Ballinrobe was first established by the Norman Conquest in the 13^th Century. Monuments and sites dating back to the Neolithic and Bronze Age have also been found, as have remains of churches and town houses from Early Christian and Medieval times. Ballinrobe is an ideal base – not only for exploring around the aspiring geopark, but also for visiting Galway (40 minute drive), Castlebar (20 minute drive) and Westport (30 minute drive).