AUGHAGOWER, a parish, chiefly in the barony of BURRISHOOLE, county of MAYO,
and province of CONNAUGHT, but partly in the barony of
MURRISK, 4 miles (S. E. by S.) from Westport; containing 12,045 inhabitants.
It is situated on the confines of the county of Galway,
and on the road from Westport to Ballinrobe: the
greater portion is mountain, about one-tenth only being
under tillage; about 100 acres are woodland, and there
are large tracts of bog. The system of agriculture is
in a very rude and unimproved state, spade husbandry
being still prevalent to a considerable extent. Lead
mines have been opened in the mountains, which are
the property of the Marquess of Sligo, but they are
not worked at present; and there is a large quarry of
slate of a very heavy quality, which is not now in operation.
Mount Browne House, now the seat of J. Browne,
Esq., was, during the disturbances of 1798, the seat of
the Right Hon. Denis Browne, brother of the Marquess
of Sligo, and was for some time in the possession of
the insurgents. The linen manufacture is partially
carried on, but is diminishing every year, and at prosent
affords employment only to a small number of persons.
Fairs are held on June 24th, July 21st, Aug. 6th, and
Sept, 29th. The parish is in the diocese of Tuam; the
rectory is appropriate to the archdeaconry, and also to
the prebends of Faldown and Killabeggs in the cathedral
of Tuam; the vicarage forms part of the union of Westport.
The tithes amount to £450, of which £355 is
payable to the vicar. The church, a modern edifice
with a square tower, was erected at an expense of £1200.
The R. C. parish is co-extensive with that of the Established
Church: the chapel is a small thatched building,
and there is also a chapel at Erriff of similar character,
both inadequate to the accommodation of their respective
congregations. There are six schools, situated respectively
at Ayle, Ardygommon, Cushinkeel, Aughagower,
Triangle, and Lanmore, in which about 700
children are taught; and there is also a hedge school at
Carranmore of 50 boys and 40 girls. The only antiquities
are a round tower in the village, and the remains
of an old castle at Doone. St. Patrick founded here
the monastery of Achadfobhair, and placed St. Senach
over it: it afterwards became the parish church.