Westport Belmullet Municipal District

General Information

• Áras Inis Gluaire

  Mayo County Council recognises the importance of the arts in crafting a sense of identity at both individual and societal levels. Our Arts Office is committed to supporting artists who engage in a plethora of disciplines including writing, music, drama, painting and dance. This commitment is exemplified by our support of Áras Inis Gluaire, Ireland’s only bilingual arts centre, located in Belmullet. Since 2007 Áras Inis Gluaire has run a very successful annual arts programme, engaging with professional and amateur artists in all artistic genres. For more information, visit their website at: https://arasinisgluaire.ie/main/ 

• Awards and Achievements
  • Mayo County Council received an Excellence in Public Service Award for their work in addressing the decline of the Great Yellow Bumblebee on the Belmullet peninsula. 
  • Belmullet were the winners of the Enterprise Town Awards 2019. 
  • Westport have won the Tidy Towns competition three years in a row, with Belmullet and Mulranny picking up bronze medals in their categories. 
  • 9 of Mayo’s 10 Blue Flag Beaches located in Westport-Belmullet Municipal District (Carrowmore Beach, Keem Beach, Keel Beach, Dugort Beach, Dooega Beach, Mullaghroe Beach, Elly Bay Beach, Mulranny Beach and Clare Island Beach). 
  • Westport became the first Irish town to be awarded Fáilte Ireland’s Destination Award for Excellence in Customer Service in 2018. 
• Beaches

  Mayo County Council takes seriously its responsibility to maintain the beaches of our beautiful county, while helping to protect our natural wildlife and oceans. County Mayo’s beaches are recognised as being among the most outstanding in Europe, and we could not be prouder of our shore’s 10 Blue Flag beaches, 9 of which are located in the Westport-Belmullet Municipal District in: Louisburgh, Achill, Belmullet, Clare Island and Mulranny. 

• Belmullet

  Belmullet is a hub of natural beauty and boasts some of Mayo’s, and indeed Ireland’s, most scenic viewpoints and beaches. Members of Mayo County Council believe strongly in the region’s future, and we are not alone. In 2019, the council applied to Fáilte Ireland’s ‘Destination Towns’ initiative in order to seek financial support to develop North Mayo as a tourist destination. Belmullet was awarded a €500,000 award as an ‘enhancing town’, proof that our faith in the enormous potential of the region was not misplaced. 

• Belmullet Tidal Pool

  In 2018 Mayo County Council secured funding of €120,000 in order to develop the Belmullet Tidal Pool (LIDO) at Shore Road, Belmullet. This funding helped to improve the quality of the LIDO as well as increasing safety measures. The project is a unique public amenity and tourist attraction and is one of a small number of LIDOs in the country.

• Establishment of Westport Belmullet Municipal District

  The Westport Belmullet Municipal District (WBMD) was established in 2014, following the amalgamation of the Belmullet Electoral Area, Westport Electoral Area and Westport Town Council area. There are seven elected members of the WBMD, including one appointed as Cathaoirleach, who convene at Municipal District meetings on a monthly basis. Here, they discuss local issues and oversee policy implementation in an array of areas such as: planning, environmental services and community matters.  

• Facts & Figures
  • Population: 30,978 
  • Electoral Divisions: 48 (25 in Belmullet EA and 23 in Westport EA) 
  • Main towns/villages: Westport, Béal an Mhuirthead, Bangor, Achill Sound, Mulranny, Newport, Louisburgh 
  • Number of Councillors: 7  
  • Parks/Playgrounds: 26 
  • Coastal Piers & Harbours: 78 
• Festivals & Events 

  The Westport Belmullet Municipal District is home to some of the nation’s best festivals each year such as Westival in Westport and Féile Iorrais in Belmullet. Mayo County Council are proud to support and facilitate these celebrations that showcase outstanding artists from all around the globe. For more information visit:  

  Westival: https://westival.ie/ 

  Féile Iorrais: https://www.feileiorrais.ie/  

• Motor Tax

  There are three Motor Taxation offices in County Mayo, located in Castlebar, Ballina and Belmullet. We are pleased to be able to offer an effective customer oriented service in the Belmullet Motor Tax office.  

  Motor Tax Office Mayo County Council, Belmullet Civic Centre, Church Road, Belmullet, Co Mayo, F26 W5H0

  Public Hours: Monday to Friday, 9.30am – 12.45pm & 2pm – 3pm. 

