BALLISAKEERY, a parish, in the barony of TYRAWLEY,
county of MAYO, and province of CONNAUGHT, 2½
miles (S. E.) from Killala; containing 5730 inhabitants.
This parish, which is situated on the river Moy, and on
the mail coach road from Ballina to Killala, comprises
11,281 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act,
and valued at £4705 per annum. The lands are principally
under tillage; the system of agriculture is very
much improved, and there is little waste land but what
is very deep and irreclaimable bog, of which there are
very large tracts. Limestone is found in some parts
of the parish. There are several gentlemen's seats, of
which the principal are Reserk, the residence of Cowen
Green, Esq.; Broadlands Park, of P. C. Howley, Esq;
Netley Park, of H. W. Knox, Esq.; Ballybrooney, of
J. Perkins, Esq; and Farrow, of T. Waldron, Esq.
The river Moy, which is celebrated for the abundance
and quality of its salmon, is navigable on the border of
the parish, and forms the pool of Ballisakeery, which is
accessible to vessels of small burden. The living is a
vicarage, in the diocese of Killala, to which the vicarage
of Rathrea was united by act of council in 1807, and in
the patronage of the Bishop; the rectory is appropriate
to the deanery and archdeaconry of Killala. The tithes
amount to £368. 11. 8½., of which £175. 7. 8½. is paid
to the impropriators, and the remainder to the vicar;
the entire tithes of the benefice amount to £273. 4.
The church is a neat plain edifice, erected by a loan of
£1025 from the late Board of First Fruits, in 1810;
the Ecclesiastical Commissioners have lately granted
£131 for its repair. The glebe-house, a handsome residence,
was built by aid of a gift of 400 and a loan of
£400 from the same Board, in 1820: the glebe comprises
29 acres. The R. C. parish is co-extensive with
that of the Established Church; a chapel is now in
process of erection in the village of Cooncal, and will be
completed in a short time. There are places of worship
for Presbyterians, Wesleyan Methodists, and Baptists.
There are five public schools, of which a female school
is supported by the Misses Knox, of Rappa, and in
which about 200 boys and 200 girls are taught; also
two hedge schools, in which are about 100 boys and 30
girls. There are some remains of the ancient abbey of
Rosserick or Reserk, near the river Moy, founded by
one of the sept of Joyce, for friars of the Franciscan
order; they consist of the ruins of the church and a
burial-ground; in the centre of the gable end is a square
tower, and in the monastery is a closet of hewn stone
for two confessors.