GEOGRAPHICAL/POLITICAL AREAS -
Mayo, Tirawley, Crossmolina, Ballina, Ardnaree, Carrowkeel and Mylow
Carrowkeel
From the family, and the fact that one Moran family member is still livng there, we know our Carrowkeel is located, ecclesiasticaly, in the parish of Crossmolina, diocese of Killala, union of Ballina; and civily in the barony of Tirawley in County Mayo, a part of the ancient province of Connacht. In the Census of 1851 there were 165 people living in the 285 acre area known as Carrowkeel. Carrowkeel means "narrow quarter."
Although Carrowkeel is called a townland there is no village there, only houses and farms that support about fifteen families. To differentiate this Carrowkeel from the others in Mayo, it is called Mylow Carrowkeel That's how it was written on my Grandfather's birth notice in the records. Carrowkeel is located off the main road going west out of Crossmolina about three miles where a road leads north. The area of that turn is today called Mylow. In earlier days, it was called Moylaw. Before it was given a highway number, the road west out of Crossmolina was called the Bellacorrick road. Locally it was called the Deel Bridge road.
In a document dated 1657, the townland is shown as Carrowkeele, als Carrowkeele Moyla (see Appendix VI Maps, Carrowkeel, Down Survey). That document showed the entire townland to be owned by one of the Bourkes. Carrowkeel is about a quarter mile up (north east) that dirt road from the Mylow junction. Just a little further, at a point where the dirt road makes a right hand turn to the east, is where the traditional Moran homestead is located. Of course that depends who you are talking to, because at least one other Moran family is also from there.
For maps showing Carrowkeel and surrounding townlands use this link
For another, closer view showing Carrowkeel Townland boundaries, use this link
For a map of Crossmolina and surrounding area use this link >
Use your back arrow to get back to this page after you have seen the maps.
Two of the more prominent geographical features of the area are Lough Conn and Mount Nephin.
A rainbow over Lough Conn
Mighty Mount Nephin with Lough Conn in the foreground
The Union was a originally a grouping of local parishes for special taxation reasons. The parish serves as both the next civil level and is the lowest ecclesiastical unit of a diocese. The parish of Crossmolina, which is in the Diocese of Killala, is based in the townland of Crossmolina.
CROSSMOLINA
Crossmolina is the closest large townland to Carrowkeel. The name Crossmolina comes from a family, the O'Maoilyhiona, also seen as O Maolfhion, which was anglicized to O'Molina. This family had a castle by the junction (cros) of the road that goes east (to County Sligo) and west to the Barony of Erris in County Mayo and a road which runs south to Castlebar. The actual origin of Crossmolina is Cros Ui Maolfhiona. In 1839, Crossmolina had 11,479 inhabitants, of whom only about 2,000 lived in town. Crossmolina is 6.5 miles west of the townland of Ballina.
Crossmolina and Carrowkeel are both in the Parish of Crossmolina. Knockfree, which is on the eastern side of the River Deel, is in the adjoining Parish of Kilbelfed. This is where Bridget Agnes Moran was born.
BALLINA
Ballina is situated along the River Moy. In 1798, the town was taken over by the French under General Humbert. The town, in 1839, had a population of 5,510 inhabitants. Today, Ballina is larger than Crossmolina. Ballina gets its name from the Irish for "ford of the river mouth." The town was originally called Beleek, or the "Ford of the Flags" when it was founded in 1729. The President of Ireland in 1995 - 96, Mary Robinson, is from Ballina.
ARDNAREE
Ardnaree, across the river Moy on the east bank, was once the Moran family stronghold. Today it is considered a suburb of Ballina. In 1839, the population of Ardnaree was 2,482.
TIRAWLEY
The next civil unit above the townland is the barony. Carrowkeel, Crossmolina and Ballina are all in the Barony of Tirawley. Tirawley is one of nine baronies in County Mayo.
Connect here to see the map showing parishes, dioceces, baronies in County Mayo.
MAYO
The name `Mayo' comes from ancient Gaelic for plain (magh) of the yew tree (eo). The name was not in use before the reign of Edward III of England (1327 - 1377). It is the third largest county in Ireland. It is a rural county with a population of only 110,713 (1991). Castlebar is the county administrative center. Only two other towns in County Mayo are considered urban centers, Ballina and Westport.
