Megalitomania

If you have any interest in Ireland’s prehistoric past - the passage tombs, standing stones, and stone circles that litter the landscape of North Mayo - Megalitomania at the Ballinglen Museum of Art is worth the trip to Ballycastle. This is an arts and heritage event that places Ireland’s megalithic tradition under a contemporary lens: part cultural exhibition, part conversation starter about what it means to live alongside monuments that are older than the Egyptian pyramids. It suits anyone who walks past a standing stone and wonders about the people who put it there, as well as those who follow Irish art and heritage more closely.

What to expect

The event takes place at the Ballinglen Museum of Art, one of the most distinctive small museums in Ireland. The museum holds over 900 works in its permanent collection, all created by artists who have been in residence at Ballinglen through its fellowship programme over more than three decades. The collection reflects the landscape, heritage, and light of North Mayo, so a show exploring megaliths fits the setting well.

Megalitomania focuses on Ireland’s prehistoric megalithic heritage - the passage tombs, dolmens, cairns, and decorated stones that survive across the Irish countryside, with particularly strong concentrations in Connacht. Expect visual art, cultural displays, and material that connects the abstract geometry of Neolithic carving to contemporary artistic practice. North Mayo itself sits in one of Ireland’s richest prehistoric zones: the Céide Fields nearby represent the oldest known enclosed farmscape in the world, and standing stones and burial monuments dot the hillsides around Ballycastle.

The event opens at 3:00pm on 28 August. Check the Ballinglen website or contact them directly for the full programme as the date approaches.

Getting there

Ballycastle is a small village on the North Mayo coast, roughly 25km north of Ballina on the R314. By car from Ballina, take the N59 west to Crossmolina and then follow signs north on the R315 and R314 - allow around 30 to 40 minutes. From Sligo, the drive is around 90 minutes via the N17 and N59. Parking in Ballycastle is on-street and generally easy to find; the village is small and you will be a short walk from the museum whichever end you park.

There is no direct bus to Ballycastle, so a car is the practical option for most visitors. A taxi from Ballina is feasible if you prefer not to drive.

While you’re in Ballycastle

Ballycastle is a quiet, unhurried village with a strong local character and a stretch of beach at Ballycastle Strand a short walk away. The Céide Fields Visitor Centre is about 6km west along the cliff road and makes an obvious companion visit if you are already thinking about megaliths. There is more to see in Ballycastle and across Co. Mayo.

Good to know

• Date: Friday 28 August 2026, opens at 3:00pm
• Admission: Free
• Venue: Ballinglen Museum of Art, Main Street, Ballycastle, Co. Mayo
• Check for the full programme and any updates: ballinglenartsfoundation.org or call 096 43184
• Museum is generally open Monday to Friday, 12pm to 5pm; weekends by appointment