MAYO THROUGH HISTORY: FROM 5TH TO 19TH CENTURY

Passions > History & Heritage > History 5th -19th Century

History 5th -19th Century

Christianity arrived in Ireland via Mayo in the 5th century with St. Patrick’s exile here. After spending 40 days and nights of penance on Croagh Patrick--mirroring Christ’s exile in the desert--he founded the first Christian churches in Mayo, including the foundation of the diocese in Killala.

For the next thousand years Christianity took a firm hold in Mayo, with the construction of round towers, monasteries and abbeys from Rosserk and Moyne Abbeys in the north to Cong Abbey in the south as well as Murrisk, Burrishoole and Ballintubber Abbeys, the latter of which remains uninterruptedly in use since 1216.

Mayo took its name (Maigh Eo, ‘plain of yew trees’) from Mayo Abbey, a monastery founded on such a plain, near Balla in the 7th century. Monasteries flourished for several hundred years and were threatened with the arrival of the Vikings in Ireland. Besides a short-lived attack of the Connaught coast, the Viking raids didn’t stretch to Mayo). However, the building of Ireland’s unique round towers were built in response to the threat and ferocity of Viking raids. Until the 12th century, the county was governed by chieftains and Gaelic lords. Then the Normans came and with them came a period of development, from towns, roads and bridges to the building of a number of important abbeys, such as Ballintubber, Cong and Errew.

The 16th century brougha colourful character beloved by Mayo people. Grace O'Malley was born around 1530 and earned the nickname ‘Granuaile’ or ‘bald Grainne’, when, as a young girl she cut off her long hair after her father refused to take her on a trading expedition to Spain on the grounds that her long hair would catch in the ropes. Her defiant response embarrassed him and he subsequently agreed to take her. The O'Malleys had the run of the seas on the west coast and their castles were built defensively facing the sea to protect themselves and maintain control of the barony of Murrisk.

Grace inherited her father’s shipping and trading business and built a small empire, with land, property, cattle and horses Charging ships taxes to sail in their territory earned her the name ‘Pirate Queen.’ Her home, Rockfleet Castle, (also called Carraigahowley Castle), near Newport, as well as castles on Clare Island and Achill Island are still standing.
The 16th century brought insecurity and violence to Mayo. Sir Richard Bingham, Governor of Connaught under Queen Elizabeth I brought about the near destruction of most of Mayo’s abbeys and monasteries as The Reformation was in full violent swing. The name Cromwell still stirs people in Mayo to this day, as the Cromwellian Settlement which began in 1641 sealed the fate of the Irish under strict and unflinching British rule. One way the ruling classes ensured obedience and suppressed advancement of Catholic Irish was the implementation of The Penal Laws, which prohibited Catholic Irish from leasing or owning land, obtaining education (creating the ‘Hedge School’ phenomenon), entering professions or voting. These draconian measures fueled the fire which later led led to unrest.

By the 18th century, revolution was in the air, with the United States and France leading the way. The Irish, whose autonomy was continuously suppressed, took inspiration and courage from their rebellious friends overseas. By 1798, known as the Year of the French, the Irish had a plan. With the help of the French under General Humbert, they would overthrow the British forces in Mayo and eventually the whole country.

They began well, landing in Killala and marching to Castlebar, where the battle, known as the ‘Castlebar Races’ took place--the Irish and French overthrew the British in spite of being vastly outnumbered by the forces of the crown. Short-lived though it was, a 'Republic of Connacht' was established.

The Irish suffered terrible losses in 1798, but the heroism of the rebellion remained alive throughout the turbulent and tragic 1800s, when the Famine decimated one quarter of the population of Ireland and ultimately served as the precursor to the 1916 Rising, to which the Irish Republic owes its name.

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MAYO THROUGH HISTORY: FROM 5TH TO 19TH CENTURY

History 5th -19th Century

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