A €65.5 million redevelopment of Westport House and its surrounding estate has moved a step closer with the official sod-turning of one of the west of Ireland’s largest ever tourism investments.
The development will see the historic estate transformed through a mix of heritage attractions, visitor experiences and new tourism facilities.
Fáilte Ireland is providing up to €36 million, while the remaining €29.5 million is being invested by the Hughes family, owners of local workwear manufacturer Portwest.
At the heart of the project is a major redevelopment of Westport House itself. The house, which dates back to the 18th century, was built on the site of a castle linked to Grace O’Malley, who became known as ‘The Pirate Queen’ through her legendary seafaring exploits.
The project also includes a new visitor experience inside Westport House, where visitors will be guided through more than 350 years of history using a mix of exhibitions and interpretive technology.
The house will also become fully accessible for the first time, while its Italianate gardens will be restored and opened more extensively to the public.
The house’s link to Grace O’Malley will also be highlighted through a separate immersive attraction which will tell her story through 360-degree projection technology and sensory effects.
A new visitor centre housed within the estate’s coach house complex, featuring retail, café and orientation facilities, has also been planned.
The project will also involve a new 34-acre outdoor attraction known as the ‘Wild Realms’.
Since being opened to the public in the 1960s, Westport House has been one of the most popular visitor attractions in west Mayo.
The house and estate was home to the Browne family for generations before being purchased by the Hughes family almost a decade ago amid growing financial pressure.
The family have already invested heavily in the estate since acquiring it in 2017. Earlier this year, the family reopened the former Hotel Westport as The Grace, a luxury hotel named after Grace O’Malley that is bidding to become Mayo’s second five-star property. Westport Adventure, an adventure park featuring Ireland’s longest inflatable obstacle course, opened on the estate in 2024.
The latest phase of the Westport House development is expected to take around two years.
Fáilte Ireland has estimated that the expanded estate could attract an additional 1.1 million visitors over the next decade and generate more than €100 million in visitor spending for the wider region.
Their €36 million investment is seen as strategically important because of its location on the northern stretch of the Wild Atlantic Way, an area tourism planners believe has untapped growth potential.
Speaking at the sod-turning ceremony, local TD and Minister of State for Tourism, Alan Dillon said that, once completed, the Hotel Westport project “will offer a world-class visitor experience unlike anything else in Ireland”.
Westport Estate Chief Executive Barry O’Connor said the Hughes family recognised the site’s potential when they purchased it nine years ago and had since pursued a long-term vision for its redevelopment.
“Together, we are creating a long-term investment that will support employment, strengthen local businesses, attract more domestic and international visitors, and generate lasting economic and social benefits for Westport, Mayo, and the wider North West,” said Mr O’Connor.