BALLYHAUNIS, a market-town, in the union of Castlerea, partly in the parish of Becan, but chiefly
in that of Annagh, barony of Costello, county of Mayo, and province of Connaught, 9 miles (W. by N.)
from Dublin, on the road from Castlerea to Castlebar; containing 353 inhabitants. A monastery was founded here for friars of the order of St. Augustine, and largely endowed, by the family of Nangle, who afterwards took the name of Costello : it subsisted till the reign of James I., and at the commencement of the insurrection in 1641 was restored by some friars of the same order. The remains now consist only of the walls of a church, with two small wings connected with it by arches; on the site of the conventual buildings a modem house has been erected, which is at present occupied by Augustinian friars. The market is on a Tuesday; and fairs are held on June 1st, July 2nd, September 32nd, and October 29th, chiefly for horses and cattle. The town contains a constabulary police station, and has a letter-receiver in connexion with Clare and Frenchpark.
Extract from: Lewis – A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland
Photo from: The Lawrence Collection
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