Porturlin

Porturlin (Irish: Port Durlainne)^[1] is a Gaeltacht village and townland on the northwest coast of County Mayo, Ireland. It is situated in the barony of Erris and parish of Kilcommon. Porturlin townland has an area of approximately 2261.5 acres (9.1 km²)^[2] and, as of 2011, had a population of 59 people.^[3]

Porturlin Port Durlainne
Village
Fishing vessels at Porturlin
Porturlin Location in Ireland
Coordinates: 54°18′58″N 9°42′54″W
Country	Ireland
Province	Connacht
County	County Mayo
Area
• Total	9.152 km2 (3.534 sq mi)
Elevation	33 m (108 ft)
Highest elevation (Porturlin Hill)	155 m (509 ft)
Population  (2011)
• Total	59
• Density	6.4/km2 (17/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+0 (WET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-1 (IST (WEST))
Irish Grid Reference	F 88463 42160
As this is a Gaeltacht village Port Durlainne is the only official name. The anglicised spelling Porturlin has no official status.

History

Following the Irish Rebellion of 1798 watch towers and defence structures were built along the northern coast.^[4] A road was constructed to the area in the 1840s.^[4]

Industry

In 1894, the Congested Districts Board set up a processing facility for herring and mackerel in Porturlin, they also operated a lace school in the area.^[4][5]

After several iterations, in 1965, Mayo County Council started to construct a fishing pier for use by a greater number of vessels.^[4]

Geography

Richard Webb, present during the famine years to assess the situation for the Society of Friends, noted that the prime fishing area in Mayo was located off Porturlin, but described the area as almost inaccessible by land.^[4]

See also

• British rule in Ireland
• Economy of the Republic of Ireland
• List of towns and villages in the Republic of Ireland