1752 – Moira House, Usher’s Island, Dublin

“The Mendicity Association, formed in 1818, has for its object the suppression of street-begging, by supplying relief to destitute paupers, chiefly by means of employment. A large building on Ussher’s Island, formerly the town residence of the Earl of Moira, and having a large space of ground attached to it, is fitted up for the purposes of the institution. The paupers are provided with food and apartments to work in, but not with lodging, and are divided into seven classes; first, those able to work at profitable employment, who receive full wages for their work; 2ndly, those whose earnings are not adequate to their entire support, who receive wages at a lower rate; 3rdly, those unable to perform full work; 4thly, the infirm; 5thly, children above six years of age, who are educated and instructed in useful employments; and lastly, children under six years of age, who are taken care of while their parents are at work: a dispensary is attached to the building and the sick are visited at their own lodgings. The institution is under the superintendence of 60 gentlemen elected annually.”
A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, 1837

Built as the Dublin home of the Earls of Moira. Later became part of the Mendicity Institute (run by the Association for the Suppression of Mendicity in Dublin – established in 1818, Mendicity is the oldest working charity in Dublin) which mirrored the composition so that the original Moira House was the right hand side of their enlarged building. Demolished in the early 1950s, after having its top floor lopped off some years earlier. Used during the 1916 Easter Rising for two days by Sean Heuston with 20 men as an outpost from the Four Courts.