12 things you probably don't know about Mayo

THERE will be a big influx to Mayo over the weekend for annual Croagh Patrick pilgrimage on Sunday.

Here are 12 things they probably don't know about this county. 

1. The first epic before the Tain (the cattle raid of Cooley) was written in Mayo, Tain Bo Fleish.

2. The four masters were born in Mayo.

3. The county was formed 40,000 years ago.

4. Louis Brennan’s father was the first to establish gas lights in Castlebar.

5. Castlebar is called after the Barry family from Cork.

6. The coat of arms for Castlebar is the Barry coats of arms.

7. In Ballintubber Abbey, you have an example of Roman arches and Gothic arches exemplified.

8. The Moores of Moorehall produced four famous writers.

9. The path to the top of Croagh Patrick is a ancient pagan walkway 6,000 years old.

10. Raifteiri wrote the most home-longing poem in European literature.

11. Rathbawn and Blackfort in Castlebar are called after two ringforts.

12. The founder of The Connaught Telegraph was Lord Frederick Cavendish and there is much research to be done on this man.