Killawalla
Killawalla
Coill an Bhaile Killavally | |
|---|---|
Village | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Connacht |
| County | County Mayo |
| Elevation | 49 m (161 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Urban | 460 |
| Irish Grid Reference | M098795 |
Killawalla or Killavally (Irish Coill an Bhaile: Wood of the Homestead) is a village located in County Mayo, Ireland, 7 miles (10 km) from Westport on the R330 road to Ballinrobe. Saint Patrick is alleged to have passed this way en route to Croagh Patrick, and accordingly the local Catholic church is named after him. The village also contains a primary school, a post office and a pub. Killawalla is part of the parish of Carnacon and Ballintubber. Research carried out by NUI Maynooth showed Killawalla to have sustained the biggest population loss of any village in Ireland during the Great Famine. Between 1841 and 1851 the village lost two thirds of its population.[1]
Killawalla is also home to Pollatoomary cave, the deepest explored underwater cave in Britain and Ireland. The cave was explored to a depth of 103 m by Artur Kozłowski on 5–6 June 2008. The entrance to the cave is located in the townland of Ballyburke on private land.
