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Visitor Attractions at Hennigan's Heritage Centre
Killasser, Swinford, County Mayo, Ireland
Reception
Enter here to wait for a tour. Tea and coffee are also
available. It is a discussion area for before and after
tours and can be used for social events.
Cottage
The cottage and its contents offer the backdrop to hear
of life as it was from the 1870s to 1970. The parts of the
cottage and how they evolved, all the items stored, the
large hearth, the stones on the floor, the bed in the wall
... By the time you leave you will have a richer view of
life as it was in passed times.
New Family House
This was built in 1970, much larger than the original
cottage, three bedrooms, with no taxes on the windows.
Lake Cragaballa
This picturesque, freshwater lake is home to mallard and
teal ducks, moor hens, swans and otters, a tranquil setting
for visitors to enjoy.
Farming Enterprise
"There are about ten acres. Up till the mid 80's we were
farming ten milk cows and feeding 250 pigs. We no longer
farm commercially. We feed a few cattle, a few sheep, a few
pigs and poultry-ducks, geese, turkeys, chickens-all of
which are free range. And we grow our own vegetables without
using commercial fertilizers, aiming to be self sufficient
for ourselves. Any surplus food is sold off to the visitors
going through the center and also at country markets."
 Hall
The Social Hall is used as a social gathering place for
functions, dancing, ceol agus craic. The walls are decorated
with murals illustrating the happenings of the year from
cutting of the turf, thrashing the oats and barley, digging
the spuds, saving the hay, to going to mass on Sunday and
not forgetting the Fair Day in the town of Swinford
Displays: Models
These, made by local students, are models of housing,
farming methods used in this area by historical ancesters,
from stone age, to bronze age, to medieval times, as
evidenced in areas within the county of Mayo.
Displays: Re-Creation of the Parish Community
This display shows parts of a community dependent on one
another for survival through the barter and 'meitheal'
system. This display includes: a small room-with details of
the story of our clothing - and household articles. As well,
there is a cobbler's shop, a collection of artifacts from
the area, agricultural implements, and more. Items come from
the local area gathered to preserve and illustrate the
everyday life here in the west of Ireland. You will even get
a glimpse in the distilling of the mountain dew in the
sheebeen.
About the Parish Community
After the battle of the diamond in Derry in 1795, many
Catholic and Protestant families came and settled in this
area. Many of the families were millers, spinners and
weavers. They brought with them the ability to process flax
on a commercial basis. The linen was taken in and sold in
the markets in towns: Ballina, Castlebar and Westport.
The nineteenth century saw many of the girls educated by
the nuns, in spinning, weaving, knitting and crochet.
Government subsidized that effort, families buying spinning
wheels and looms, and by the 1950s, knitting machines. When
our clothes became worn, mother cut out the good pieces and
made blankets for our beds. Sheets, pillow cases and much of
our clothes (shorts and underwear) were made from flour
bags, many boys and girls sporting the brand name "Purity"
or "Cock of the North" on their behinds.
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