Shanballymore
Shanballymore, situated on the north-west of Dunmore parish, and bordered by Cloondalgan, Quinaltagh, Gortnalea, Cloonkeen and Benmore is probably the highest townland in our half-parish. The highest point, 399’ above sea-level, is close to Watson’s’ house and the school building. Small wonder then that a local resident claimed that, on a clear day, he had views of Galway, Mayo, Roscommon, Sligo, Leitrim and Clare! (Using binoculars, of course.) A large number of its early settlers came from Ulster, having spent some time on the Gore-Booth estate in Sligo first.
In the early 19th century, there were two hedge schools in the village-one near Keadin’s house and the other near the entrance gate to Tommy Keaveney’s farm. By 1904 a new school was built close to Helen Diskin’s house. Due to falling enrolments that school closed in 1975 and the pupils transferred to Garrafrauns new school.
It is one of the largest villages in our area with an area of 728 acres and a valuation of £172 as recorded in the Griffith Valuation books. Richard Kirwan was the landlord at the time. The surnames Ronayne, Diskin, Noone, Kielty and Melia appear on those records. These names are still there today. It had a population of 172 in 1901: 139 in 1911 and approximately 60 in 2000. Farming was the main occupation of the residents with only a few earning extra income from trades. Ellen and Mary Connally were seamstresses; Sarah Cunniffe was a teacher; Fleming’s were blacksmiths. Keadin’s were builders and during the 60’s they had a corn crusher. Local farmers brought oats and barley to be crushed or rolled and used it as feeding for stock and fowl.