Ballaghaderreen (Irish: Bealach an Doirín) is a town in County Roscommon, Ireland. Irish meaning of the town name is 'The way (Bealach) of the little oak plantation (Doirín)'.
The town of Ballaghaderreen was located in County Mayo until 1899, when it was transferred to Roscommon by the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898.
Ballaghaderreen is located on the N5 road. The town has become a bottleneck on the N5 route in recent years and the opening of the Charlestown bypass down the road has exacerbated the problem as traffic is funneled into Ballaghaderreen at a much faster rate.
A map of roads and towns surrounding Ballaghaderreen may be viewed and downloaded by clicking either Green Ballaghaderreen Map or White Ballaghaderreen Map. These maps are .PDF files and to be printed in landscape view.
An aerial view of Ballaghaderreen Town may be seen by clicking Ballaghaderreen aerial view. Google Earth has aerial views and street views of Ireland townlands and roads.
If Google Earth software is needed,
it is free at google.com/earth.
Once installed, click the Google Earth icon placed on your desktop (Start) screen. At Google Earth look at Layers (along left side) and
be sure Street View is check marked. Search for Ballaghaderreen Ireland (or other townland). When
there, press and hold your mouse key to move about. Double left
click to zoom-in or double right click to zoom-out. Click a camera then click
Show Full Screen.
Ballaghaderreen Cathedral
This is the cathedral church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Nathy. Ballaghaderreen is the see town of the small
Catholic diocese of Achonry which comprises parts of Counties Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo.
The Patron saint is St. Nathy and secondary Patroness is St. Attracta. The Cathedral was built
in the 1850's.
In 1860 Ballaghaderreen Cathedral was dedicated as the cathedral for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Achonry.
Four Altars
This is the Four Altars, built presumably during
the early 18th Century, when Catholics could have no churches. It was built on
land of the Costellos near Edmondstown. Priests chose the altar and said Mass at the one that offered his best protection from wind and rain. It was up on a hill where
the people could see any approaching English soldiers coming to disburse
them.
Irish Railway Station at Ballaghaderreen
Hundreds if not thousands of Toweys must have traveled by rail to / from work within Ireland and England as well as emigration to oversea countries. Ballaghaderreen was previously part of the Dublin to Sligo Line. This the Ballaghaderreen Railway Station as it looked c2001. More pictures may be seen by clicking www.roscommonhistory.ie Opened on 02.11.1874
Closed to all traffic 01.01.1876 to 24.03.1876 and 27.01.1947 to 24.05.1947 Closed permanently 04.02.1963
Inquiries may be emailed to one or more of these contact points: Mike Towey, Taoiseach, toweymike@hotmail.com, Dublin, Ireland
Edward Towey, Chairperson, etowey001@yahoo.com, Deephaven, Minnesota Dan Towey, Assistant Chairperson, toweydan@juno.com, Blaine, Minnesota Vacant, Secretary Caroline Hassett Power, Assistant
Secretary, hassettcaroline@yahoo.ie, Quin, Co. Clare, Ireland Dick Towey, Assistant Genealogist, toweylr@comcast.net, Corvallis, Oregon Bill Towey, Webmaster, wtowey5953@aol.com , Stockton, California