welcome to the old mill holiday hostel

The Old Mill Holiday Hostel is located in Westport and housed in a historic building dating back to around 1780, over 250 years ago. Don’t worry though, our much-younger staff cannot wait to welcome you to the only hostel located in Westport’s bustling centre.

Our aim is to provide all our budding and budgeting guests with a chance to discover one of Ireland’s most well-known tourist towns. We offer affordable accommodation and have been a mainstay in Westport, recently celebrating 30 years in business.

The hostel was founded by Tom and Mary Carr in 1991, and continues to remain a thriving family-run business today. The hostel is set in a quiet and quaint courtyard; sometimes you forget you are in the centre of a busy town. Whether you are coming to Westport to climb Croagh Patrick, ferry over to Clare Island, hitchhike down to Achill or just to potter about the town itself, you can be sure that The Old Mill Holiday Hostel will provide you with comfortable lodgings that won’t deplete your bank balance. Our hostel is welcome to both young and old from all corners of the globe, allowing you to become acquainted with new cultures and develop bonds with others.

This hostel is set in a restored courtyard but it was originally part of an 18th century network of warehouse buildings called The Shambles. It was previously used as a brewery, a storehouse, a blacksmiths forge and even an animal shelter. It has been a hostel since 1991 and the refurbished wooden beams and stone walls make this a charming space.

Guests can discover more about the history of the building with numerous information boards posted around the reception and common areas, along with a further few fascinating facts about Westport. There is also a large-scale map to peruse of how Westport was back in the olden days.

You may have seen the extra word ‘holiday’ in our name? While many of the locals simply call us The Old Mill, the ‘holiday’ is just as paramount. Unlike some hostels you may have visited in the past, we do not offer long-term accommodation during peak season. This is to ensure that our hostel lives up to its holiday vibe with a constant flow of fresh faces ready to cross our threshold daily. Therefore, we do not let guests stay for more than seven days, subject to manager’s approval. It may be possible to stay for a longer period during low season, but again this is subject to manager’s approval.