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Nestled on the
western seaboard of Ireland is the natural and
unspoilt county of Mayo. Covering and area of
2,159 square miles, this rural corner of
Connaught houses a population of just over
110,000 people and is the third largest county in
Ireland. Derived from the Irish name 'Maigh Eo',
meaning the plain of yew trees, County Mayo is
home to a rich history of organized farming
dating back some 5,000 years, preserved Neolithic
remains and has strong connections with the early
ministry of St. Patrick. County Mayo
offers a rugged landscape of outstanding beauty
with mountains and lakes in the north and west.
Achill Island, the largest island off the coast
of Ireland, can be reached by bridge from the
mainland. Visitors to Mayo will discover golden
sandy beaches, open moorland, dramatic cliff
scenery and the extraordinary bogland of North
Mayo, Ceide Fields. Angling, golf, riding and
walking are some of the leisure attractions of
this breathtaking landscape. The Gaeltacht (Irish
speaking) communities in Mayo provide a link to
the past, keeping alive a rich Celtic culture
through the spoken word and traditional music.
Towns of County
Mayo
In contrast to its ancient routes, the towns of
County Mayo thrive as part of an Information Age
of Technology network giving the people of the
county access to the internet and e-commerce
through public libraries and local initiatives.
The county capital of Castlebar
provides a wealth of community information
through its very active website www.castlebar.ie. Other
towns and business centres in Mayo are Ballina,
Westport, Ballinrobe, Ballyhaunis, Charlestown,
Claremorris and Swinford.
Please see town
guides for futher information
| Agriculture
overall is still the principal source of
employment in County Mayo; dairy, sheep
and beef farming all being prevelant
across the county. Manufacturing and
engineering are the two main industries
from precision tool and farm equipment
production to pharmaceuticals with
multinational companies. Tourism
represents the major service industry in
the county. The IDA (Industrial
Development Agency) regional office is
based in Galway, they actively seek
overseas companies to avail of the
facilities in Mayo and establish their
business in the county. Enterprise
Ireland support medium sized Irish
businesses to develop and expand their
services. Small businesses with under 10
employees can receive assistance from the
Mayo County Enterprise Board with grant
application, business skills training and
other related support. The Integrated
Rural Developments and Leader groups are
available in most of the major towns in
County Mayo. |
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| Helpful
contact details for business enquiries |
| Mayo
County Enterprise Board |
|
tel: (353) (0)94 22887 |
| Enterprise
Ireland Regional Office |
tel: (353) (0)91 735900 |
Industrial
Development Agency (IDA)
Regional Office |
tel: (353) (0)91 751111 |
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| Other
sources of finance applicable to buiness
start up, development and acquisition,
and related services: |
| Credit
Unions |
|
tel: (353) (0)1 4908911 |
| National
Irish Bank |
tel: (353) (0)1 6785066 |
| Ulster
Bank (Small Business Unit) |
tel: (353) (0)1 6777623 |
| Bank of
Ireland Enterprise Support Unit |
contact
any branch. |
| Smurfit
Job Creation Enterprise Fund |
tel:
(353) (0)1 4784091 |
The Dept. of
Enterprise, Trade and Employment:- tel:(++) (353)
(0) 1 661 4444; www.irlgov.ie/entemp has
extensive and very helpful advice on all aspects
of business and employment in Ireland, including
a business start up information pack which is
superbly put together and includes everything
from planning, funding, locating, employing
people and development businesses.
| Travel
(also see town guides) |
| 30
minutes drive from Castlebar is Knock
International Airport at Charlestown,
County Mayo providing a direct route from
London Stanstead, Manchester and
Birmingham in the UK, Germany and
Switzerland into the heart of Connaught.
Irish Rail operate a daily train service
from Dublin to Westport and Ballina.
Alternatively, the ferry to any of the
eastern seaboard ports in Ireland and a
drive cross country will take you to the
West of Ireland. |
| Tourism, Leisure and Accommodation |
| Please see town guides |
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photographs on this page © insight email pprice@indigo.ie