Killala, seaport town and par., N. co. Mayo, on W. side of Killala Bay, 8 miles NW. of Ballina ry. sta.- par., 5634 ac., pop. 1329; town, pop. 700; P.O., 1 Bank. Market-day, Saturday. The harbour affords good and safe anchorage for vessels drawing 8 or 9 ft. of water. The exports of grain and provisions are considerable, and the fishery is of some importance. The diocese of Killala, founded by St Patrick in the 5th century, was annexed to that of Tuam in 1833; the cathedral is an ancient structure. There is a round tower, 84 ft. high. lt was on the shore of the bay, 4 miles distant, that the French under General Humbert landed in 1798.

(John Bartholomew, Gazetteer of the British Isles (1887))