Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Nathy, Ballaghaderreen

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,[1] the cathedral was commissioned in 1855.

Ballaghaderreen Cathedral
Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Nathy
Location	Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon
Country	Ireland
Denomination	Roman Catholic
History
Consecrated	1860
Architecture
Style	Gothic Revival
Groundbreaking	1855
Completed	1860
Specifications
Length	45.72 metres
Width	17.9 metres
Height	20.4 metres
Tower height	59.6 metres
Administration
Archdiocese	Tuam
Diocese	Achonry
Province	Tuam
Clergy
Bishop(s)	Paul Dempsey

The cathedral, commissioned to be built by Bishop Patrick Durcan in the Gothic style, was begun in 1855 and completed in 1860. Durcan had come to the small diocese several years earlier and wanted a new Cathedral to meets the needs of the people of Ballaghaderreen. [2]

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." [3]

The new Cathedral was consecrated and opened in November 1860. [4]

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

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