Neale

Neale is a quiet roadside village on a limestone plateau. It lies between the large lakes Lough Corrib and Lough Mask, in a landscape shaped largely by limestone. Village history, historic buildings and walking trails give the place a distinct character. If you are considering whether Neale is right for your stay, you can weigh up whether you would most like to focus on the village’s history, the walking options or the landscape between the lakes.

Village history and buildings

Neale Church was built in 1778 as a single-nave Church of Ireland church whose design gives the impression of three aisles; its tower has three stages. Today, the church stands in ruins without a roof. The recorded condition reports refer to different points in time: it was in use in 1911, disused in 1945 and described as a ruin in 1976. Its design and present condition are part of different chapters in the village’s history.

Neale House also tells a story of change. The country house was built in 1737, is now a ruin and was largely demolished in 1939. Gibbon’s represents another aspect of the rural architectural heritage: its significance is associated with its design, local fieldstone masonry, slightly battered profile and steep, renewed thatched roof. Examples of traditional shopfronts are also considered part of The Neale’s built heritage.

The Pyramid of The Neale is one of the notable buildings. It was built around 1760 and is 30 feet (9 metres) high. In 1990, the Office of Public Works restored the structure. The Temple in The Neale, by contrast, is unfinished: John Browne, Baron of Kilmaine, had it built from cut stone in 1865 in honour of his former title, Lord Mount Temple. The hexagonal structure has six plain Doric columns.

Trails and stone memorials

Two trails of different lengths are available for a walk. The Neale Loop Green is an easy 2.5 km circular walk. It starts at St John the Baptist Church and the Calvary. The Neale Heritage Walk is 3 km long and starts at St. John’s Church and the Calvary. If you are looking for a shorter circuit described as easy, you can consider the Loop Green; the Heritage Walk is the longer of the two stated routes.

The Gods Of The Neale are also among the stone memorials. Stone slabs depicting a griffin, a unicorn and an angel are set into a stone structure there. The monument lies about 200 yards east of the village, within the old demesne wall and near the ruins of Lord Kilmaine’s house.

The Long Stone lies south of the village at the junction of the roads from Cross and Cong. It is also known as The Lia Lugha or Stone of Lu. According to tradition, it is said to mark the burial place of Lugh Lamhfhada, who is said to have been killed in the Battle of Moyturna. The history of the Land League is also connected with The Neale: at that time, the village hosted Charles Steward Parnell and Michael Davitt.

When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home, it helps to weigh up your interests for the stay: the walks offer two different route lengths, while the buildings and memorials reveal different aspects of the village’s history. Neale is therefore suited to travellers who appreciate a quiet village atmosphere, limestone landscapes and historical discoveries.

Other places

More place pages: Kiltimagh, Coogue, Tawnyinah, Sheean, Cornaroya, Finny, Cong, Achill Sound.

For the broader travel overview: County Mayo.