page_title: Bangor Erris
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Bangor Erris / History
caption_attribution_description: Bangor Erris, County Mayo Summer 2010
context_page_description: Bangor Erris is a town in Kiltane parish in Erris, County Mayo, Ireland with a population of over 300. It is on the banks of the Owenmore River and is a "gateway" to the Erris Peninsula linking Belmullet with Ballina and Westport. It is located at the foot of the "Bangor Trail" a 22-mile mountain pass across the Nephin Beg Mountain Range to Newport. Approximately 2 km away is Carrowmore Lake, Bangor is a centre for wild atlantic salmon and sea trout fishing. Bangor Erris is located in the Parish of Kiltane. Due west from Bangor are the towns of Belmullet, Geesala, Mulranny, Westport and Doolough.
context_section_description: The original name for Bangor was Doire Choinadaigh (Kennedy's Wood), a name found on maps from 1724 - 1829.  the place was also called 'Coineadach' by John O'Donovan in the Ordnance Survey Name Books of 1838.  In 1802 when James McPartlan (Statistical Survey p. 159) surveyed the area, he called the village 'Cahal' and noted that there were regular fairs held there at that time. Locally the village was known as 'Aonach Cathail' because a wealthy buyer of that name was a regular at the fair days.  The name 'Bangor' was given to the village by Major Denis Bingham who established the town of Bangor Erris.
  The reason Bangor was chosen as a site for Bingham's town was because it was situated at the crossroads of two old roads which were in use from about the middle of the 18th century.  One road led from Carne (Mullet peninsula) to Castlebar and the other went from Inver (Kilcommon) to Newport. Both roads were repaired by order of the County Assizes in 1793.  The crossroads was well sheltered from the worst of the prevailing winds and its situation on the banks of the Owenmore River also made it a suitable site.
  Major Bingham introduced the Revenue Police to stamp out the illicit distillation of drink, in reality it was to get personal protection for himself in his house Bingham Lodge on the western edge of the town.  A post office was established in the town in 1842.
  The local parish church dates back to the mid 19th Century.
  The Townagh flood
  In December 1818, four lakes just outside Bangor Erris burst their banks after heavy rains, unleashing a torrent of water that killed 17 people. The majority of the victims were from the O'Hara family.  Three soldiers from the 92nd Highlanders were also killed. The soldiers were on revenue duty and were lodging with the O'Hara family.  All three soldiers were veterans of Waterloo.  At the same times, two other soldiers were killed when they got lost in the bog during the storm.
  Irish War of Independence
  In January 1921, a local man - Michael McAndrew (aged 27) was stabbed in the neck by a soldier. McAndrew was attempting to take the soldier's rifle when he received the wound.  He was taken to Belmullet Hospital where he survived the injury.
caption: Sculpture at eastern outskirts of Bangor Village
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