The Dempsey Eviction Cottage
While walking towards the Loona section on the trail (near Balla, Co. Mayo), the site of the Dempsey eviction can be seen on the hills far away. But what was the Dempsey eviction? The Dempsey eviction—which is explored below– was a crucial turning point for the Land League movement in Ireland (Michigan State University, 2009). […]
Crotty’s Wood
Situated just before the Old Mill is a forested area known as Crotty’s Wood, or Rory’s Wood (Michigan State University, 2009). Charles Crotty operated as a landlord in County Mayo from 1852 until his death in 1883 (Michigan State University, 2009). Crotty bought the Mayo section of his estate from the Blakes of Belmont, Co. […]
Crotty’s House
In April 1852 Charles Crotty purchased an 1808-acre estate for the sum of £1025 (Michigan State University, 2009). Crotty was a Dublin grocer by occupation (Lane, 1993). Mary B. Conway recounts in her (n.d.) article ‘Crotty as a Landlord,’ that the name of the estate that Crotty bought was “Kinnewry, Maumeen and Tawnynagry (Previously called […]
Charles Crotty
In April of 1852 Charles Crotty purchased 1808 acres in the townlands of Kennury, Mawmeem and Tawnygarry, in what was called ‘a very wild district’ of the Partry Mountains, from John Blake, for the sum of £1,025.
Balla Oak Wood
Balla was formerly known as Ros dairbhreach, the Height of the Oakwood. Demand for quality Irish oak to build the British fleet and later to fuel the industrial revolution consumed almost all Irish forest, and a succession of storms through the late 20th century splintered much of the little that remained. We now recognize the […]
Balla Holy Well and Guest House
The Well of The Blessed Mother of God, as it is described on the slab of the adjacent rest house, drew crowds up to 15,000 at its peak in the 19th century when the Balla Blessed Well Pilgrimage lasted from the 15th August to 18th September.
The Maple Hall in Balla
‘The Maple Hall,’ in Balla, was once one of the most prominent dance halls in the west of Ireland, throughout the 20th Century (Michigan State University, 2009) The site of ‘The Maple Hall’ was originally the site of a Catholic Church which was built in 1806 by Father Nolan (Michigan State University, 2009) on a […]
Balla Old Cemetary
Just to the east of the round tower is one of the more interesting grave slabs we have seen. Interred beneath, or so we believe, are the remains of one Toby (?) Marran who died in 1749. Toby Marran Grave After failing to read the inscription by other means, Suri and Michael attempted to reveal […]
Balla Round Tower
Balla round tower is the only visible remnant of the monastery founded by St Cronan Mochua in the early part of the 7th century.
Balla Nally Monument
Traveling east to west, the Croagh Patrick Heritage Trail begins here, in the centre of Balla Town. Overlooking the main thoroughfare is this limestone monument dedicated to the memory of Patrick William Nally (c.1856-1891), son of William Nally, land agent for absentee landlord Sir Robert Lynch-Blosse. The Nally Monument This William Nally would have been […]