Straide is an historic and picturesque village situated in the heart of County Mayo, located between Foxford and Castlebar in the diocese of Achonry. The Cathedral town of the Diocese is Ballaghadeereen on the Mayo / Roscommon border.

Straide is the birthplace of one of Ireland’s famous sons, namely Michael Davitt, founder of the Land league in 1879. Michael Davitt was born on March 25th 1846 during the Great Famine, at a time when Straide was a place of poverty and emigration. He was christened in the pre-penal church, which today houses the Michael Davitt Musuem.

Davitt and Charles Stewart Parnell formed the Land League at the end of the 19th century to abolish landlordism in Ireland and enable tenant farmers to own the land on which they worked. A plaque to his memory has been erected in the village and Davitt is buried in the grounds of the 13th Century Straide Abbey, beside the Museum.

Another famous son of Straide was George Moore (1727-1799), who founded the famous Moore Hall estate at Lough Carra.

Straide has a thriving primary school and a Community Centre which is used extensively by the locals. Senior citizens’ and children’s parties are held there annually. Straide is also noted for providing some very fine football teams both at senior and underage level.

Our local GAA team is Moy Davitts, whilst our soccer team is known as Straide and Foxford United. The Church of Saints Peter and Paul is situated on a hill, marking the centre of the village and is bordered on one side by the Davitt Lounge and on the other side by The Copper Beech Lounge.

Adjacent to the Church is the historic well preserved thirteenth century Dominican Abbey, a testimony to our rich heritage and to a faith-filled community which has given sons and daughters to the Priesthood and Religious life both at home and abroad. The Effegies in the Abbey are of note and are unique for their period as they depict all the images of the Saints and a Pieata with smiling faces.

Another feature of Straide is its love and promotion of traditional Irish music with many local families having attained recognition at national level, for their musical prowess and skills.

Ardcloon Carracastle Fencefield Loughill
Ashbrooke Clooncondra Gurranard Oughtoose
Aughaliska Cloonconlon Gurteen Pullagh
Aughaward Coolkeevaune Knockafall Rathrussel
Ballinacuila Crillane Knockaghran Redhill
Ballylahan Derra Knocknaculla Springhill
Blackfort Derrinea Knocksaxon Straide
Blanemore Derrinogue Knockshanvalley Tavnabeg
Bohergloss Doogera Longfield Tavnagh
Ummoon
Townland Irish Name Translation
Aghalusky Acha Loisce the field of the burning
Aughaward Achadh an Bhaird the field of the bard
Ballinacuila Baile na Coille the townland of the wood
Ballylahan Baile Átha Leathain the town of the wide ford
Blackfort An Lios Dubh the black fort
Blanemore An Bhléan Mhór the big milking
Bohergloss An Bóthar Glas the green road
Carracastle Ceathrú an Chaisil the quarterland of the stone ring fort
Cloonconra Cluain Conradh the meadow of the contract
Cloonconlon Cluain Conlainn the meadow of Conlon
Coolkeevaune Cúil Caomh Abhainn the turn in the calm river
Crillane Croithleán the quaking bog
Derra Doire the oak wood
Derrinea Doire an Fhia the woodland of the deer
Derrinogue Doire Ȯg the young woodland
Doogera Dubh cora the black weir
Fencefield An Gort Falaithe the hedged field
Gurraunard An Garrán Ard the high grove
Gurteen An Goirtín An Goirtín the small garden
Knockafall Cnoca Fál the hedged hill
Knockagarraun Cnoc a Ghiorráin the hill of the horse
Knocknakillew Cnoc na Coilleadh the hill of the wood
Knocksaxon Cnoc Sacson the hill of the Saxons
Knockshanbally Cnoc an tSeanbhaile the hill of the old homestead
Longfield An Cnoc Fada the long hill
Loughill Leath choill the half woods
Oughtoose Ochtú the eighth
Pullagh Poll ach the broad expanse of shallow water
Rathrushel Ráth Ruiséil the ring fort of Russel
Redhill An Cnoc Rua the red hill
Springhill Cnoc an Tobair the hill of the spring
Straide An tSráid the street
Tawnagh Beg An Tamhnach Beag the small arable field
Tavnagh An Tamhnach the arable field
Ummoon Iomún / Uim Abhainn the harness (crossing) of the river