- Alice Kinsella & Michelle O’Sullivan: Poets who have worked with the Mayo Arts Service.
- Anne Walsh Donnelly: Lives in Belmullet, County Mayo. A contemporary poet, prose writer, and playwright, Donnelly is Belmullet’s Poet Laureate, appointed as part of Poetry Ireland’s Poetry Town initiative. Her poetry collections, such as The Woman With An Owl Tattoo (2019), explore personal and Mayo coastal themes. Her work has appeared in journals like The Stinging Fly, and she is a prominent voice in Mayo’s modern literary scene.
- Antoine Ó Raifteirí (Anthony Raftery): Born in Killedan, near Kiltimagh, County Mayo; lived in Kiltimagh and Craughwell, County Galway . (1779-1835): A blind Irish-language poet and wandering bard, Ó Raifteirí was one of the last traditional Gaelic poets. His works, such as Cill Aodáin and the dirge for the Anach Cuan tragedy, celebrated Mayo’s landscapes and critiqued social issues like tithes. Known for his violin playing and oral performances at fairs, his poetry influenced the Gaelic revival, with Lady Gregory erecting a tombstone over his grave in 1900.
- Cormac Comon (Cormac Dall): Born in Woodstock, near Ballindine, County Mayo . (1703–c.1786): A blind Irish-language bard and storyteller, Comon earned a living wandering Mayo and Galway, singing and reciting poetry. Known for his sweet voice and musical talent, he composed songs and elegies in the Gaelic tradition. His work, though less documented than Ó Raifteirí’s, preserved Mayo’s oral literary culture during a time of declining Gaelic patronage.
- Edel Burke: Writer and poet.
- Geraldine Mitchell: Poet based on the Mayo coast.
- Jean Tuomey: A poet based in Castlebar.
- Liam Friel: Poet and grandson of Patrick Tunney.
- Martin Dyar: Poet known for Maiden Names.
- Ó hUiginn family: Historical Gaelic poets (e.g., Tadg Óg Ó hUiginn).
- Patrick Tunney (1887–1951): A prominent songwriter and poet from Derrykillew, Westport.
- Paul Durcan: Renowned poet with strong Mayo roots.
- Riocard Bairéad (Richard Barrett): Born in Barrystown, near Belcarra, County Mayo . (c.1735-1819): A poet and satirist, Bairéad wrote in Irish, blending humor and sharp social commentary. His poems, such as Eoghan Cóir, addressed local Mayo life and political tensions. A farmer and schoolteacher, he was a key figure in the United Irishmen movement, reflecting his nationalist sentiments. His work remains a vital part of Mayo’s Gaelic literary heritage.
- Terry McDonagh: A poet and teacher with strong ties to Mayo.
- William Larminie: Born in Castlebar, County Mayo (1849-1900): A poet and folklorist, Larminie’s collections, such as West Irish Folk-Tales and Romances (1893), included poetic translations of Gaelic stories. His original poetry, like Glannua (1889), drew on Mayo’s myths and landscapes. Educated at Trinity College Dublin, he contributed to the Irish Literary Revival by preserving Mayo’s oral traditions and blending them with English verse.
Poets
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 –
