Editing Castlebar (section)

===19th century===
[[File:Main Street, Castlebar, Co. Mayo (5785938352).jpg|thumb|Castlebar, circa 1880]]
[[Castlebar Military Barracks]] was established in 1834:<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.mayo-ireland.ie/en/towns-villages/castlebar/history/historical-tour.html|title=Historical tour of Castlebar|publisher=Mayo, Ireland|access-date=8 December 2015}}</ref> it was finally closed in March 2012 and the buildings and grounds have been purchased by the local town and county councils.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/barracks-closures-will-see-500-redeployed-1.12500|title=Barracks closures will see 500 redeployed|publisher=Irish Times|date=  17 November 2011| access-date=8 December 2015}}</ref>

During the mid-19th Century (including the period of the [[Great Irish famine]]), [[George Bingham, 3rd Earl of Lucan]] became known as "The Exterminator" for his ruthless actions against his tenants in the Castlebar area. The third Lord Lucan earned his nickname by carrying out mass evictions of tenants who were unable to pay rent. This period saw widespread starvation in the area, leading to the deaths of thousands and the emigration of many more. In contrast, the fourth Earl was a more favourable figure locally. He lowered rents, donated land for schools and the Catholic church, and his successor, [[George Bingham, 4th Earl of Lucan]], gifted the town centre park, known as the Mall, to the people of Castlebar in 1922.

The [[Irish National Land League]] was founded by [[Michael Davitt]], of [[Straide]] in County Mayo, at the Imperial Hotel in Castlebar on 21 October 1879.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mayonews.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9788:council-should-purchase-land-league-hotel&Itemid=51|publisher=The Mayo News| title = Council should purchase Land League hotel |website=www.mayonews.ie|access-date=10 November 2019|archive-date=29 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029081201/https://www.mayonews.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9788:council-should-purchase-land-league-hotel&Itemid=51|url-status=live}}</ref> The Land League sought to directly challenge Anglo-Irish landlords such as the Binghams and fought for tenants rights.