Local Buildings Past and Present


	Edmondstown House Built by Captain Arthur Robert Costello in 1864. His ancestors settled in the area about 1225 and gave their name to the barony. The house was designed by John McCurdy who also designed the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin. The style is High Victorian Gothic, built with stone interspersed with bands of red brick on a split level plan. The windows are pointed and there is an octagonal corner tower.
Arthur Costello had an estate of 8,551 acres but this was heavily in debt. This was bought by the Land Commission in 1885. He retained the new house and the 315 acre farm. These were bought by Fathers O'Hara and Keaveney (co-founders of the Congested Districts Board in 1890) then serving at the Cathedral in 1892. The farm was divided up and sold to local farmers. The diocesan College moved into the house in 1893 until a more 'suitable' building was found. This building was the old military barracks in Ballaghaderreen, which is still part of the College. The students moved in there in 1896 and Edmondstown House was vacant until 1911 when Bishop Morrisroe was appointed bishop and moved in there. Since then it houses diocesan offices, diocesan archives and provides a residence for the bishop.