Mission Statement

About the Cathedral 

Ballaghaderreen Cathedral (Full title: The Cathedral Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Nathy) is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Achonry.

Located in Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon in Ireland, the cathedral was commissioned in 1855.

Construction of the cathedral, commissioned to be built by Bishop Patrick Durcan in the Gothic style, began in 1855 and was completed in 1860. Bishop Durcan had come to the small diocese several years earlier and wanted a new Cathedral to meet the needs of the people of Ballaghaderreen.

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This initial part of the Cathedral consisted of an "eight-bay nave with clerestory and lean-to side aisles, a four-stage tower with spire to west, square-ended chancel to east with sacristy and mortuary chapel to north and south."

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The new Cathedral was consecrated and opened in November 1860.

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The bell tower of 59.6 metres with a needle. A carillon of bells and a new sacristy were all added in 1912 by the project architect, William H. Byrne Irish. Because of its height, the body of the church, constructed in grey limestone may seem small but it is 45.72 metres (150 feet) long, 17.9 metres (59 feet) wide and 20.4 metres (67 feet) high.[5]

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The interior has a single nave. South of the west door is the baptismal font dating from around 1870.