The Little Book of Mayo

Did you know?
- The Westport-Achill railway line has the dubious distinction of fulfilling the seventeenth-century poet and mystic Brian Rua Ó Cearbháin's prediction that its first and last trains would carry dead bodies.
- Bellacorick boasts a musical bridge, designed by cartographer and civil engineer William Bald in 1820. Each parapet slab emits a different musical note when struck with a stone.
Through quaint villages and bustling towns, this compendium of fascinating, strange and entertaining facts takes the reader on a journey through County Mayo and its vibrant past.
Here you will find out about Mayo's natural history, its myths and legends, its proud sporting heritage - particularly its long-running quest for Sam - and its famous (and occasionally infamous) men and women.
A reliable reference and a quirky guide, The Little Book of Mayo can be dipped into time and again to reveal something new about the people, heritage and secrets of this ancient county.

Eamonn Henry, a retired teacher and native of Swinford, Mayo, has written a wide variety of Mayo-related articles for online publication, including editing the magazine section of mayo-ireland.ie, the most popular and comprehensive website in Connacht. He also runs mayogodhelpus.com and is the author of Tales from the West of Ireland. During his professional life he was a member of the so-called 'Drumcondra Mafia', Bertie Ahern's inner core of advisers.