Murrisk lies at the foot of Croagh Patrick and is the starting-point for pilgrims who visit the mountain. Every year, on the last Sunday of July, thousands of people converge on the village to make the pilgrimage. There is a small interpretive centre in the village, which focuses on Croagh Patrick.
The name is also used for the entire district south to the fjord of Killary Harbour. This barony of the same name runs from Westport and also includes Louisburgh and Lecanvey; there is also at least one abandoned village, Uggool, situated above Uggool Beach. The name Murrisk derives from Mag Muirisce, associated with the legendary figure Muirisc.
The nearest train station is Westport railway station approximately 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) distant.
Places of interest
The ruined Murrisk Abbey just to the seaward side of the village was an Augustinian abbey founded in 1457 by the O'Malley family. It was suppressed in the Reformation, but survived for some time.
Murrisk is part of both the Roman Catholic and Church of Ireland parishes of Oughaval. Catholic records consist of marriages (from 1825) and baptisms (from 1845) and Church of Ireland records of baptisms, marriages and burials (all from 1802). These records are held at the South Mayo Family Research Centre in Ballinrobe which is 32 km southeast of Westport.