KILMOREMOY

In 1868, the parish of Kilmoremoy contained the following places:

"KILMOREMOY, a parish in the barony of Tirawley, county Mayo and county Sligo, province of Connaught, Ireland, containing Ballina, its post town, and the villages of Bunree, Crockets-town, and Ardnaree. The surface is rather boggy, and is intersected by the rivers Moy and Bunree. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Killala, value with others, £777, in the patronage of the bishop. The church is at Ardagh. There are a Roman Catholic chapel, a Baptist meetinghouse, and several day schools in the parish. Belleck Manor is the seat of Colonel Gore."

"BALLINA, a market town and seaport in the parish of Kilmoremoy and barony of Tirawley, partly in the county of Mayo and partly in that of Sligo, province of Connaught, Ireland, 19 miles to the N.E. of Castlebar, and 159 miles from Dublin. The town was founded by one of the O'Haras, Lord Tyrawley, and its importance as a seat of trade dates from the year 1729 when a cotton factory was erected, and the privilege of a market was granted to the inhabitants. Ballina is situated in a pleasant country on the borders of the county of Sligo, on the western bank of the river Moy, about 6 miles above its mouth, and opposite to the village of Ardnaree. The river is crossed by two stone bridges, one having sixteen arches. Many of the houses are newly built, and great improvements have been made. The principal branches of industry are the fishery, the value of which was lately £1,500 per annum, the corn and provision trades, the manufacture of snuff and tobacco, which was introduced in 1801, the weaving of coarse linen, brewing, &c. The port is subordinate to Sligo. The parish church is at Ardnaree. There are chapels belonging to the Baptists and Wesleyan Methodists. The town, according to the census of 1861, contains 1,030 inhabited houses, with a population of 5,452, of whom 4,727 are Roman Catholics, 485 belong to the Established Church, 143 are Presbyterians, 90 Methodists, and 7 Baptists. There is a neat court-house, in which the quarter and petty sessions are held, a market-house, two banks, and a dispensary. It is a chief police station, the seat of a Poor-law Union, and the headquarters of the county militia. Two newspapers are published here-the Ballina Chronicle and the Tyrawley Herald. There are some remains of an abbey on the Sligo side of the river, which was founded by St. Olean. Many pleasant seats are in the neighbourhood. In August, 1798, Ballina was attacked and taken possession of by a party of French under General Humbert, who had effected a landing in Kilcummin Bay. Monday is the market day. Fairs are held on the 12th of May, the 5th of June, and the 12th of August."

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018