Aughagower or Aghagower (Irish: Achadh Ghobhair, meaning 'field of the spring')[1] is a small village in rural County Mayo in western Ireland.

[4] Since its formation by St. Patrick as a bishopric in the 5th century, Aughagower represented one of the most populous and influential parishes in Umhaill.

The jurisdiction of Aughagower extended over the "Owles", the territory around Clew Bay, comprising the modern deanery of Westport.

[5] The importance of Aughagower parish in these warring episodes is seen by the defensive forts of Doon Castle in the townland of Dooncastle and MacPhilbin's castle in Aille (ruins of both are still standing), which were controlled by the MacPhilbin (also rendered as McPhilipin) clan, a scion of the powerful Bourke family, descending from Philip, brother of William Liath de Burgh (Bourke).

In later centuries the Bourke family became part of the Anglo-Irish ascendancy, among their descendants were the Brownes of Westport House, holding the titles of Earl of Altamount and Marquess of Sligo.

An IRA flying column, commanded by Michael Kilroy, ambushed a mobile patrol of the Royal Irish Constabulary Special Reserves (Black and Tans) at Carrowkennedy, near Westport, County Mayo.

[citation needed] The RIC prisoners were not executed, but released upon their surrender, and this led many members of the successful ambush to seek refuge in the network of safe-houses throughout the counties of Mayo and Galway.

[4] According to legend, the round tower's capstone was struck by lightning, and landed half a mile away on the hill of Tavenish.

A local woman is said to have carried the heavy cap stone in her apron to the church, where it still remains today[8] The tower was partly restored in 1969 and leans slightly to the north.

[8] There are a number of ancient monuments in Aughagower, some of which are locally reputed to trace their origin to the time of St. Patrick's ministry in the parish.

Local legend states that St. Patrick kneeled on this rock and left the imprint, and the water that gathers in it is thought to be holy.

[12] Leacht Tomaltaigh is an ancient monument on the Gorteen-Aughagower townland boundary, just south of where the Tóchar Phádraig passes.

Cloondacon is situated on Tochar Phádraig, the ancient route from Ballintubber Abbey through Aughagower to Croagh Patrick.

The name Cluain Dá Chon refers to an ancient legend according to which a pagan chieftain set two wolfhounds on Saint Patrick.