The parish of Ballycastle is a combination of the two ancient parishes of Kilbride and Doonfeeney.

The northcoast road is reputably the most scenic coastal road in Ireland and it is here that the first settlers began to farm the slopes of the Behy/Glenurla hillside over 5,000 years ago. The name Ballycastle was in use as early as 1470 and was referred to as a parish in the Catholic directory of 1836. By this time it was a thriving small town.

The overall area is extremely rich in items of interest to biologists, archaeologists and students of history, megalithic tombs, early Christian and mediaeval ruins.

• Article from Lewis' Topographical Survey of Mayo published in 1837

• Dr John A Madden - one of the Men of the West

• Dr John Crowley (1870-1934)

• Dun Briste

• Extract from "Mayo- Aspects of its Heritage"

• History Of GAA Club

• Local Churches

• Priests Of The Parish Since 1893

• The Burkes Of Tyrawley

• The Céide Fields

• The Great Tom Langan (1921-1974)

• The Old Parishes of Kilbride and Doonfeeney

• The Standing Stone

• The Story Of Fr Flanagan

• Tobar Padraig Truiste

• Townland Names and Meanings