Westport House
Westport House is a grand Georgian country house in Westport, County Mayo, Ireland. It sits on a large estate of about 380 acres, with a lake, terraces and a model farm.
The house was started in 1731 by John Browne and designed in a Palladian style by the architect Richard Cassels. It was later expanded and updated by several builders, including Thomas Ivory, James Wyatt, Henry Holland and Benjamin Wyatt. A spectacular Sicilian marble staircase was added in 1858.
The Browne family owned Westport House for almost 300 years. They helped develop the town of Westport and its industries, and they contributed to famine relief during the Great Famine. In the grounds is a tall statue of Grace O’Malley (Grainne Mhaol), placed in 2003.
Inside the house are many family treasures, including portraits by Reynolds and Copley, landscapes by James Arthur O’Connor, old silver, Waterford glass, and the Mayo Legion Flag. The marble Angel of Welcome sits on the staircase.
In 2017 the Browne family sold Westport House to the Hughes family of Westport, who plan a major refurbishment. The estate has hosted music events, such as the 2012 Westport Festival of Music and Performing Arts and the 2017 Harvest Country Music Festival.
In 2022 Charlie Bird donated a large wooden sculpture, An Saighdiúir (The Soldier), to the estate to thank the local community. The eight-foot-tall sculpture stands near the Quay entrance.
In 2007 the state awarded a grant of about €1.3 million to repair and preserve Westport House.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 09:07 (CET).