Louisburgh Cluain Cearbán
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Town | |
Louisburgh town centre
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Location in Ireland | |
Coordinates: 53°45′43″N 9°48′32″W / 53.762°N 9.809°WCoordinates: 53°45′43″N 9°48′32″W / 53.762°N 9.809°W | |
Country | Ireland |
Province | Connacht |
County | County Mayo |
Elevation | 5 m (16 ft) |
Population (2011) | |
• Town | 811 |
• Urban | 422 |
• Environs | 497 |
Irish Grid Reference | L803812 |
Louisburgh (Irish: Cluain Cearbán) is a small town on the southwest corner of Clew Bay in County Mayo, Ireland. It is home to Sancta Maria College and the Gráinne O'Malley Interpretive Centre.
Louisburgh is located on the R335 regional road. It can be approached from Westport (13 miles) or from Leenane (19 miles). Both approaches are stunning as the former passes along the beautiful Clew Bay on one side and Croagh Patrick on the other while the latter passes through lake and mountain scenery past Doo Lough and Delphi Lodge.
Bus Éireann local route 450 Louisburgh-Lecanvey-Westport provides two to three journeys in each direction daily except Sundays. On Thursdays the route extends west to Killadoon.
The nearest rail services may be accessed at Westport railway station approximately 24 km distant. There are several trains a day from Westport to Dublin Heuston via Athlone.
Most of Louisburgh lies within the townland of Clooncarrabaun (an anglicisation of Cluain Cearbán). The town was constructed in 1795 by the 3rd Earl of Altamount, (later 1st Marquess of Sligo), John Denis Browne of Westport to house Catholic refugees who fled sectarian conflict in the north of Ireland. Originally a planned town, it retains many of the eighteenth century features in style and scale. The 1st Marquess of Sligo named the town Louisburgh in memory of his Uncle - Captain Henry Browne - who fought on the British side, against the French, in the 1758 battle of Louisburg. Louisburg (or Louisbourg in French) was a French named fortress on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada. As a result of the British victory, a temporary unit of Louisbourg Grenadiers was formed, in which his Uncle was a captain.