Castlebar is a town bursting with history, from the Races of Castlebar in 1798, to being the scene of the foundation of both the short lived Republic of Connaught and the longer lasting Land League.

In his book, 'Castlebar in Old Photographs', the author Joe Curtis provides the reader with a fantastic view of Castlebar, comparing old photographs such as those taken from The National Library Archives or those from the archives of Mayo County Library, to modern day contemporary photographs of the town.

All parts of the town are covered and the book also contains some wonderful aerial photographs. However, don't be fooled by the title, this book is not simply about its photography.

Throughout the book, the significance of the photos are clearly explained and a concise history of the town is given. Major institutions of the town are examined, such as The Bacon Factory, The Sacred Heart Hospital and the schools of the town.

This fantastic book is available online at www.mayobooks.ie