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History and Historical Sites
| Ballina Town |
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Founded in 1723 by Lord Tyrawley but there is no doubt that the settlement on the banks of the Moy existed before 18th century. The original name of the town was Belleek or in Irish, Beal Athà an Fheàda, and today there is still a part of Ballina called Belleek along with Belleek woods. The modern day town has a population of 8,500 and is the gateway to North Mayo and West Sligo. ...more |
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| St. Muredach's Cathedral |
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St. Muredach's Cathedral is the Cathedral Church of the Diocese of Killala. Work on the Cathedral began in 1827. The stone was quarried locally and the roof and ceiling were completed before the Great Famine of 1845. The spire was completed in 1855 and by 1875 the organ had been installed. |
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| The Augustinian Abbey |
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The remains of the Augustinian Abbey, beside the Cathedral, date from the late 14th century. Little remains of the Abbey apart from the beautiful doorway. The monastery was active until its dissolution under Elizabeth 1. The Augustinians, however, did not leave and Priors of the Abbey were appointed continuously to 1835 though the Abbey was in ruin and much like it is at present. |
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| The two bridges |
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The two bridges, on either side of the Cathedral, are known locally as the Upper and Lower Bridges. The Upper Bridge was built in 1836 by Thomas Ham and cost £3,000.00. The Ham family arrived from England in 1805 and set up several enterprises in the town ...more |
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| Moyne Abbey |
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Moyne Abbey is situated at the mouth of the River Moy overlooking Bartra Island. It is 3.5 kilometres from Killala Town. It was founded by permission of Pope Nicholas for the Observantine Franciscans in 1460. The founder may have been McWilliams Bourke or one of the Barrett family. The Church consists of a rectangular nave ...more |
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| Rosserk Abbey |
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Rosserk Abbey is situated on the west bank of the River Moy approximately 4 kilometres from Killala town. This is an Abbey of the third order of Franciscans. It was founded in 1400 by a Norman called Joyce. It is the best preserved Franciscan Abbey in Ireland. ....more |
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| Round Tower |
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The Killala Round Tower is situated in the town of Killala. It is a well preserved tower and stands 26 metres high on a plinth 1metre high. The doorway is 3.5 metres above ground level. Damaged by lightening in the last century, it was repaired by Bishop Verschoyle. The original monastic foundation dates back to the 5th century when St. Patrick appointed Muiredach as first bishop of Killala. |
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| Dolmen |
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There are numerous cromlechs or dolmens scattered over the Irish countryside. These are very large stones, standing upright, with one bid flat rock laid on top of them.
There are usually three uprights and one table rock. They mark the burial places of Kings, princes and persons of royal blood but there is only one in Ireland which, according to Dr O'Donovan, can be satisfactorily connected with history. This is in a field in Ballina, Co. Mayo just behind the railway station...more |
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| Humbert Monument |
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The monument was erected in 1898 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the French landing at Killala in 1798. A Dublin craftsman originally sculpured the monument but in recent years it has been beautifully restored locally by G.J. Ginty & Sons. The figure on the monument is not Humbert but Mother Ireland. It was moved to its present position in 1987 ...more |
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| The Font in Ballina |
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The monument of polished granite, at the junction of Bury Street and Teeling Street is known locally as The Font. Originally it was a watering place for horses. It was erected in memory of George Vaughan Jackson, a local landlord who met with an untimely death when he was thrown from his horse. |
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| Saint Patrick's Well |
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St. Patrick has a strong association with the area, not only with St. Patrick's Well situated on the Killala Road, but the original Kilmoremoy Church was constructed by St. Patrick during his time in the area. The ruins of this church are to be found in the nearby League Cemetery. |
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