Anquity The 5th century saw the construction of
Turlough Abbey near Castlebar.
Medieval period In the early medieval period, the Castlebar area was dominated by Gaelic clans, notably the Quinns (Ó Coinn), who lent their name to the parish of Aglishcowane, meaning "Church of Ó Coinn". The area featured crannogs and ringforts, indicative of early settlement patterns.
The Norman invasion of Ireland in the late 12th century brought significant changes. By 1235, the invading de Barra (Barry) family had established a castle on the banks of the Castlebar River, around which the town developed. This castle, known as Caisleán an Bharraigh, gave the town its name. The de Barra's stronghold later came under the control of the de Burgo (Burke) family, who faced challenges from other clans and English forces. The castle was located at the end of Castle Street, where the town river is thought to have originally flowed. In 1586, Sir John Bingham was granted the castle by his brother Sir
Richard Bingham, the Governor of Connacht, marking the beginning of English administrative influence and the start of the
Bingham baronets of Castlebar, who would rule Castlebar for generations. The town was granted a charter of incorporation in 1613 by
James I of England. Under the charter the town had a
portreeve (mayor) and a fifteen-member corporation and was entitled to elect two members to the
Parliament of Ireland.
Races of Castlebar Armed conflict has been the centrepiece of the town's historical heritage. French forces under the command of General
Jean Humbert aided in a rout of the British garrison in the town during the failed
Irish Rebellion of 1798, which was so comprehensive it would later be known as "The
Races of Castlebar". A short-lived provisional
Irish Republic had been declared upon General Humbert's arrival at Killala. Following the victory at Castlebar
John Moore, head of the Mayo
United Irishmen and the brother of a local landowner, was declared president of the Province of Connacht. His remains are today interred in a corner of the town green, known as the Mall
19th century Castlebar Military Barracks was established in 1834: it was finally closed in March 2012 and the buildings and grounds have been purchased by the local town and county councils. During the mid-19th Century (including the period of the
Great Irish famine),
George Bingham, 3rd Earl of Lucan became known as "The Exterminator" for his ruthless actions against his tenants in the Castlebar area. The third Lord Lucan earned his nickname by carrying out mass evictions of tenants who were unable to pay rent. This period saw widespread starvation in the area, leading to the deaths of thousands and the emigration of many more. In contrast, the fourth Earl was a more favourable figure locally. He lowered rents, donated land for schools and the Catholic church, and his successor,
George Bingham, 4th Earl of Lucan, gifted the town centre park, known as the Mall, to the people of Castlebar in 1922. The
Irish National Land League was founded by
Michael Davitt, of
Straide in County Mayo, at the Imperial Hotel in Castlebar on 21 October 1879. The Land League sought to directly challenge Anglo-Irish landlords such as the Binghams and fought for tenants rights.
20th century Western Hat Factory and Little Jerusalem In 1939, Castlebar became a refuge for
Jews escaping Central Europe. Members of that community established the Western Hat Factory, officially opened on 1 May 1940 Witztum used the opportunity to helps Jews escape Nazi persecultion.
21st century Since the early 1990s, Castlebar has experienced a surge in growth, marked by a sharp rise in population, the construction of new housing estates, and a broadening of its role as the administrative and commercial centre of Mayo. By the late 1990s, commentators were already noting that Castlebar was bucking the wider trend of underdevelopment in the west, thriving at the expense of smaller surrounding towns and villages. The
Celtic Tiger economy accelerated this shift. National and local media described Castlebar as one of Ireland’s fastest-growing regional towns. Reports highlighted its transformation from a traditional market centre into a major shopping destination, with the arrival of
Aldi,
Tesco and
Dunnes Stores in the town centre and record retail figures in the early 2000s. Volex (employing 970 people in the town at its peak) while large-scale public investments, including the redevelopment of Castlebar Courthouse and the expansion of educational and healthcare services, reinforced its status as a county hub. contributing to the recorded population increase, from 7,648 in 1991 to 11,371 in 2002. The opening of the National Museum of Country Life at nearby Turlough also contributed to the town's upswing. But after the
Great Recession, Castlebar faced significant economic challenges. Major employers such as Volex and
American Power Conversion announced large-scale redundancies and eventual closures, dealing heavy blows to its industrial base. ==Coat of arms==