TEMPLEMURRY, a parish, in the barony of TYRAWLEY,
county of MAYO, and province of CONNAUGHT,
3 miles (N.) from Killala, on the road from Ballina to
Lacken; containing 1868 inhabitants. It is situated
on the bay of Rathfran, contiguous to the bay of Killala,
into which the river here empties itself, and comprises
1200 statute acres, chiefly arable. Fairs are held at
Rathfran on Aug. 25th and Nov. 11th. The harbour is
fit only for small vessels, being dry at low water. The
sea being smoother here than at the contiguous bar,
some vessels prefer running up here as it is quite sheltered
and safe from the sea swells. Summerhill is the
residence of T. Palmer, Esq.; and here are the ruins of
the fine old house of Palmerstown. It is a vicarage, in
the diocese of Killala, forming part of the union of
Lacken; the rectory is appropriate to the dean and the
precentor of Killala. The tithes amount to £108, of
which one-half is payable to the dean and the precentor,
and the other half to the vicar. In the R. C. divisions
it is part of the union or district of Killala. Ruins exist
of the fine old abbey of Rathfran, which was founded
for Dominicans in the 12th century: adjoining is a
burial-place still used.