From the halcyon days of the Bacon factory to the rise and fall of Western Hats and the success of Baxter, this episode outlines the industrial development of Castlebar. Hear how the Bacon factory became the backbone of local employment, how the Hat factory offered an escape route for those fleeing persecution in Europe, and of how Baxter was saved from closure in 1986.

For questions, comments and queries about the show please contact us at historyofcastlebar@gmail.com. 'The History of Castlebar' by Noel Campbell & John Healy is available online at https://www.mayobooks.ie/Castlebar-History-Mayo-Healy-9781914596063. The podcast series is produced by Brendan Gilmartin https://brendangilmartin.ie/