Mayo town event to explore future of Ireland’s small towns

A major cultural and academic event exploring the future of small Irish towns is set to take place in Westport next month.

Titled “Samhlú – Seeing Things”, the event will be held on Friday, May 1 and is being jointly hosted by Westport Civic Trust and the UCD Centre for Irish Towns.

The initiative aims to reflect on how Ireland’s small towns can evolve by drawing on their past, with organisers asking whether historical development patterns can help shape more liveable and imaginative futures.

John Mulloy of Westport Civic Trust said the event’s name reflects its ambition.

“Samhlú means imagining or creating something new,” he explained. “We want to explore whether the material culture of towns — their buildings, streets and social life — can help us figure out a better way forward.”

The event comes at a time when many towns across Ireland are facing challenges such as vacancy, dereliction, and the impacts of climate change.

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Orla Murphy of the UCD Centre for Irish Towns said small towns remain rich in history but are under pressure.

“Their streets and spaces hold stories that shape how we live today,” she said. “But we also need to address issues like declining public spaces and how to keep towns socially inclusive.”

The day-long programme will take place in the former Dunnes Stores building on Castlebar Street and will feature contributions from leading voices in architecture, heritage, planning and the arts.

The event will begin with a guided walk through Westport, exploring local traditions such as May Day customs, before a keynote address by Síle de Cléir of the University of Limerick, whose research focuses on folklore and material culture.

A series of talks will follow, including contributions from Nessa Cronin of the University of Galway on colonialism and place, Karen Keaveney of UCD on rural development, and Victoria Durrer on creativity and cultural policy.

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Further sessions will explore topics such as Traveller culture, vacancy and dereliction, and the historical development of Irish towns, with speakers including Fiona White of ATU Mayo.

In the afternoon, attendees can take part in workshops and guided tours, including a creative writing session led by Alice Lyons and a visual arts workshop with Tom Brawn, as well as site visits and heritage walks around the town.

The event will conclude with a public discussion on the day’s themes, followed by the launch of a new website for the Westport Civic Trust.

Organisers say the event is designed to encourage fresh thinking about the role of small towns in modern Ireland.

“From ancient traditions to contemporary challenges, this is about understanding continuity and change,” Mr Mulloy said. “It’s about imagining what our towns can become.”

Tickets for the event are available online, with reduced rates for students and members of the Westport Civic Trust.

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