In Reply to: re: worst detsigned new building in castlebar competition posted by Daz on February 16, 2010 at 14:35:42:

Castlebar has always been a market town, focused on trade. Westport has always had a strong tourist focus. Therefore Westport has more to gain by preserving its architectural heritage. Castlebar not so much.

I've been on some English holidays in recent years and triust me I've seen plenty of market towns there that have similar architecture or lack of as Castlebar.