Bonniconlon, County Mayo
Encyclopedia
Bonniconlon, officially Bunnyconnellan , is a village in the Barony of Gallen
in east County Mayo
, Ireland
. The village is on the R294 regional road
to the east of Ballina, County Mayo
, and close to the Ox Mountains
.
. The Bonniconlon Agricultural Show attracts large numbers of visitors to the area. A recent development of 48 houses and one-off housing
between the village and Ballina has boosted population numbers in the village.
The village has an old church, a Gaelic Athletic Association
hall and playing pitch, a town hall, three pubs, three shops and a graveyard. Judges Bar & Shop in Bonniconlon is a location in the small film Black Velvet. The old school house which was used for local meetings and events was located between the newer school and the church. The roof still had bullet marks left by the black and tans
during their local rampages. The rosary priest, Father Peyton
(1909 - 1992) was an altar boy in the local church. The Fr. Peyton Centre was built in his honour and is located in Attymass
near Bonniconlon.
The local church is older than the cathedral in Ballina. Bonniconlon (or Kilgarvan) parish is in the Achonry Diocese which crosses into Sligo. The local Bofield Ceili Band, one of the most renowned bands of its genre, sometimes plays at the local church, displaying its versatility to suit the solemnity of the occasion as required. There is a monument to the O'Dowda family in the village for their work during the famine. It is located close to the church and was paid for by the local people. Famine walks are also available from Bonniconlon.
Bonniconlon is really the sum of two townlands, Bonniconlon East and Bonniconlon West. A townland is the lowest governance structure in Ireland. Many emigrants from Ireland, however, often record the townland subdivision as their home. In the case of Bonniconlon East, for example, townland subdivisions are Glenree and Templetigan. Templetigan was the home of the famous Kelly family. Michael Kelly was the president of the Bonniconlon Farm Show, one of the largest such shows in all of County Mayo that is still conducted annually to this day. Many of the Kelly family emigrated to America to Pennsylvania and Ohio but several still return to Templetigan to visit and maintain their family connections. Another descendant of the Templetigan Kellys was the late Jackie Gleeson, a National Teacher, who spent his life educating the young and volunteering his time in support of education and his Catholic faith.
Barony of Gallen
The Barony of Gallen is one of the nine baronies in County Mayo, Ireland. It is situated in the eastern part of the county south of the town of Ballina, bordering County Sligo...
in east County Mayo
County Mayo
County Mayo is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Mayo, which is now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 130,552...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. The village is on the R294 regional road
Regional road
A regional road in Ireland is a class of road not forming a major route , but nevertheless forming a link in the national route network. There are over 11,600 kilometres of regional roads. Regional roads are numbered with three digit route numbers, prefixed by "R" A regional road in Ireland is a...
to the east of Ballina, County Mayo
Ballina, County Mayo
Ballina is a large town in north County Mayo in Ireland. It lies at the mouth of the River Moy near Killala Bay, in the Moy valley and Parish of Kilmoremoy, with the Ox Mountain range to the east and the Nephin Beg mountains to the west...
, and close to the Ox Mountains
Ox Mountains
The Ox Mountains are a mountain range in County Sligo on the west coast of Ireland. They are also known as 'St Patrick's Mountain after St. Patrick, as he laboured much on it, raised churches on its slopes, and left his name to some of its wells, as for instance that of Dromard' . The highest peak...
.
History
Bonniconlon was located in County Sligo when the Sligo border went as far as one shore of the Moy in Ballina. It is located in Mayo since the border was changed back to the Ox Mountains Windy Gap. The Howley family originated in Bonniconlon and were Catholic land agents, known for building Belleek Castle in Ballina. Though the local population is relatively small, it is a vibrant community which each year organizes the largest agricultural show west of the River ShannonRiver Shannon
The River Shannon is the longest river in Ireland at . It divides the west of Ireland from the east and south . County Clare, being west of the Shannon but part of the province of Munster, is the major exception...
. The Bonniconlon Agricultural Show attracts large numbers of visitors to the area. A recent development of 48 houses and one-off housing
One-off housing
One-off housing is a term used in Ireland to refer to the building of individual rural houses, outside of towns and villages. The term is used to contrast with housing developments where multiple units are constructed as part of a housing estate or city street. Less commonly, the term is used to...
between the village and Ballina has boosted population numbers in the village.
The village has an old church, a Gaelic Athletic Association
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
hall and playing pitch, a town hall, three pubs, three shops and a graveyard. Judges Bar & Shop in Bonniconlon is a location in the small film Black Velvet. The old school house which was used for local meetings and events was located between the newer school and the church. The roof still had bullet marks left by the black and tans
Black and Tans
The Black and Tans was one of two newly recruited bodies, composed largely of British World War I veterans, employed by the Royal Irish Constabulary as Temporary Constables from 1920 to 1921 to suppress revolution in Ireland...
during their local rampages. The rosary priest, Father Peyton
Patrick Peyton
Reverend Father Patrick Peyton, CSC was an Irish-born Roman Catholic priest, devout promoter of the works & inspirations of the Blessed Virgin Mary and is the founder of the post-World War II prayer movement called, "Family Rosary Crusade"...
(1909 - 1992) was an altar boy in the local church. The Fr. Peyton Centre was built in his honour and is located in Attymass
Attymass
-People:It is the birthplace of Fr Patrick Peyton , the founder of the Family Rosary Crusade In 1998, the Fr Patrick Peyton Memorial Centre was officially opened by Bishop Thomas Flynn.-Moy Villa Football Club:...
near Bonniconlon.
The local church is older than the cathedral in Ballina. Bonniconlon (or Kilgarvan) parish is in the Achonry Diocese which crosses into Sligo. The local Bofield Ceili Band, one of the most renowned bands of its genre, sometimes plays at the local church, displaying its versatility to suit the solemnity of the occasion as required. There is a monument to the O'Dowda family in the village for their work during the famine. It is located close to the church and was paid for by the local people. Famine walks are also available from Bonniconlon.
Bonniconlon is really the sum of two townlands, Bonniconlon East and Bonniconlon West. A townland is the lowest governance structure in Ireland. Many emigrants from Ireland, however, often record the townland subdivision as their home. In the case of Bonniconlon East, for example, townland subdivisions are Glenree and Templetigan. Templetigan was the home of the famous Kelly family. Michael Kelly was the president of the Bonniconlon Farm Show, one of the largest such shows in all of County Mayo that is still conducted annually to this day. Many of the Kelly family emigrated to America to Pennsylvania and Ohio but several still return to Templetigan to visit and maintain their family connections. Another descendant of the Templetigan Kellys was the late Jackie Gleeson, a National Teacher, who spent his life educating the young and volunteering his time in support of education and his Catholic faith.
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland