Ballymote (Irish: Baile an Mhóta, meaning 'town of the motte/mound') is a market town in southern County Sligo, Ireland.

It is a commuter town with a strong history of independent enterprises along with firm local health, school, and transport services.

[4][5] Ballymote was much affected by the disruption of the full conquest of Ireland by the English and Protestant settlers in the early modern period (1536–1691).

[8] Following litigations, court action and a forced sale John Fitzmaurice (Lord Shelburne) bought the Ballymote estate in 1753.

[9][a] On coming to Ballymote, Shelburne found the land mostly uncultivated with the inhabitants, all Roman Catholic, making no attempt to manufacture goods but subsisting on herding cattle.

[10][12] Shelburne made a start to establish Ballymote as a centre for the linen industry in County Sligo,[13] by provisioning cottages for Protestant weavers and spinners brought in from Ulster.

[20] In 1837, the town consisted of 140 houses on a single main street at the junction of six roads, and was owned by Robert Gore-Booth.

[2] In addition to a selection of shops and services, there are factories just outside the town at Ballybrennan, and a small business park at Carrownanty on the R296 Road to Tobercurry.

At the bank holiday at the beginning of August they organise a heritage weekend with a variety of events and an annual publication, The Corran Herald.

There has been a library in the town since 1949; originally run from the Loftus Hall, it was relocated to the former courthouse in 1984 before moving in 2011 to its current location on Teeling Street.