Rising above the town of Ballaghaderreen is the Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Nathy, a Gothic Revival landmark begun in 1855 and consecrated in 1860. Built as the seat of the Diocese of Achonry, it remains one of Roscommon’s most striking places of worship, its lofty spire — added in 1912 — dominating the skyline. Inside, the single nave stretches long and high, its carved stone and stained glass creating an atmosphere that is at once grand and solemn.

Not far from the cathedral stands the old parish graveyard of St Mary’s Chapel, where weathered stones lean and two family vaults — the Stricklands and the Costellos — recall the landed families of Loughglynn House. Among the burials here is that of Job Henthorn, a British soldier of the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Regiment, who died in 1873. His headstone still records his name and regiment, and his grave has become the focus of a peculiar strand of local lore. For generations, townsfolk have spoken of “Jobe’s ghost,” said to wander the corridors of nearby St Nathy’s College, the diocesan school.

The cathedral itself is also tied to whispered stories. Some claim that after nightfall a woman in shadow is seen near the grounds, drifting silently along the edge of the church. To some she is a harbinger of misfortune, to others a restless soul unwilling to leave consecrated ground. These are traditions rather than documented accounts, but they are firmly embedded in the memory of the town.