The Four Maols

The Four maols murdered Ceallach, a 7th century Bishop of Connaught and were hung at Ardnaree (Ard na Riagh) - Hill of the Executions. 

Said to be buried at Cloghogle Portal Dolmen. Ard na Righaigh formerly Tullach na Fairsciona or Tulach na Faircseana (Hill of the Prospect)

Battle of Drom Robach – Battle of Breachmaigh Hy Fiachrach vs Hy Bruin;

• perhaps Breaffy   PDK
  
   

Letter of Pope Innocent III Cellanli and Cellinagaruan with their appurtenances were given together while Cellmor is given by itself. (PDK 76)     PDK

Auliffe O'Rathlain, chief of Calry (Coolcarney) was slain by O'Moran, Ardnaree, whose lands extended from there to Toomore.   PDK

Domhnall O'hEagra, king of Luighne was killed while burning Ardnaree against the foreigners.     PDK

Taxation List – Kilmoremoy 3 marks;  Ardnaree 4 marks

Bishopric of Killala – Cloonislane quarter, alias Ardnaree along with Culleans, Mill & Fishery.    PDK

Ardnaree afterwards part of Tirawley, was then in the Earl Hugh de Lacey's cantred of Tirereagh, but in the immediate possession of Peter Bermingham. The de Lacey tenure of Ardnaree manor later passed to the de Burgo earls.

PDK

Donncadh O'Dowd attacked the English at Tireragh and took Ardnaree & Castleconnor castles "single handed he took the castles of Ardnaree and Castleconnor, drove out all the English that were in them and parceled out all the land to his kinsmen and people." 

Bermingham driven out after 150 years, the O'Dowds held it until 1530 when the Burkes took over.   PDK

(After) Abbey built, part of it collapsed soon after completion (wet shale from the river bank). Not monks cut off from the world but secular priests who lived among the community and served the needs of the people.

Active until its dissolution under Elizabeth. House and lands were leased to James Garvey in 1578, James 1^st granted them to Sir Richard Boyle:

"the site and house of the late friary of Ardnaree, containing half an acre of which is a church cloister, dormitory and other buildings; one quarter of land containing sixty acres with the tithes thereof now in the crown and waste.'

Friars remained as the owner would have most likely have turned a blind eye as long as he was granted the sixty acres. 1751, Dominic O'Dowd of Bonniconlon left ₤5 to the Convent (Friary) of Ardnaree.

Priors of the Abbey were appointed as far as 1835 – although the abbey was in ruin (much as it is today) so perhaps there was another house in Ardnaree.

Plundering about Ardnaree by MacWilliam, O'Reilly, McFeoras and O'Connor Roe   PDK

About this time the Ardnaree Bourke Estate was thrown into Sligo. PDK

The annals of Connaught tell us that Muirdeach O'Dowd, son of Donnacadh O'Dowd, "who never refused anything to a suppliant if he had it to give," died and was buried at Ardnaree. PDK

Muirchertach Clearach O'Dowd, bishop-elect of Killala died. (Annals of Lough Ce) PDK

Papal decree of 1410 grants indulgences to those 'who visit the church and give alms for the repair of the Augustinian house of St. Mary of Ardnariad, which had buildings partly collapsed and partly threatening ruin.'   

Mention of Augustinian House Ardnaree

Tadgh Riabhach O'Dowd succeeded his brother Rory as head of Tireragh. PDK

Letter of Ardnaree – foundation of Scurmore & Attymass

The Annals of Ulster tells us about the Battle of Ardnaree between Theobald Bourke and O'Donnell. PDK

Ardnaree and Kilmoremoy Parishes likely united by the taking of Ardnaree by the Bourkes.

Around this time O'Donnell and Edmund Bourke were skirmishing around Ardnaree.  PDK

Petition of Roger O'Dowd (Kilalla Cleric) for union of vicarage of Skreen, Castleconnor and Ardnaree

Bourkes take Ardnaree castle.  PDK

DOB Pg 21

PDK: O'Dowds take Ardnaree castle, but Thomas Bourke's son recovers it the following year. The O'Dowds would never again hold the territory of Ardnaree. This is where the saying "Suil ui Dubhda le hArd na Ri" comes from. (O'Dowds failed and fruitless attempts to take Ardnaree - the pointless march in the vain hope of attaining the unattainable.)

Calendar of Carew MSS. gives Ardnaree Abbey as an 'unsuppressed monastery … inhabited by friars and rebels…'  PDK

The Bourkes hold Ardnaree castle at this time.  PDK

In April or May Ardnaree and Meelick were garrisoned by Captain Brabazon against the Bourkes.  PDK

The Indenture of Competition…. 'William Bourke of Ardnaree shall have the Castle and town of Ardnaree and four quarters free…'  PDK

1586

(Or perhaps 1588 as according to PDK)

On the 23^rd of September 1586, Sir Richard Bingham, intent on breaking the defiance of the Irish tribal chiefs, caught up with a large force of Scottish mercenaries who had been waiting at Ardnaree to join forces with the O'Dowd's of Tireragh on the promise of pay and land for their services.

