Ballinrobe
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Ballinrobe Baile an Róba
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| Town | |
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 Ballinrobe
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| Coordinates: 53°38′00″N 9°14′00″W / 53.63333°N 9.2333°WCoordinates: 53°38′00″N 9°14′00″W / 53.63333°N 9.2333°W | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Province |
 Connacht
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| County | County Mayo |
| Elevation | 45 m (148 ft) |
| Population (2006) | |
| • Total | 3,682 |
| Time zone | WET (UTC+0) |
| • Summer (DST) | IST (WEST) (UTC-1) |
| Irish Grid Reference | M188643 |
Ballinrobe (Irish: Baile an Róba, meaning "town of the (river) Robe") is a town in County Mayo in Ireland. It is located on the River Robe, which empties into Lough Mask two kilometres to the west. The population in the 2011 Census was 3,682.
Dating back to 1390, Ballinrobe is said to be the oldest town in Mayo. The registry of the Dominican friary of Athenry mentions the monastery de Roba, an Augustinian friary whose restored ruins are one of the landmarks of the town today. The District Courtroom is housed in the old Market House, a marketing centre for local produce established in 1752.
Its development into an important economic centre was due to a Royal Patent granted to the people of Ballinrobe on 6 December 1606 by King James. This allowed the town to hold fairs and markets. Obtaining a market charter was an important step in the economic development of a town and required having a spokesperson who was in the king's favour. The town became the largest and most important in the area.
Market day in Ballinrobe was Monday. Each commodity had its special place in the town. Well into the mid-1900s, turf, hay, potatoes, turnips, and cabbage were sold on Abbey Street; poultry on Glebe Street; calves on Bridge Street; and cloth, flannel, woollen socks, lace, wheat, oats, and barley outside the Market House. There were special livestock fairs held at different times of the year for pigs, cattle, and sheep. Perishable goods such as butter, meat, and bread were sold in the lower part of the Market Hall. The upper floor was used as a meeting hall. In 1698, it was the site of a Commission of Inquiry which among other things, relocated property from Catholic to Protestant landlords. In 1716, the County Assizes (Civil and Criminal Courts) were held in Ballinrobe, most likely in the Market Hall.
Ballinrobe Chronicle was the local newspaper published from 1866–1903.
On 17 May 1919 the first of the republican law courts were set up in Ballinrobe.
The first court under the direct authority of the Dail sat at Ballinrobe, on 17 May 1920 and was reported with some pride in the national press.
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Wikipedia