Templemurry Civil Parish Characteristics, County Mayo, Ireland
Templemurry Civil Parish is within Tirawley Barony and is part of Killala Roman Catholic Parish. Killala Civil Parish is also part of this Catholic Parish. The available Catholic Church records for this parish cover the years 1851-1880. When the Griffith's Valuation was conducted for Templemurry Civil Parish in 1856, there were no documented Churches (of any affiliation) and no Graveyards. Templemurry is located on Rathfran Bay; a sheltered harbor provides access to only small vessels. (Lewis, 1837; 1984, p. 610).
I couldn't find a patent application for fairs or markets in Templemurry Civil Parish, but in spite of this, the Statistical Survey of County Mayo conducted in 1802, showed that fairs were being held in the Townland of Rathfran on August 25 and November 11, (McParlan, 1802; 2007, p. 49-51).
When the Griffith's Valuation was conducted in 1856, the Townland of Rathfran was documented as having the "Customs of Fairs." The only other items noted of commercial interest in Templemurry Civil Parish were a Corn Mill in the Townland of Rathbaun and a Herd's House in the Townland of Breastagh. (Griffith, 1847-1864; 2003, Templemurry).
As far as education goes, there was a National Schoolhouse in the Townland of Carbad More.
Sir W. R Palmer Bart was the predominant landlord in Templemurry Civil Parish representing 11 Townlands, Bridget Irwin in 2, and Ernest Knox and Thomas Palmer with one Townland each.
Templemurry Civil Parish had a population of 1,291 in 1841. This number dropped to 514 people in 1851, a decline of more than 50%. Most Civil Parishes in County Mayo saw a drop in their populations during and after the peak famine years. By the year 1911, the population of Templemurry was listed as 316 (a greater than 75% drop since 1841). (O'Hara, 1982, p. 8).