Ballyhaunis

History

On 2 August 1920, during the Irish War of Independence, the Irish Republican Army (IRA) ambushed a British Army lorry on the Claremorris road from Ballyhaunis, seizing weapons and ammunition. The spot of the ambush, known as the Holywell Ambush, is marked by a high cross. On 1 April 1921, Sean Corcoran, O/C of the IRA's East Mayo Brigade, was shot dead by British soldiers after a short gunfight at Crossard crossroads (6 km north of Ballyhaunis). A cross marks the spot where Corcoran died. Later that same day, a member of the Black and Tans was killed by the IRA in the town. In retaliation, the Black and Tans executed Michael Coen, a local man who was an IRA volunteer. Coen is believed not to have taken part in any of the preceding incidents. A monument to Coen was placed on the Cloonfad/Galway road from Ballyhaunis. In May 1921, Patrick Boland, captain of the Corssard Coy, IRA, was killed by crown forces. In 1999, Ballyhaunis was one of several locations in the European Union selected to trial a local currency project, known as the ROMA, designed to develop the local economy and ease the transition to the euro.

Most-observed species

• Rhododendron

  Rhododendron ponticum L. · Magnoliopsida
  50
• Western Jackdaw

  Coloeus monedula (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  48
• European Robin

  Erithacus rubecula (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  44
• Barn Swallow

  Hirundo rustica Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  42
• Eurasian Wren

  Troglodytes troglodytes (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  40
• Hooded Crow

  Corvus cornix Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  38
• Common Blue Damselfly

  Enallagma cyathigerum (Charpentier, 1840) · Insecta
  34
• Rook

  Corvus frugilegus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  33