Bingham's army of about 200 horse and 800 foot soldiers made a surprise attack on the Scots who were trapped between the cavalry and the river. The Scots were driven into the flooded river and men, women, and children were drowned or shot. The bodies piled up on the riverbank or were swept downstream to the sea and still the massacre continued.

A report by one of Bingham's officers tells the grim story. " We did drown or kill, as we did judge, about the number of a thousand or eleven hundred for there did by swimming about a hundred escape, for we cannot this day get over the water to Tirawley to them for want of boats but truly, I was never, since I was a man of war, so weary with killing of men".

Perhaps this event took place up or down river as there was probably some sort of crossing that existed at the time.

1/5/1603 Patent rolls of James I records a grant to Richard Mapowder gent. which includes 'In O'Dowde's country called Tirreragh, pasture, wood and underwood 60 acres, all being parcel of the temporal possessions of Conge Abbey… the rectories and tithes of … Kilmore and Tirawley.' – grants given in Sligo county, therefore refer to Ardnaree. PDK

Ardnaree and Abbey was granted by James I to Sir Richard Boyle – 60 acres refers to the Augustinian lands in Scurmore.

Richard Boyle, Irish Patent Rolls of James I. Elizabeth to James Garvey for 21 years, at a rent of 1-3-4 Irish. Note: the premises in the counties Limerick, Tipperary, Cross, Dublin, Sligo, Meath and Cork were regranted and confirmed by patent 23/6/1609. Elizabeth I became queen in 1558, so her 20^th year would be 1578; presumably Ardnaree would have been suppressed by that date.  PDK

The Patent Rolls of James I a grant from the king to Sir Thomas Bourke of "Balliloughmaske" which includes in the list – the great tower of Ardnaree with two quarters of free land thereto belonging viz., Clonecaslane and Killine, one quarter and half of the river Ardnarie contiguons thereto , … also a Saturday market and a fair on St. Augustin's Day and the day after at Ardnery, rent 10/-, with courts of pie-powder and the usual tolls.

"A similar licence (ie. To sell good and wholesome wine, by the gallon, bottle, quart or pint, within the town of…) to Martin Darcy, Richard Darcy, James Darcy and Peter Darcy of Athenry to make and sell aquavite and usquebagh in the abbeys towns and parishes of Ardnary and Moyne in the Barony of Tirawly and County of Mayo."

The Strafford Survey carried out under  Sir Thomas Wentworth – one cartron in Kilmoremoy and two quarters in Ardnaree as church lands. PDK

Census at the end of Cromwell's time – puts the half parish of Ardnaree in the parish of Castleconnor and the barony of Tireragh – stated as only having 93 people in it.  PDK

Registration of 1704 – Ardnaree termed the 'half-parish' of Kilmoremoy. Its priest was Francis Beolan lived at Ballymohonane. (Kilmoremoy Priest was Richard Hoare lived at Parke).

Presumably there was a mass house on each side of the river.(-Penal Times)

Ardnaree Abbey was no more, though some of the friars were still around. 

Ballina informally found – Lord Tyrawley brought linen and flax workers in – Mill at Bunree

Ballina Officially founded

Report on the State of Popery in Ireland gives the following under Killala:

Patrick Beolan, an Augustine Friar, as I am credibly informed, and prior to the convent of Ardnaree, lives in Spring Garden in this parish (i.e. Dromard) and keeps there two novices, vizt. Pat Beolan, his cousin german, and Hugh Reilly. Francis Duigane, a young priest, seldom leaves the parish. There are a great many vagrants both secular and regular. John Reilly, brother to the novice, teaches an English school privately.

Only Bunree Rd and down Ardnaree dirt track. Rickety wooden bridge, no retaining walls for the river. Ballina dirt tracks – Barnaderrig to Crossmolina and Hill St to Foxford. Ardnaree main route to Dublin via Tubbercurry, Boyle and Carrick-on-Shannon. Horse drawn carts and wagons – business for carters. (A Carter was a haulier- someone with a horse and cart.)

Old Thatched Church – Chapel lane, Ardnaree

Built with stone and mortar (130' x 30')

1770 – two wings added

Barracks established on Pearse Street.

From Bourkes 'Irish Priests in Penal Times' – the following were given for Ardnaree – 'Thomas Conway, Roger Flanily, Thomas Brennan."

Bunree Bridge, Upper Bridge – Forty Arches (that extended into Bridge st)

Building of St. Michaels Church, Ardnaree – by far the most impressive building in the area.

Bishop Philip Philips of Killala mentions in a letter 'tres Augustiani, jam senior confect.' Three Augustinian monks worn with old age.