  Email: belmullet@mayococo.ie 

  Phone: 094 9064900 

  Motor Tax is available online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at www.motortax.ie 

• Opening Hours

  Westport Civic Offices, Altamont Street, Westport, Co Mayo, F28 W248

  Public Hours:  Monday to Friday, 9.30am – 1pm & 2pm – 4.30pm 

  Email: westmayomd@mayococo.ie 

  Phone: 094 9064600

  Belmullet Area Office, Church Road, Belmullet Co Mayo, F26 W5H0

  Public Hours: Monday to Friday, 9.30am – 1pm & 2pm – 4.30pm 

  Email: Belmullet@mayococo.ie 

  Phone: 094 9064900 

• Planning Clinics

  Clinics are intended to assist with queries by people who have made or are considering making a planning application. Whether you are new to the planning process or a returning customer, we highly recommend attending a pre-planning meeting prior to applying for permission. 

  No prior appointment is necessary to avail of this service. 

  Although the Planning Department in Mayo County Council is based in Áras an Chontae in Castlebar, a Senior Planner holds a drop-in Planning Clinic in Belmullet and Westport each Wednesday. 

  • 9:30 am - 12:30pm each Wednesday in Mayo County Council, Altamont Street, Westport, Co Mayo, F28 W248.
  • 9:30am - 12:30pm each Wednesday in Belmullet Area Office, Church Road, Belmullet, Co Mayo,  F26 W5H0. 
• The Mayo Islands

  Mayo County Council’s vision of building a strong and inclusive society means ensuring that every community is given the resources and opportunities to develop and thrive, both socially and economically. This means investing in a future for the whole of Mayo – including its island communities.

  An example of such investment would be the €339,000 that was secured by Mayo County Council in 2018 to fund the development of island infrastructure, including the installation of a helipad on Inishturk. Such investments are the key to ensuring that our island communities continue to adapt and prosper and are not left behind as the rest of the county continues to develop. 

  The stunning natural beauty of the West Mayo Islands, combined with a renowned hospitality sector (Europe’s Best Coastal Boutique Hotel is located on Clare Island for instance) mean that the opportunities for progress are endless. Consequently, the development of the islands is central to the council’s vision of the future. 

• Tourism

  The Westport Belmullet Municipal District is enhanced by a landscape that is renowned for its breathtaking beauty. This appealing scenery combined with a wealth of enjoyable activities and a friendly atmosphere, means that the West Mayo region is a highly attractive option for tourists. Mayo County Council welcomes the investment opportunities that are part of a healthy tourism sector and continuously strives to improve our provision of services and amenities – helping first to build inclusive communities, then giving them the support they need to blossom. 

  Westport and Belmullet, the cultural and administrative centres of West Mayo, are perfect examples of how communities who are passionate and dedicated to progress, can benefit from working with their local authority. 

• Westport

  Located in the south-east corner of Clew Bay, under the shadow of Croagh Patrick, Westport is one of the most scenic towns in Ireland. In fact, it is the three-time winner of the Irish Tidy Towns Competition and was also the winner of the 2012 Best Place to Live in Ireland competition run by The Irish Times.

  Westport is home to countless high-quality restaurants and bars, and has a vibrant nightlife scene. There are also many family-based activities in the area, including sailing, hiking and the town’s very own heritage centre and theme park – Westport House; making Westport the ideal location for family holidays. Mayo County Council supports Westport’s development and its tourism sector through continuous investment and collaboration with local community groups. 

• Westport Leisure Park

  Westport’s Leisure Park complex features a large pool area that includes a 25-metre swimming pool complete with disability access; a children’s fun pool; and three changing areas – male, female and universal changing for families or persons with disabilities.  

  Westport Leisure Park have been awarded the National Quality Standard Award (NQSA) for 19 consecutive years, making them one of just a handful of leisure centres nationwide to retain the award since its inception.  

  For more information visit http://www.westportleisure.com/ 

• Wild Atlantic Way

  The Wild Atlantic Way, which snakes its way along Ireland’s rugged coastline, is one of the nation’s most popular tourist attractions.

  Mayo is home to an impressive 35 Wild Atlantic Way viewpoints, many of which are located in the Westport Belmullet Municipal District, on the Great Western Greenway. The Greenway, which follows the route of the historic Westport to Achill railway, is the longest off-road walking and cycling trail in Ireland, covering a distance of 42 kilometres. Mayo County Council are responsible for securing investment to develop the project, along with maintaining the Greenway itself.