Bonniconlon, County Mayo

Bonniconlon, officially Bunnyconnellan (Irish: Muine Chonalláin),[1] 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.

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 Shannon. 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), son of John Peyton of Carracastle and the former Mary Gillard of Rathreedane, was an altar boy in the local church. He emigrated to the United States where he gained prominence as a popular priest and theologian, and died in California. A centre was built in his honour in nearby Attymass.

Bonniconlon is actually the combination 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. Bonniconlon West is really the main part of Bonniconlon village, including the 3 shops,2 pubs,a post office, the school, pitch, graveyard, town hall, two estates (Cois na hAbhann and Lough Conn Heights) and several different houses.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Placenames Database of Ireland

External links

Coordinates: 54°06′N 9°01′W / 54.100°N 9.017°W / 54.100; -9.017

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