Postcards of Ballaghaderreen

The Altars, Ballaghadereen

The Altars, outside Ballaghaderreen has actually four altars, each facing the Cardinal points. It is more commonly called "The Four Altars", and was erected in penal times, to offer protection to priests while saying mass. People too could escape into the woods if necessary. The choice of altar depended on the weather. If the wind was northerly the priest chose the altar facing south. The cross that stood on top of the structure was blown down some 100 years ago.

The Altars, Ballaghadereen

The Altars, Ballaghadereen

The Altars, outside Ballaghaderreen has actually four altars, each facing the Cardinal points. It is more commonly called "The Four Altars", and was erected in penal times, to offer protection to priests while saying mass. People too could escape into the woods if necessary. The choice of altar depended on the weather. If the wind was northerly the priest chose the altar facing south. The cross that stood on top of the structure was blown down some 100 years ago.

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Introduction

The meaning of the name Ballaghaderreen is " the way of the little oaks". It was formerly part of County Mayo, but in 1859 an act of Parliament transfered a Costello barony into the barony of Frenchpark.

Ballaghaderreen is a cathedral town and is the seat of the Diocese of Achrony. Bishop Patrick Durkin (1852 - 1875) was the chief proponent of the cathedral for the Diocese.

The political dynasty of the Dillon family, who were prominent figures on the national stage came from Ballaghaderreen. John Blake Dillon was co-founder of the newspaper "The Nation" with fellow Young Irelanders, Thomas Davis and Charles Gavin Duffy.

M. Duff & Co., Ltd., Ballaghadereen of Monica Duff general merchants was the chief local publisher. They profited from the sale of the stamps also, as they had the local post office. John Flannery & Co., Ltd., Ballaghadereen was the other local publisher of these view postcards.