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Ballyhaunis

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Country
  
Ireland

Time zone
  
WET (UTC+0)

Website
  
www.ballyhaunis.com

Population
  
3,056 (2016)

Province
  
Connacht

County
  
County Mayo

Irish Grid Reference
  
M498794

Elevation
  
89 m

Local time
  
Wednesday 2:55 AM

Ballyhaunis httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu

Weather
  
4°C, Wind W at 11 km/h, 84% Humidity

Living in ireland with ingram atiya welcome to ballyhaunis


Ballyhaunis (Irish: Béal Átha hAmhnais, meaning "ford-mouth of strife") is a town in County Mayo, Ireland. It is at the crossroads of the N60 and N83 National secondary roads and on the railway line linking Dublin to Westport and Ballina.

Contents

Map of Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo, Ireland

It is thought that the town grew up around St Mary's Augustinian Friary (popularly referred to as "the Abbey"), which was founded in 1348, according to local tradition. The town and its hinterland is steeped in history and contains many megalithic monuments.

In the 2011 Census, Ballyhaunis had a population of 2,312. Non-Irish nationals make up 42% of its population, which is much higher than the national average and is the highest of any town in Ireland. Poles and Pakistanis make up the largest groups of immigrants. Meanwhile, White Irish people make up 40% of the population. There are two Catholic churches in the town and it is also home to Ireland's only purpose-built mosque outside Dublin. Farming, private business and industry are the main sources of employment.

Ballyhaunis is within both the Roman Catholic and civil parishes of Annagh.

Mayo day ballyhaunis 2016


War of Independence

On 2 August 1920, during the Irish War of Independence, the Irish Republican Army (IRA) ambushed a British Army lorry on the Claremorris road from Ballyhaunis, seizing weapons and ammunition. A high cross marks the spot of the ambush. On 1 April 1921, Sean Corcoran, O/C of the IRA's East Mayo Brigade, was shot dead by British soldiers after a short gunfight at Crossard crossroads (6 km north of Ballyhaunis). A high cross marks the spot where Corcoran died. Later that same day, a member of the British Black and Tans was killed by a sniper. In retaliation, the Black and Tans executed Michael Coen, a man that was later proven not to have taken part in fighting of any kind. A monument to Coen was placed on the Cloonfad/Galway road from Ballyhaunis.

Protected buildings

According to Mayo County Council, four buildings in the town are protected under Part IV of the Planning and Development Act 2000. These include:

  • St Patrick's Parish Church (RC).
  • The former St Joseph's Convent.
  • St. Mary's Augustinian Friary.
  • The Ulster Bank.
  • Media

  • Midwest Radio is based at Ballyhaunis. It is a local radio station for Counties Mayo, Galway, Roscommon, Sligo and Leitrim.
  • It has also a dedicated internet radio, Midwest Irish Radio.
  • Annagh Magazine is an annual publication that appears each December containing material of local interest. It was established by Ballyhaunis Junior Chamber in 1977 and named after the local parish. The first edition was published in Christmas 1978. It includes articles about local events over the past year as well as contributions covering Ballyhaunis history and culture. The 2011 edition contained 184 pages and cost €10. All back issues are digitized and available online at no cost from the magazine's website.
  • Education

    The two original primary schools in the town, St. Mary's Boys' National School and St. Joseph's Girls' National School, were merged to form Scoil Íosa National School, a single co-educational school. Three post-primary schools, St. Joseph's Convent Secondary School, Ballyhaunis Vocational School, and St. Patrick's College, were merged to form Ballyhaunis Community School which opened in September 1977.

    Rail

    Ballyhaunis railway station is a station on the Dublin to Westport Rail service. Passengers to or from Galway travel to Athlone and change trains. Passengers to or from Ballina and Foxford travel to Manulla Junction and change trains.

    Ballyhaunis railway station opened on 1 October 1861 and its 150th anniversary was celebrated by a Ballyhaunis Railway Station-themed edition of the local Annagh Magazine in 2011.

    Twin towns

    Ballyhaunis was twinned with the town of Guilers in Brittany in 1984.

    Sports

  • Ballyhaunis GAA is the main sporting team in the town, fielding teams in both football and hurling.
  • People

  • Patrick Gallagher — Vietnam war hero.
  • Frank Greally — Athlete, sports commentator, founding editor of Irish Runner Magazine.
  • Liam Harte — Author and university lecturer.
  • John Heavey — Bishop of Cairns, Queensland, Australia, (1941–1948).
  • Jim Higgins — Member of the European Parliament.
  • Keith Higgins — Full back on the senior Mayo football team.
  • Anthony Jordan — Author and biographer.
  • Walter "Fulgentius" Jordan — Augustinian friar murdered by Cromwellian soldiers in 1649.
  • Patrick Lyons — Antiquarian, Honorary Member of Royal Society of Antiquarians of Ireland.
  • James McGarry — Biomedical engineering award winner.
  • Maria McGarry — Classical Pianist.
  • Bill Naughton — Playwright; wrote Alfie (1963), the basis of two film adaptations.
  • Matt Perry - Former England Rugby Union Fullback his Grandmother is from the town.
  • Jean Butler - Irish Dancer and of Riverdance Fame her Mother Josephine is from the town.
  • Tupele Dorgu - Former Coronation Street Actress born to a Ballyhaunis Grandmother.
  • Mark Sutton - Philanthropist, Businessman - CEO of "Simply Sutton Lawn Services".
  • Ciaran McFadden - Captain of one of the first cricket clubs to be established in Connaught, Ballyhaunis Cricket Club.
  • References

    Ballyhaunis Wikipedia