Bath
- Plasma Television
- Air Conditioning
- Interactive TV Service including Movies, Music & Internet Access.
- Mini Bar
Restaurant Merlot - A Culinary Delight!
For intimate dining and sumptuous wines, indulge at the Restaurant Merlot. A delightful mix of European and classical Irish flavours, choose from the exciting table d’hote menu or the sophisticated a la carte menu.
To complement your choice, we will help you select the perfect wine from our extensive range on display in the cellar. Evening Meals are served from 6.00 to 9.00 PM.
About Westport Town
Westport is a postcard-pretty town with as lovely a main street as you'll be likely to find anywhere in Ireland.
The town lies in the shadow of Croagh Patrick with Clew Bay and its 365 islands just to the west. While in Westport be sure to visit Westport House and climb at least a little of Croagh Patrick.
Westport House dates from 1730 and offers everything from a dungeon to a zoo!
Croagh Patrick is a 765-meter hill where St. Patrick is said to have banished the snakes from Ireland. This hill is climbed (often barefoot) by thousands of Catholic pilgrims each July.
South of Westport are some stunning scenic drives leading into the Connemara region. A trip northwards will bring you to remote Achill island which is accessible by a small bridge. Even further off the beaten path is Belmullet in the northwest corner of County Mayo. Westport also boasts a great selection of traditional pubs, among them Matt Molloy's of The Chieftains.
The following locations are in close proximity to Westport
Kylemore bbey (40 minutes)
Set in the Connemara mountains is Kylemore Abbey, a beautiful neo-Gothic Castle. Built by the English industrialist Mitchell Henry in 1868, visitors to the three reception rooms in the Abbey are touched by its history steeped in romance and tragedy. Kylemore Castle was sold to Benedictine nuns fleeing war-torn Belgium in 1920 and the Castle became an Abbey. The Community of Nuns re-opened their International Boarding School here and also established a day school for local girls.
Mitchell Henry built the recently re-opened Neo-Gothic Church (under restoration) between 1877 and 1881 as a memorial to his wife following her untimely death. The Church, a ‘cathedral in miniature’, is a centre of reflection and prayer for many visitors. Visitors can also see the Mausoleum where the original owners are buried.
Cong (1 hour)
Cong is without doubt most famous for being the location of John Ford's 1951 classic, "The Quiet Man", starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. The Quiet Man Cottage Museum allows visitors to relive the movie as if actually on-set. Painstaking effort has ensured that all the furnishings, artifacts, costumes - etc. are authentic reproductions. The majestic remains of Cong Abbey are the relics of an Augustinian abbey founded in the 12th century by Turlough O'Connor, King of Connaught and High King of Ireland. The Cross of Cong, an ornate processional cross intended for the abbey, is now in Dublin's National Museum. Ashford Castle, perhaps Ireland's most exquisite castle hotel is located just outside the village.
Galway City (1/5 hours)
In a recent nationwide survey the people of Galway were found to be Ireland's happiest! And visiting Galway City, the capital of their county it is not hard to see why. It is a lively university city of narrow streets, quaint shopfronts, bustling pubs and stunning surrounding scenery. It has always attracted a bohemian mix of musicians, artists and intellectuals and that attitude is palpable as you walk the streets. Galway has been commercially important since the 11th century when it was a centre for trade with Spain and Portugal. In 1477 Christopher Columbus paid a visit. Galway earned the title “City of the Tribes” around that time, when it was ruled by 14 wealthy merchant families. Today it is lively, with loads of things to do, and is so popular that it can get very crowded in summer, especially during the annual Galway Races. The annual Arts Festival also attracts thousands, especially for its street parade, organized by the multi-award winning production company, Macnas. Its famous Druid Theatre produces and stages plays and has toured internationally, winning awards, including Tonys on Broadway.
Sligo (2.5 hours)
Sligo, which has a close association with the poet W.B. Yeats offers a fine museum and gallery, much of which is devoted to the great man. Close to Sligo you will find 5,000 year-old megalithic tombs left by the ancient Celtic people. Also worth a look are the ruins of the 19th century Sligo Abbey. One interesting possible diversion will take you to the town of Knock where in 1879 Mary, Joseph, and St. John miraculously appeared. The number of witnesses on that evening and the many subsequent healings that have taken place here leave little doubt in many people's mind that something incredible did in fact happen here. A 12,000 seat Basilica was built to accommodate the vast number of visitors each year.
