- Ballintober abbey, Theobald (Teabóid na Long / Tibbott-na-Long) Bourke (Burke) (c.1567–1629), Gaelic lord of Mayo and chief of the Bourke clan; naval commander (hence “of the ships”) who supported Hugh O’Neill in the Nine Years’ War, submitted to the Crown, but later navigated post-Flight of the Earls politics. Buried in Ballintober abbey, Co. Mayo (a major medieval Augustinian site).
- Cross abbey, Riocard Bairéad (Dick Barrett) (1740?–1819), 18th-century Gaelic poet and songwriter from the Erris area; known for lively, humorous works in Irish, including the famous drinking song “Preab san ól.” Buried in Cross abbey, outside Binghamstown (Belmullet area), Co. Mayo.
- Burrishoole Abbey, Manus Sweeney (Mac Suibhne, fl. early 19th century?), Traditional Gaelic scholar, poet, or local figure associated with west Mayo folklore and education. Buried in the family grave at Burrishoole Abbey, Co. Mayo (a historic Dominican friary ruins on Lough Furnace).
- Knock Cemetery, Mary Byrne (1850–1936), Key witness to the 1879 Knock Marian apparition (one of the officially recognizsed apparitions in Ireland); her testimony helped validate the event.
- Attymass, Patrick Joseph Peyton (1909–1992), “Rosary Priest,” Irish-American priest and founder of the Family Rosary Crusade; popularized family prayer globally through radio, film, and rallies. Born near Attymass, Co. Mayo; buried in the community cemetery.
- Ardnaree Cemetery, Ballina, Major John MacBride, Irish republican revolutionary and nationalist. He fought for the Boers against the British in the Second Boer War and was executed for his part in the 1916 Easter Rising. He was the husband of Maud Gonne and father of Nobel Peace Prize winner Seán MacBride.
- Toomore Cemetery (Toormore) in Foxford, Brigid Lyons-Thornton, a prominent Irish republican, doctor, and the first woman officer in the Irish Army, is buried in County Mayo. She was laid to rest beside her husband, Captain Edward Thornton, following her death in April 1987 at age 91,
- St Mary’s Cemetery (Rockvale), Straide, Michael Davitt, Founder of the Irish National Land League, which led the campaign for tenant farmers’ rights against landlordism in the 1870s and 1880s. He was a pivotal figure in Irish history, a social campaigner, and a Member of Parliament. Buried in St Mary’s Cemetery (Rockvale), Straide, near Foxford. A museum is located adjacent to the grave.
- Clare Island, Grace O’Malley (Gráinne Ní Mháille / Granuaile), The famous 16th-century “Pirate Queen,” chieftain of the Ó Máille clan, and formidable seafarer who commanded a fleet and negotiated face-to-face with Queen Elizabeth I. It is believed she is buried on Clare Island.
- St. Mary’s Churchyard, Castlebar, George Bingham, 3rd Earl of Lucan. Anglo-Irish peer and British Army officer. He is infamously known for his role in the Crimean War, where he gave the disputed order for the disastrous “Charge of the Light Brigade.” His family owned vast estates in Mayo. Buried in the Bingham vault in St. Mary’s Churchyard, Castlebar.
- League cemetery, Ballina, Frank Stagg Frank Stagg (1942–1976) n Irish republican and IRA member who died on hunger strike in Wakefield Prison, England, during the Troubles while protesting his treatment and demanding repatriation to Ireland. His controversial burial and massive funeral, buried and encased in concrete by the government of the time, and finally exhumed and reburied in Ballina, made him a symbol of resistance in modern Irish politics.
