The diocese of Achonry has failed to offload its bishop’s palace in Ballaghaderreen, Co, Roscommon that it put on the market almost a year ago.While a number of prospective purchasers have viewed the Victorian Gothic house, there have been no offers made to the Sligo auctioneers who are handling the sale.
The palace has been the residence and base of bishops for over a hundred years but the diocese decided that it is no longer suitable for current-day needs and should be sold.
It does not provide suitable office space for the modern administration of a diocese and its location two miles outside the town at the end of a tree-lined avenue is also seen as a negative.
The palace, which is set in 12 hectares, has two reception rooms, a kitchen, library, offices; six bedrooms, bathrooms, a staff quarters and a basement is on the market at €800,000.
Its unique features include a corner tower, fireplaces with marble surrounds, bay windows and the original cellar.
The building dates back to 1864, was built by Captain Arthur Robert Costello and was originally set on an estate of 3,400 hectares. Its designer, John McCurdy, also designed Dublin’s Shelbourne Hotel.
When the Land Commission bought the entire estate bar apart from 125 hectares in 1892, two priests attached to St Nathy’s Cathedral in Ballaghaderreen bought the rest and the building and sold most of the land to local farmers.
The house then became St Nathy’s diocesan college but in 1911, more suitable premises was found for it in the town and the then bishop of Achonry, Patrick Morrisroe, moved in as did his successors.
The house is the most expensive of no fewer than 245 properties advertised on a property website that offers four-bed semi-detached houses for as little as €60,000.