COLLOONEY, a post-town
COLLOONEY, a post-town, in that part of the parish of BALLYSADERE which is in the barony of TIRAGHRILL, county of SLIGO, and province of CONNAUGHT, 5¼ miles (S.) from Sligo, on the road to Dublin, and 98¾ (N. W.) from Dublin; containing 553 inhabitants.
It consists of one long street, containing 90 houses, of which 13 are slated, and the remainder thatched.
At Carricknagatt the French, after quitting Castlebar, were attacked on the 5th of Sept., 1798, by Colonel Vereker, with a detachment of the city of Limerick militia, some yeomanry, and the 24th light dragoons; but after a smart action of about an hour and a half, the Colonel was nearly surrounded, and obliged to retreat, with the loss of his artillery, to Sligo, whence he withdrew to Ballyshannon. The assault was sufficient, as it is supposed, to deter the French from attacking Sligo, and they marched to Dromahaire.
The market is on Thursday; and fairs were formerly held on May 3rd, June 1st, Aug. 9th, Sept. 5th, Nov. 21st, and Dec. 16th, but that of Nov. 21st is the only one now held.
Here are a large bleaching establishment and an oatmeal-mill.
Near the town are Onnachmore, the residence of C. R. O'Hara, Esq.; and Camp Hill, of A. Kelly, Esq.
In the town are the parish church and a R. C. chapel, a linen-hall, a dispensary, and two schools.
It is a station of the constabulary police.—See BALLYSADERE.