Castlebar Airport

The closure was primarily for economic reasons. The expansion and success of the much larger, fully-equipped Ireland West Airport Knock (NOC), located just 32 km away, drew traffic and tenants away from the smaller Castlebar airfield. The relocation of its main user, the Connaught Aero Club, made the airfield financially unviable. The high value of the land for potential redevelopment was also a contributing factor.

The site is no longer used for aviation and is in a state of disrepair for such purposes. The land is privately owned. While the paved runway and some hangar-like structures remain visible, the surface is now frequently used for non-aviation activities. It serves as a popular venue for motorsport events, including car shows, rallies, and drifting competitions organized by groups like the Mayo & District Motorsport Club. It has also been used for driver training. There have been multiple long-term proposals to redevelop the extensive site for large-scale housing and commercial projects.

Opened in the late 1960s, Castlebar Airport was a significant General Aviation (GA) airfield for County Mayo for over three decades. It was the original home of the Connaught Aero Club, which was founded there in 1968. The airport served as a hub for private pilots, flight training, and recreational flying, handling a variety of light aircraft. Its importance was chiefly local, providing the region with aviation facilities before operations were consolidated at the larger regional airport in Knock.

There are no known plans or realistic prospects for reopening Castlebar Airport. The success and continued development of the nearby Ireland West Airport Knock serves all regional aviation needs. The private ownership of the land and the advanced state of proposals for its redevelopment for housing and commercial use make a return to aviation operations extremely unlikely.