List of Graveyards in Mayo
Achill Island (Dugort Cemetery), Achill Island (Kildavnet Graveyard), Achill Island (Slievemore Old Cemetery), Addergoole Cemetery (Lahardane), Aghagower Cemetery, Aille Graveyard, Attymass Cemetery, Ballina (Leigue Cemetery), Ballinrobe (Augustine Abbey Graveyard), Ballinrobe (Carnalecka/Tempall Mór Graveyard), Ballinrobe (Church of Ireland Graveyard), Ballinrobe (New Graveyard, Ballyglass Road), Ballinrobe (St. Joseph’s Convent Graveyard), Ballinrobe (St. Mary’s Catholic Church Clergy Burials), Ballintubber Abbey Graveyard, Ballycastle (New Cemetery), Ballycroy (St. Dymphna’s Churchyard), Ballyhean Churchyard, Ballyholly Graveyard, Belcarra Cemetery, Belderrig Cemetery, Belmullet (Emlybeg Cemetery), Belmullet (Old Churchyard), Bohola Cemetery, Bonniconlon Cemetery, Brackloon Graveyard, Breaffy Cemetery, Bunnacurry Graveyard (Achill), Burriscarra Abbey Graveyard, Burrishoole Abbey Graveyard, Carrowmore Cemetery (Louisburgh), Castlebar (Old Cemetery), Castlebar (St. Patrick’s Churchyard), Charlestown (St. James’ Churchyard), Clare Island (Abbey Graveyard), Clare Island (Holy Rosary Cemetery), Claremorris (St. Colman’s Cemetery), Cloonfad Cemetery, Cloonkeen Graveyard, Cong (Royal Abbey Graveyard), Crossboyne Churchyard, Crossmolina (Kilmurry Cemetery), Doona Graveyard (Ballycroy), Doonfeeny Graveyard (Ballycastle), Drummin Cemetery, Errew Abbey Graveyard, Foxford (Craggagh Cemetery), Geesala Cemetery, Glenhest Cemetery, Hollymount Cemetery, Islandeady Cemetery, Kilbride Graveyard (Ballycastle), Kilcolman Cemetery (Claremorris), Kilcommon Cemetery (Erris), Kilcummin Churchyard (Headford), Kilfian Old Graveyard, Kilgeever Cemetery (Louisburgh), Kilkelly Cemetery, Killala (St. Patrick’s Cathedral Graveyard), Killeen Cemetery (Ballina), Kilmaine (St. Mary’s Churchyard), Kilmeena Cemetery, Kilmoremoy Cemetery (Ballina), Kiltimagh (St. Joseph’s Cemetery), Kilkinure Cemetery (Crossmolina), Kiltullagh Churchyard, Knock (St. John the Baptist Churchyard), Lacken Cemetery, Lisloughry Cemetery (Moygownagh), Louisburgh (Kilgeever Graveyard), Manulla Cemetery, Mayo Abbey (New Cemetery), Mayo Abbey (Old Graveyard), Meelick Graveyard, Midfield Cemetery, Moygownagh Churchyard, Moyne Abbey Graveyard, Murrisk Abbey Graveyard, Newport (St. Patrick’s Churchyard), Parke Cemetery, Rathfran Abbey Graveyard, Robeen Graveyard, Rossport Cemetery, Shrule (St. Joseph’s Churchyard), Slievemore Old Cemetery (Achill), Straide Abbey Graveyard, Swinford (Our Lady Help of Christians Cemetery), Templemore Graveyard (Kiltimagh), Tooreen Cemetery, Turlough (St. Mary’s Churchyard), Tulrahan Cemetery
Graveyards
Antrim – Armagh – Carlow – Cavan – Clare – Cork – Derry – Donegal – Down – Dublin – Fermanagh – Galway – Kerry – Kildare –Kilkenny – Laois – Leitrim – Limerick – Longford – Louth – Mayo – Meath – Monaghan – Offaly – Roscommon – Sligo – Tipperary – Tyrone – Waterford – Westmeath – Wexford – Wicklow
County Mayo:
Ireland’s county Mayo offers dramatic scenery and ancient heritage, with the Cliffs of Moher’s rugged beauty and Croagh Patrick’s pilgrimage trail providing stunning vistas. The town of Westport features Georgian architecture and access to Clew Bay’s islands, while the Ceide Fields showcase a prehistoric farming landscape. Other attractions include the celebrity beaches of Achill Island. Mayo is Ireland’s third largest county by size (5,398 square km) and 18th largest by population (137,970). Population peaked at 388,887 in 1841 and reached its lowest point, 109,525 in 1971. In terms of hospitality, Mayo is Ireland’s tenth most visited tourist county with around 218,000 international visitors per year.
Introduction – Adventure – Anthem – Archaeology – Attractions – Awards – Birdwatching – Camping – Castles – Churches – Contact list – Cycling – Dining – Equestrian – Festivals – Fishing – Folklore – Gardens – Golf – Graveyards – Happening – Haunted – Highest – Hiking – History – Holy Wells – Hotels – Hotels top 8 – Hunting & shooting – Instagrammable – Itineraries – Largest town – Luxury – MICE – Movies – Music – Name – New – Novelists – Off the beaten track – Poets – Pubs – Quotes – Random Facts – Restaurant Awards – Sacred Places – Saints – Songs – Spas – Sports – Sunsets – Sustainable – Things to do – Towns – Video – Villages – Walking – Wanderlist – Weddings – Wild swimming – Writers – 1837 – 1846 – 1852 – 1909 – 1955 – 1980 –
