~t which Connacht championships are decided. Recreational facilities in the town include cinema, dancing, concerts, drama, table tennis, Gaelic football and handball. Rough shooting is within easy reach. Places of Interest- Inis Saimer, an island, lies in the estuary below where the beautiful Assa.roe Falls were before they were removed for the construction of the tail race of the hydroelectric scheme. Here, says tradition, Partholan, about moo B.C., landed from Scythia to make the first colonisation of Ireland. It is named after Saimer, Partho~an's Queen's favourite dog, wl1ich was slain by Partholan in a fit of rage. A~ one time a prince of Tir Chonaill had a cranog dwelling here. Flahe!'ty O'!Muldoary, founder of Assa roe Atb bey. died here in 1197. YarCt. it was the scene of ·a sieg~ and disastrous defeat of the English Ly Red Hugh O'Donnell, in 15U7. It was probably fina~ly demolished in 1720. The meagre ruins of the famous Ciste:cian Abbey, Abbey Assaroe-founded, according to the Four Masters, by Flaherty O'Muldoary in H8i-are one mile north-west of the town. Many of the stones have been preserved by Leing built into the wall of the Abbey graveyard adJOmmg= The Aibbey was finally evacuated by the monks in 1650. About 50 yards away, on the bank of the .Abbey river is a grotto-like cave ( "Catsby") in which ~\lass was celebrated in Penal Days. Famous Ballyshanno11 PeopleThe town is perhaps best known to the world as the birth-place of William Allingham, poet. A commemorative tablet marks the The beautiful, rounded knoll on house in The Mall, where he was the north side of the town, Mul- born. The bridge is named after linashea, on which stands St. Anne's Church and adjoining gra·veyard was the site of a royal palace in early times. Aodh Rua (Red Hue-h). father of the famous Queen Macha, was buried here over 300 years B.C. having been accidentally drowned at Assaroe Falls. Conall Gulban resided here when St. Patrick visited the palace. him and also 1-"'ears a cornmemora ti ve plaque. Besides Allingham, Bal1yshannon can boast of being the birth-town of other people who attained to positions of note in various spheres. They include Speaker Connolly, speaker of the Irish Bouse of Commons; Marion Crawford of literary fame; Archbishop Kane, late Rectc-.:· of tl1e Catholic University of Washington; Robert Campbell, director of the East India Company; and Three hundred yards upstream from the town bridge is Seanach's Ford (from which the town gets its name). It was the princi- Elizabeth Dixon. mother of Mary pal crossing of the Erne befo.re Goodwin, poet and historian. the building of bridges. Transport-The town is served O''DonneH's Castle, built by by the G.N.R. rail and road serNiall Garbh in 1123 to command thP ford or<>upierl the now built- vices ,the Co. Donegal Railways, up ground north of the Market ancl the Erne Road Bus Service. 343.
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