Taylor and Skinners "Maps of the roads of Ireland"

Ballina 153 British miles from Dublin

St. Michaels Church and Jones' house

Postal service established in Ballina

21^st Sept. Battle of the Diamond in Northern Ireland, 4000 catholics fled to Mayo from north Armagh and Down (Portadown and Lurgan)

Year of the French – Evening August 24 Humbert arrives in Ballina. Large crowd join the forces from Ardnaree hill bearing green branches.

Mr William Malley form Castlebar establishes a Tobacco and Snuff Manufacturing plant on the Foxford Rd. Impressive building known as 'Tivoli.'

Malley brought first Ship. Sandbanks at Scurmore and Bartra removed by teams of workers in a relatively short period of time.

[1823-1825 ship canal to lower bridge. After ₤1,000 spent on cutting out the two docks the plan was abandoned. One small vessel made it up with great difficulty and was abandoned too where it docked. Playground for children, firewood for the poor.

Ballina Impartial headquarters and printed in Ardnaree. 

 13/11/1823 to 16/11/1835

1823 -31 Deaths and Occupations; (The Parishes in the Diocese of Killala, P 48) PDK

Cathedral Marriage Register for 6/9/1823 – Friar Convey who performed a marriage ceremony.

Foundation stone laid and ceremony held.  (ref Ballina Impartial June 8 1827) Work officially commences in 1829. (It takes 65 years to complete)

Arthur Francis Know Gore – reside at Belleek Manor

Edward Howley (Catholic Magistrate) – reside at Ballina House

Ballina Population = 5,313

                                  1,699 reside in Ardnaree

Lower Bridge – built as a result of the Quay trade. Messrs. Armstrong and West (with no public money) assisted by the Earl Arran ₤100(proprietor of a large portion of the town at the time, the bridge was to be named Arran Bridge) – Samuel Lewis in his Topographical Dictionary of Ireland.

Forty Arch Upper Bridge old and inadequate – Armstrong and West perhaps believed they could put a toll on the lower bridge. Cost ₤1,200 and opened in 1835.

Ham Bridge (Upper Bridge) built by T Ham on behalf of the Grand Jurors of Sligo and Mayo – committed ₤1,500 each. Completed in 1836.

Retaining walls put in to straighten the river between the two bridges. Thoroughfares on each side. Welsh slates came in through the Quay to roof the bigger houses on the main streets in the town. Small cottages, which housed most people in the alleys and lanes, remained thatched. 

Ballina to Swinford Rd ₤8,000 and Quay Rd ₤1,500

Road to Belleek started but after spending ₤7,000 the road was abandoned. Many people suspicious of a rival dock to that of the Quay.

Ardnaree Around 1837

Lewis describing Ardnaree says it had then 2,482 inhabitants in 312 houses, and had "one principal street from which several lanes diverge." In one of these was situated the old parish church, which went out of use with the building of the present cathedral which begun in 1827.

Ballina Poor Law Union 1838: Dromore West to Binghamstown, including Attymass and Bonniconlon. Workhouse built in 1839. Eventually houses were erected in Dromore West and Belmullet but far too late to deal with epidemics that occurred as a direct result of the famine. PDK

(Pg88) part of a letter from Ballina dated 22/5/1838

"I find that the site of the castle of Ardnaree is well known and that some fragments of the walls are still remaining. It stood on top of the hill which is situated immediately over the Moy and south of the church, and which generally called Castle Hill. This hill…. Has all the appearance of having been the site of an ancient fort before the modern castle was erected…"

PDK

Methodist Church and Manse (cleric's house and grounds) built costing just ₤718

Court House built ₤1,000

Workhouse on the Crossmolina Road

Weirs: Messrs. Little at the cost of ₤1,500 and added the Icehouse on Clare St. Pg 123

Presbyterian Church built

Work on the spire of St Muredachs Cathedral finished.

Town Commissioners meet for the first time to begin planning for services and amenities for the wider community

Gas works on Shambles St. – main streets of town illuminated.

Foundation laid for the Convent of Mercy. In 1867 The Sisters of Mercy (from Sligo) take up residence.

Known as 'the year of free immigration' as free passes were granted to other colonies and the USA due to the threat of famine. PDK

Street riots – On the release of Charles Stewart Parnell from prison a parade was planned but subsequently banned. One young boy fatally wounded on a bloody night long remembered for the use of bayonet and buckshot.

Piped water from Lough Broughly – (new line in 1926… Lough Conn comes on stream in April 1976)

Cathedral complete

Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898

Ardnaree officially becomes part of Mayo county.

The Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898 (61 & 62 Vict. c. 37) was an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that established a system of local government in Ireland similar to that already created for England, Wales and Scotland by legislation in 1888 and 1889. The Act effectively ended landlord control of local government in Ireland.

The Journal of the R.S.A.I. for that year vol.28 page 286 gives a description as the Aug. Abbey appears then. PDK