Charlestown, County Mayo
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| Charlestown Baile Chathail |
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| Town population: | 675 (2002) |
| Rural population: | N/A |
| Elevation: | 76 m |
| County: | Mayo |
| Province: | Connacht |
Charlestown (in Irish, Baile Chathail) is a village in County Mayo, Ireland.
The town was the subject of a serialised social commentary in the Irish Times by John Healy. This was later published as Death Of An Irish Town, and later republished as No One Shouted Stop!. Written in 1967, when Ireland was in the middle of a 60 year economic depression, was highly critical of government policies towards rural areas, and took Charlestown as an example solely because it was the town of the authors birth. Located on the intersection of two National Primary routes, the N17 and the N5, Charlestown is well planned with wide open streets and parking facilities. Within easy reach of Knock International Airport it is an ideal stop-over or base from which to visit other locations.
Charlestown was built in the middle of the Nineteenth Century, on the initiative of Lord Dillon's agent, Charles Strickland in adjoining Bellaghy in County Sligo. In more recent years, Charlestown has seen a downturn in economic fortunes. The town achieved a major sporting coup when the local Gaelic Football team Charlestown Sarsfields reached the All Ireland club semi-final in 2002, losing out on a final spot by a single point.
In 1895 the first train left Charlestown. In 1963 the last train left Charlestown . List of towns in the Republic of Ireland
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