Mayo history book wins prestigious Nilsson Award at Listowel Writers’ Week
Dr Michael M. O’Connor was recognised for his study of Castlebar Prison and Mayo bridewells
A Mayo history publication examining the county’s prison system across a century has received national recognition after winning a prestigious award at Listowel Writers’ Week 2026.
Castlebar Prison & The Bridewells of County Mayo 1835–1935 by Dr Michael M. O’Connor secured first prize in the Nilsson Local Heritage Award category, which honours the best work on local history and heritage published in Ireland over the past year.
The recognition marks another significant achievement for the publication, which earlier this year received the Contribution to Local History Award at the Mayo County Council Cathaoirleach’s Awards.
Drawing on extensive archival material from repositories in Ireland, Britain and the United States, Dr O’Connor’s work provides a detailed account of Castlebar Prison and the associated prison bridewells in Ballina, Ballinrobe, Belmullet, Swinford and Westport.
The book explores not only the buildings themselves but also the lives of those who worked within them and those imprisoned there, offering insight into a lesser-known aspect of Mayo’s social and political history.
It also examines the role Castlebar Prison played during key periods in Irish history, including the Great Famine, the Fenian Rising, the Land War and the Revolutionary Period from 1912 to 1923.
Among the themes explored are the imprisonment and treatment of women and children, as well as people suffering from mental disorders, shedding light on how vulnerable groups experienced incarceration during the period.
The Nilsson Local Heritage Award is regarded as one of Ireland’s leading honours for local history writing, recognising outstanding research, storytelling and contribution to preserving regional heritage.