Ballyhaunis
Ballyhaunis (Irish: Béal Átha hAmhnais, meaning "ford-mouth of strife") is a town in County Mayo, Ireland. It is at the crossroads of the N60 and N83 National secondary roads and on the railway line linking Dublin to Westport and Ballina.
Ballyhaunis
Béal Átha hAmhnais | |
|---|---|
Town | |
Ballyhaunis Friary | |
Ballyhaunis Location in Ireland | |
| Coordinates: 53°46′00″N 8°46′00″W | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Connacht |
| County | County Mayo |
| Elevation | 89 m (292 ft) |
| Population (2016) | |
| • Total | 2,366 |
| Time zone | UTC+0 (WET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+1 (IST (WEST)) |
| Irish Grid Reference | M498794 |
| Website | www |
It is thought that the town grew up around St Mary's Augustinian Friary (popularly referred to as "the Abbey"), which was founded in 1348, according to local tradition. The town and its hinterland contain a number of megalithic monuments.
According to the 2016 Census, Ballyhaunis had a population of 2,312. Non-Irish nationals made up 42% of the population, which is much higher than the national average of and is the highest of any town in Ireland. Poles and Pakistanis make up the largest groups of immigrants. Meanwhile, ethnic Irish people make up 40% of the population.
Ballyhaunis has one of the highest proportions of Muslims in Ireland. Around 23% of the town’s population of 2,300 identifies as Muslim as of the 2016 Census.
There are two Roman Catholic churches in the town, and it is also home to Ireland's first purpose-built mosque, the first mosque in Ireland outside Dublin. Farming, private business and industry are the main sources of employment.
Ballyhaunis is within both the Roman Catholic and civil parishes of Annagh.