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sport · Saturday 15 August 2026 · 3:00pm 
Castlebar RFC Summer Fixture
At Castlebar RFC Grounds · Castlebar, Co. Mayo
At Castlebar RFC Grounds · Castlebar, Co. Mayo
Castlebar RFC is one of the oldest rugby clubs in Connacht, founded in 1885 and still going strong at its grounds in Cloondeash on the western edge of town. This summer fixture is a chance to watch senior players sharpen up ahead of the new season - the kind of afternoon that draws in local families, club supporters and anyone who fancies an hour or two of live sport without the price tag of a ticketed match. Entry is free, the pace is relaxed, and there is a proper club atmosphere that you rarely get at a professional ground.
Pre-season and summer friendlies at this level are played in good faith - both sides are testing combinations and running patterns, so you tend to see more open, expansive rugby than you might at a crunch league fixture. Castlebar RFC play in sky blue and navy and have more than 500 members across all ages, from minis up to adult. The club competes in Connacht Junior League Division 1, one of the more competitive tiers in the province, so the standard on the pitch is genuine. The Cloondeash grounds have a clubhouse where you can pick up refreshments, and the all-weather floodlit pitches alongside the main grass pitch make this a well-developed venue for a club of this size. Kick-off is at 3:00pm, so there is time to settle in, watch the warm-up and get a feel for the ground before play starts.
Castlebar is the county town of Mayo and sits roughly in the middle of the county, making it straightforward to reach from most directions. The N5 connects the town to Westport to the west and Longford/Dublin to the east. From Galway, the N84 north and then the N60 bring you in from the south. Bus Eireann operates regular services from Galway and Dublin into Castlebar town centre. The Cloondeash grounds are on the outskirts of town - the club website at castlebarrfc.ie carries a map, and there is parking available at the ground itself.
The town has a good handful of pubs, cafes and restaurants worth exploring before or after the match, and Lough Lannagh is a short walk from the centre for anyone who wants a stretch. There is more to see in Castlebar and across Co. Mayo.
Heading to Castlebar RFC Grounds in Castlebar? Mayo has plenty more to see. Read the Castlebar area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.