BALLYSADARE

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

"BALLYSADARE, (or Ballysodare), a parish in the baronies of Tirerill and Leyny, in the county of Sligo, province of Connaught, Ireland, 4 miles to the S.W. of Sligo, and 127 miles from Dublin. The Dublin and Sligo railway passes close to the town, and has a station at Ballysadere. It is situated on a bay or channel extending southward from Sligo Bay, at the mouth of the Ballysadere river, an outlet of Lough Arrow. This river, augmented by the Collooney river above the town, passes over several falls, and discharges itself into the bay. An abbey was founded here about A.D. 650, by St. Fechin, which became very wealthy. The house was twice destroyed by fire, and being rebuilt in 1188, continued till the Dissolution, when it was given to the family of Clanricarde. The parish contains a large extent of bog and waste land, with abundance of valuable limestone. Lead and silver have been found. There are several large flour-mills and a bleach-ground. A small but thriving export trade is carried on in corn and flour, and the salmon fishery is very productive. There is a small quay for the convenience of the vessels that come up to the town. A police force is stationed here. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Tuam, Killala, and Achonry, of the value of £154, with good glebe house, in the gift of the bishop. The church is at Collooney, but a chapel of ease has recently been erected at Ballysadere, the living of which is in the patronage of E. J. Cooper, Esq. There is a Roman Catholic chapel and several schools. The ivy-covered walls of the ancient monastery are still standing near the river, above the falls, and there are traces of an old church. Markree, a modern mansion surrounded by beautiful grounds and woods on the banks of the river, is the principal seat. An observatory has been erected near the house. Several hundred acres in this parish have recently been taken in from the sea by Captain Olpherts, and are now covered with luxuriant crops. Fairs are held on the 8th February, the 30th May, the 11th July, the 4th August, the 24th October, the 12th November, and the 15th December.

"BALLYDRYHEAD, a village in the parish of Ballysadare, and barony of Tiraghrill, in the county of Sligo, province of Connaught, Ireland, 3 miles from Collooney."

"COLLOONEY, a post and market town in the parish of Ballysadare, in the barony of Tirerill, in the county of Sligo, province of Connaught, Ireland, 6 miles to the S. of Sligo. It is situated on the river Ballysadare. In the village stands the parish church of Ballysadare, a handsome structure with spire; also a Roman Catholic chapel, and a dispensary, within the Sligo Poor-law Union. Annaghmore is a seat of the O'Haras, and Lorgford House that of Sir J. Crofton, Bart. Thursday is market day, and fairs are held on the 3rd May, 5th September, 21st. November, and 16th December."

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