Overview
Belmullet has barely a thousand people and, under one roof on Church Street, a 170-seat theatre, a cinema, a gallery, a recording studio and a community radio station. That roof is Áras Inis Gluaire, the only arts centre in Ireland that runs its whole programme in both Irish and English – which, out here in the Erris Gaeltacht, is less a novelty than the obvious thing to do.
Opened in 2007 and run as a not-for-profit by a voluntary board, the centre works as much for the town as for visitors passing along the Wild Atlantic Way. One honest caveat: on a quiet weekday you may find little on but the café and whatever’s hanging in the gallery. Time your visit for an event and you get the place at its best, so check the calendar before you make a special trip.
Where the name comes from
The centre is named for Inis Gluaire, a low island off the coast near Belmullet. In the legend of the Children of Lir, the four children – turned to swans and cursed to nine hundred years on the water – spent their last three hundred on the sea around Inis Gluaire before the spell finally broke. The island was also an early Christian site, and it’s that mix of old story and living culture the centre sets out to carry forward.
What to see and do
- The auditorium – A 170-seat theatre with retractable seating, so the room resets for touring theatre or a concert one night and cinema or a community meeting the next. It’s the biggest performance space for a long way in any direction.
- The gallery – Exhibitions change monthly, leaning to photography, painting, printmaking and craft from regional and national artists. Alongside them is the centre’s one permanent exhibit: Edward Ardizzone’s original illustrations for T.H. White’s The Godstone and the Blackymor, White’s own account of the years he spent in Belmullet, which the centre acquired in 2012. If you’re only in for ten minutes, that’s the thing to see.
- Recording studio and Iorras FM – A working broadcast and recording studio, home to Iorras FM, the local community radio station. It doubles as a teaching space: the centre runs a full-time Level 6 course in broadcasting.
- Café and reception – Coffee, tea and something light, and a good place to ask staff which walk or session is worth your afternoon.
- Gardens and playground – Level, paved grounds with a play area for smaller children, and generous free parking for cars and coaches.
Events and workshops
Programming runs to the season but usually mixes touring shows with locally made work: trad concerts, theatre, poetry readings and film, in Irish and English, with a cinema club that often stays on for a chat after the screening. Workshops run through the year for schools, adults and second-level students – trad music, creative writing, visual art, photography, media production – and the broadcasting course carries national accreditation for anyone weighing up a career in the industry. During school holidays there are shorter taster sessions for families.
Around Belmullet
The centre is a short walk from Belmullet’s harbour, pubs and shops, and a handy base for the Mullet Peninsula. For coast, the Erris beaches nearby are good for walking, surfing and birdwatching, several of them Blue Flag. Bangor Erris to the east has cliff walks and some of the least-touched country in the west; south down the Mullet you reach Blacksod Bay and its lighthouse. All are an easy drive, or reachable on local bus services from the town.
Practical information
- Address: Church Street, Belmullet, Co. Mayo, F26 W5H0.
- Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9am–5pm, Saturday 9am–3pm. The gallery and café keep these hours; the auditorium opens around events.
- Admission: Exhibitions are open during opening hours; performances and screenings are ticketed and often sell out in summer, so book ahead. Check the website for prices and the current programme.
- Contact: +353 97 81079, info@arasinisgluaire.ie.
- Parking and access: Free on-site parking with room for coaches; level, wheelchair-friendly routes throughout the building and gardens.
- Getting there: Belmullet is on the N59. Bus Éireann links it with Westport, Sligo and Donegal. The nearest airports are Ireland West (Knock) and Donegal, both with car hire.
Check the event calendar before you travel: summer shows and workshops fill up fast, and a few days’ notice is usually enough to get a seat for the one you want.