TEMPLEMORE, or STRADE, a parish, in the
barony of GALLEN, county of MAYO, and province of
CONNAUGHT, 4 miles (S. W.) from Foxford, on the road
from Foxford to Castlebar, and on the river Moy and
Lough Cullen; containing 4135 inhabitants. A Franciscan
friary was founded here by the sept of Mac Jordan,
but in 1252 this house was given to the Dominicans
by Jordan, of Exeter, Lord of Athlethan, or by his
son Stephen: a very small part remains, but the walls
of the church, which was singularly beautiful, are nearly
entire, with some curious ornaments and a remarkable
tomb: a house has been built adjoining the church,
which is inhabited by some of the order. The parish
comprises 6447 statute acres, as applotted under the
tithe act: the land is principally under tillage. There
are quarries of limestone and some bog. In the village
of Strade is a constabulary police station; and fairs are
held on May 31st, July 30th, Oct. 23rd, and Nov. 27th.
The living is a vicarage, in the diocese of Achonry, episcopally
united, in 1805, to the vicarages of Bucholla,
Towmore, Killasser, and Killedan, and in the patronage
of the Bishop; the rectory is impropriate in the representatives
of the late Roger Palmer, Esq. The tithes
amount to £279.11.4., one-half of which is payable to
the impropriators, and the other half to the vicar; the
gross amount of the tithes of the benefice is £893.8.2.
There are two churches in the union, one at Foxford, in
the parish of Towmore, and the other at Ballinamore in
the parish of Killedan. In the R. C. divisions the parish
is a separate benefice: the chapel is a large slated building
contiguous to the abbey. There are four private
schools, in which are about 240 children. Ballylahan
castle is the ruin of an ancient fortress, about 30 feet
square, built by one of the Jordan family, who had
many more in this neighbourhood. An ancient bridge
of 16 arches, called Alahan, or the Broad Ford, here
crosses the river. Ruins exist of the ancient church of
Templemore.