Overview
McMahon Park was built from nothing by the people of Claremorris. On land gifted by the Mahon family of Brookhill, with more access ground later added by the Boyle and McHugh families, a local committee spent 21 years – from 1989 – turning it into a nine-acre lakeside park on the south side of the town, backed by state grants and Mayo County Council. Known locally as Clare Lake, it is an easy, flat amenity rather than a day out in itself: a loop of the water, a playground, some fishing and a bit of birdlife.
The lakeside loop
The main path runs right around the man-made lake on the level, fully wheelchair-accessible and graded easy – fine for pushchairs and anyone unsteady on their feet. It passes plantings of rhododendron, lilac and birch, and a running brook and the trees do a fair job of masking the traffic from the road. Benches are set at intervals for sitting and watching the water.
Sculptures and the playground
Near the entrance is a modern playground on level, easy-to-supervise ground. A second, shorter loop – the ‘Land of the Giants’ – is dotted with sculptures, from miniature houses to outsized figures; some have weathered over the years, but children still make straight for them.
Fishing and wildlife
Six jetties give coarse anglers clear, fenced access to the lake, which holds the usual Irish coarse species – casual, family fishing with no elaborate booking. The same water keeps a steady population of ducks, swans and geese all year, with other wild birds along the sheltered margins.
Practical information
It is a free public park, open daily. Follow the signs from the town centre towards Lower James Street; there is free parking by the playground, though it fills on sunny weekends, so come earlier in the day. Claremorris has regular Bus Éireann and Irish Rail services, and the park is a 15- to 20-minute walk from the station. There are no toilets or refreshments on site, so use the town centre before you come. Dogs are welcome on a lead. The loop walks well all year, though the grass turns heavy underfoot in the depths of winter.
Nearby
Claremorris town centre is a short walk for cafés and shops. With more time, Moore Hall and Lough Carra are a short drive north, and Knock Shrine is about ten kilometres away.
Bring your own bread if you mean to feed the geese, allow an hour for the loop, and don’t expect much beyond it – this is a well-kept local park, not a destination in its own right.