Crossmolina or Crosmolina (Irish: Crois Uí Mhaoilíona, meaning "Cross of Mullany") is a town in the Barony of Tyrawley in County Mayo, Ireland, as well as the name of the parish in which Crossmolina is situated. The town sits on the River Deel near the northern shore of Lough Conn. Crossmolina is about 9 km west of Ballina, on the N59 Road as it travels west through Erris to Bellacorick and Bangor Erris Glencastle, Belmullet and the Mullet peninsula.
Map of Crossmolina, Co. Mayo, Ireland
The abbey of Crossmolina was founded by a member of the landowning De Barry family. Little remains of this foundation today. In 1306, three Normans were indicted for robbery from the abbot. During the 15th century, Crossmolina passed into Bourke Family. In 1526 O'Donnell of Tir Conaill (Co. Donegal) invaded Tirawley and demolished Crossmolina castle.
The abbey was dissolved in the 1537. Around 1630 the abbey and its lands came into the possession of Sir Richard Blake. The dissolution deprived the people of a centre of hospitality, culture and education.
In the Census of April 2011 Crossmolina had a population of 1,060 consisting of 535 males and 526 females.The population of pre-school age (0-4) was 62, of primary school going age (5-12) was 88 and of secondary school going age (13-18) was 76. There were 198 persons aged 65 years and over. The number of persons aged 18 years or over was 844.
6000 B.C.: First settlers arrived in Ireland
600 B.C.: Arrival of the Celts, who brought a new language and the use of iron
400 B.C.: Flowering of the Celtic social structure and the division of land by family. The Hy-Fiachra became controllers of the plain of Catree and Glen Nephin. The names of the two chiefs were O'Maolina and O'Gavechan.
441 A.D.: Saint Patrick arrived in Mayo. Errew Abbey founded in the 7th century according to tradition by St. Tiernan. The monastery was originally called Mainishir Taobh Thiar do Shruth.
1152: Synod of Kells: Killala diocese sanctioned.
1306: Three Normans, John, son of William of Ratheogan, Walter de Usser, and Walter de Cogan, were indicted for robbing the Abbot of Crossmolina.
1631: In the 1630s Crossmolina Abbey and its lands came into the possession of Sir Richard Blake.
1693: Test Acts enacted followed by further severe penal laws
1795: Ulster Migration to Mayo. 4,000 Catholics flee to Mayo after the "Battle of the Diamond". Crossmolina area.
1798: The United Ireland Rising
1800: Act of Union passed
1806: A new Catholic Church costing 200 built (now part of the Parochial Hall)
1810: 7 years of potato crop failure
1829: Catholic Emancipation throughout the U.K.
1831: Crossmolina Relief Committee formed in March 1831
1839: Night of the Big Wind
1845: 45/49 The Great Famine begins
1860: St. Tieman's Church built
1869: Anglican (Protestant) Church disestablished in Ireland
1878: The Mayo Telegraph purchased by James Daly of Boughadoon and its name changed to the Connaught Telegraph
1879: Mayo League founded on 21 October. Claims of apparition at Knock on 21 August.
1880-84: The Crossmolina Conspiracy
1884: G.A.A. founded
1887: Crossmolina branch of the G.A.A. founded, known as Crossmolina Dr. Crokes
1891: Congested Districts Board established
1892: Crossmolina Church repaired at a cost of 1,100. New altar 200. First mass by Bishop Conmy on Christmas Day
1893: The bridge at Crossmolina was erected at a cost of £3,500, and opened for traffic on 2 November
1895: Boys School built. Sappers (Royal English) came to Crossmolina in September.
1898: Local Government Act. Mayo County Council established.
1912: Home Rule Crisis 1912-1914.
1913: Crossmolina Town Hall opened on Sunday 11 April
1914: The Great War begins
1916: Easter Rising in Dublin
1918: The Armistice
1957: Crossmolina Vocational School St. Tiernan's College opened
1992: Crossmolina A.F.C. soccer club is formed
2001: Crossmolina Deel Rovers become the first Mayo GAA club to win the All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship on Easter Monday.
2006: Crossmolina Development Plan Launched
2006: Crossmolina Festival re-established after 20 years
Marc Roberts, singer, represented Ireland in the 1997 Eurovision Song Contest
Ciarán McDonald, Gaelic footballer
Dr. Michael Loftus, President GAA, 1985-1988.
