Dillon House, Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon
Dillon House is located on the Market Square in Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon. Luke Dillon, father of John Blake Dillon, moved his family here in 1812. The Dillon family produced several of Ireland's most accomplished parliamentarians. The family had a business next door to the house. The business existed for one hundred and fifty years.
Dillon House, Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon
Dillon House, Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon
Dillon House is located on the Market Square in Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon. Luke Dillon, father of John Blake Dillon, moved his family here in 1812. The Dillon family produced several of Ireland's most accomplished parliamentarians. The family had a business next door to the house. The business existed for one hundred and fifty years.
Luke Dillon moved his family to Ballaghaderreen in 1812, when he could not pay for the renewal of his land lease in the countryside east of the town. His oldest son, Thomas, started a small shop on the town's main street. Over the years this shop was to grow and become one of the biggest employers in Ballaghaderreen. It closed its doors for the last time in 1986.
The Dillon family lived next door to the business. Dillon House is an impressive three-storey house, which still stands to this day. It now houses the public library and the Western Development Commission. In January 2000, Dillon House played host to the first ever full Government Cabinet meeting to be held outside of Dublin.
The Dillon family of Ballaghaderreen produced three generations of influential politicians. Let's find out a little more about them.