Crossmolina 4.71

Crossmolina or Crosmolina is a town in the Barony of Tyrawley in County Mayo, Ireland, as well as the name of the parish in which Crossmolina is situated. The town sits on the River Deel near the northern shore of Lough Conn. Crossmolina is about 9 km west of Ballina, on the N59 Road as it travels west through Erris to Bellacorick and Bangor Erris Glencastle, Belmullet and the Mullet peninsula.FoundationThe abbey of Crossmolina was founded by a member of the landowning De Barry family. Little remains of this foundation today. In 1306, three Normans were indicted for robbery from the abbot. During the 15th century, Crossmolina passed into Bourke Family. In 1526 O'Donnell of Tir Conaill (Co. Donegal) invaded Tirawley and demolished Crossmolina castle.The abbey was dissolved in the 1537. Around 1630 the abbey and its lands came into the possession of Sir Richard Blake. The dissolution deprived the people of a centre of hospitality, culture and education.PopulationIn the Census of April 2011 Crossmolina had a population of 1,060 consisting of 535 males and 526 females.The population of pre-school age (0-4) was 62, of primary school going age (5-12) was 88 and of secondary school going age (13-18) was 76. There were 198 persons aged 65 years and over. The number of persons aged 18 years or over was 844.