Newport (Irish: Baile Uí Fhiacháin[2]), historically known as Ballyveaghan and for many years also known as Newport-Pratt,[3] is a small town in the barony of Burrishoole, County Mayo, Ireland.

[4] There had once been a Newport railway station, on the Westport to Achill line, but it closed in 1937 and today it forms part of the Great Western Greenway.

Pratt introduced linen manufacturing to the town under the management of immigrant Quakers who relocated to County Mayo from Ulster.

At the end of the 18th century, the Medlycott Estate was taken over by the O'Donel family who built Newport House, now a hotel, overlooking the harbour.

In 1719 a community of Quakers came to Newport[8] under a Captain Pratt who established a colony of linen weavers in the town which was known as Ballyvaughan at that time.

With many deaths of their young people occurring within the community in the years after resettling in Mayo, a burial ground had to be established for them in the town.

The linen business interests fell on hard times and life was a struggle with constant assistance having to be brought to Newport by visiting Quakers.

However, George O'Donel's wife was a Catholic and he donated three acres of land on Barrack Hill to the Sisters of Mercy to build a convent in Newport.

[13] Although Sergeant Butler was believed by the IRA to be one of five RIC men who abused civilians in the Newport area it is unlikely that they could recognise him from their vantage point 300 yards away .

In retaliation Michael Kilroy's home was fired upon, and his wife had to throw herself over their baby Peadar as bullets shot t he plaster off the walls.

[13] Newport has a disused railway viaduct crossing the river which, together with the Catholic church on top of the hill, dominate the town.