Neale is a quiet linear village on a limestone plateau between Lough Corrib and Lough Mask. Its architectural history ranges from the Church of Ireland, built in 1778, to an unfinished temple dating from 1865; two routes add clearly defined walking distances to the village. For visitors, the local history combines specific architectural details with a straightforward choice of route length.
Architectural history in the village
Neale Church was built in 1778 as a single-nave Church of Ireland church, but looks as though it has three aisles. Its tower has three stages. Today, the church stands roofless as a ruin. It was in use in 1911, unused in 1945, and described as a ruin in 1976. This sequence offers a glimpse of the building’s changing use and condition over several decades.
Neale House is also now a ruin. The house was built as a country house in 1737 and largely demolished in 1939. The Temple in The Neale offers a different architectural accent: John Browne, Baron of Kilmaine, had it built of ashlar in 1865 in honour of his former title, Lord Mount Temple. The temple was left unfinished. Its hexagonal plan and six plain Doric columns define its form.
The Pyramid of The Neale is another distinctive structure. It was built around 1760 and is a stepped structure 30 feet (9 metres) high. The Office of Public Works restored the pyramid in 1990. The Gods Of The Neale display a different kind of stonework: stone slabs depicting a griffin, a unicorn and an angel are set into a stone structure. The monument lies about 200 yards east of the village, within the old demesne wall and near the ruins of Lord Kilmaine’s house.
Neale’s rural architectural heritage also includes Gibbon's. The building’s significance is attributed to its design, local fieldstone masonry, gently sloping silhouette and steep, renewed thatched roof. The Neale also has examples of traditional shopfronts, considered part of its architectural heritage. The period of the Land League is also part of the village’s history: the village hosted Charles Steward Parnell and Michael Davitt at that time.
Comparing two circular walks
The Neale Loop Green is an easy 2.5 km circular walk. It starts at St John the Baptist Church and the Calvary. The Neale Heritage Walk is 3 km long and starts at St. John's Church and the Calvary. The Heritage Walk is therefore slightly longer; the Loop Green is the one explicitly described as easy. Check the starting point again before setting off.
The two routes offer different ways to orient yourself for a walk: the Loop Green is identified as a circular route and graded easy, while the Heritage Walk can be characterised by its 3 km length.
The Long Stone nearby
South of the village, at the fork in the roads from Cross and Cong, stands the Long Stone, also known as The Lia Lugha or Stone of Lu. According to local tradition, it is said to mark the burial place of Lugh Lamhfhada, who is said to have been killed in the Battle of Moyturna. These two traditions make the Long Stone a distinct historical landmark near Neale, separate from the village’s buildings.
Discover more destinations: Newport, Breaffy, Coogue, Louisburgh, Doogort, Belmullet, Bunnacurry, Swinford.
For the main travel overview: County Mayo.
