Across five centuries of upheaval, Mayo has stood as a stark mirror to Ireland’s darkest hours – and its enduring resilience. From the Elizabethan conquest to Cromwell’s devastation, from the Penal Laws to famine, rebellion, and cultural revival, A Brief History of Mayo traces the extraordinary saga of a county repeatedly shaped – and scarred – by forces far beyond its borders. Through vivid storytelling grounded in research, this book explores:

• The collapse of Gaelic order and the rise of English domination

• The fortunes of powerful families such as the Bourkes and the Brownes

• The brutal logic of colonisation, confiscation, and rebellion

• The famine that reshaped the very landscape and soul of Mayo

• The cultural awakening that helped ignite Ireland’s fight for independence

Yet this is not only a chronicle of suffering. It is a testament to survival. Despite war, loss, and oppression, the people of Mayo forged a culture, identity, and spirit that endured when all else seemed destined to fall. Accessible, gripping, and rich in historical insight, A Brief History of Mayo offers readers a sweeping journey through the tragedies that defined Mayo – and the resilience that defines it still.

About the author

Tom Higgins is a retired primary school teacher living in Castlebar, County Mayo, with his wife Mary. Formerly principal of Breaffy School, Castlebar, he retired in 1998. One of his main interests is reading and researching history. Tom has published several works, including School and Parish – Breaffy 1890–1990; Through Fagan’s Gates: The Parish and People of Castlebar Down the Ages (2001); The Higgins Family History; and The Higgins Family Tree (2005). His passion for the natural world and care of the earth led to Light on the Landscape (2020), a collection of his landscape photography. A long-standing interest in Sacred Scripture, first kindled during his studies in Maynooth College, inspired his later work No Room in the Inn – Reading the Bible Today. A Brief History of Mayo continues Tom’s lifelong dedication to exploring the stories, people, and landscapes that shape Mayo’s rich heritage.