This prominent memorial sits proudly at the corner of The Mall and directly across the road from Christ Church. It was designed by Mr. Frank Hourigan, who was an arts teacher in Castlebar and was unveiled and blessed on Sunday, August 30th 1953 by President Sean T O'Ceallaigh & the Archbishop of Tuam, Dr. J. Walsh. On the side seen in the photo, it reads, "A Muire na nGael guid orainn" which translates to "Mary of the Gael (St. Brigit of Kildare), pray for us", with a plaque depicting St. Brigit of Kildare, while on the other side it reads, "i gCuimhne 1798" which is "in memory of 1798" and the depiction is of a soldier being blessed by a priest. it also includes an Irish harp and a French lily.
It stands next to the grave of John Moore, who in 1798 was declared the first president of Connaught by General Humbert after he captured the town in August of that year.
As Humbert's reign did not last long, Moore only held the position for a week when he was captured and imprisoned in Castlebar jail while awaiting trial. He was subsequently sentenced to transportation for life. He died in the Royal Oak Coaching Inn, Waterford while waiting to board a ship. He was buried in a grave near Waterford City and that grave remained forgotten until it was accidentally rediscovered in 1959.
In August 1961, his remains were exhumed and brought back to Castlebar to be reburied beside the memorial (see photo inset). His reinterment was a big occasion as he was awarded a military funeral and this was attended by President Éamon de Valera, the Taoiseach Sean Lemass, the ambassadors of Spain and France, many other dignitaries, and thousands of local people. The stone on his grave reads:
"Ireland's first president and a descendant of St. Thomas Moore, who gave his life for his country in the rising of 1798 ... By the will of the people exhumed and reinterred here with all honours of church and state."
He was the first and only president of Connaught.
In 2016 as part of the 1916 commemorations, Mayo County Council erected a plaque beside his grave (that can be seen in the inset photo) of the 1916 Proclamation and honours those that fought in the Easter Rising.
