Book launch: Noel Campbell & John Healy, 'The History of Castlebar'

Geographically located in the centre of County Mayo, Castlebar has been at the heart of the county’s affairs for centuries and has been the scene of major events in Irish history. From prehistory to the twenty-first century, The History of Castlebar tells the county capital’s story, and that of its inhabitants, through a series of glimpses into the past.

About the authors

Noel Campbell is a Castlebar native and resides in the town. He attended Saint Patrick’s NS and Saint Gerald’s College, and is a graduate of NUIG and UCD. He is employed as a curator in the National Museum of Ireland – Country Life, where he has worked since the branch opened in 2001. Noel has written frequently about the history of Castlebar and County Mayo. He is the author of A History of Castlebar: Municipal Government 1613–2014 and also wrote the weekly history column, ‘Old Mayo’ in the Mayo Advertiser. As a presenter of Community Radio Castlebar’s flagship programme, Saturday Forum, Noel discussed local history with many guest contributors. Noel is a former elected member of Castlebar Town Council and has volunteered with several organisations in his home town.

John Healy is a native of Castlebar and has been associated with journalism for nearly 50 years, originally with the Mayo Post. He has been a columnist and contributor to the Mayo News for 25 years, and was an original board member of Community Radio Castlebar. A founding member of Wild Atlantic Words Literary Festival, he has been active in a wide range of voluntary and community bodies over many years.

Location: Festival Dome, Bridge Lane, Castlebar, Co. Mayo, F23 PN20

Time: 7.30pm

Booking info: All events at this year’s festival are on a first come, first served basis. As some venues have limited availability, we'd recommend arriving early to secure a seat. All events are free of charge.