1879 – Industrial School for Dublin Boys, Artane, Dublin

The Artane Industrial school was set up in 1871 in Artane House by the Congregation of Christian Brothers. The school buildings were constructed between 1871 and 1879 to designs by Charles Geoghegan at a cost in the region of £20,000. Industrial Schools were established to take in orphaned or abandoned boys or those who were involved in petty crime. St. David’s Primary School, CBS, began operations on the lower floors of the old industrial school in 1969. St. David’s Secondary School moved into the upper floors of the industrial school building in 1974. The school building remains today.

“This school, which is situated three miles from Dublin, was visited recently by the Lord Lieutenant. The building comprises a central block affording ample accommodation for the Community, the extensive class-rooms, trades and training rooms, dormitories, and main staircases, being situate at either side, east and west. The main corridors at back extend through the entire building into which all the apartments open. The chapel on the first floor, and refectory under the same, extend out at the rear of the central block. All culinary offices, &c., are in immediate connexion with the refectory on the ground-floor.

The principal apartments being in three stories about 18 ft. from floor to floor, afford accommodation for 700 boys, independently of the Community. Perfect ventilation has been insured throughout by apertures for fresh air, 6 ft. above floors, acting vertically, and foul air exits under ceilings in all the apartments. The main dormitories, having windows at either side, contain about 120 beds each, allowing 700 cubic feet air-space to each boy.

The entire frontage measures 366 ft. by 58 ft. in depth, and 78 ft. in height. The unusual height and extent of the edifice render it a most conspicuous object in the landscape for miles around, and the upper stories afford charming views of scenery over land and sea.

The style of the composition is Italian, the walls being of limestone from the district, in combination with Portland cement concrete, with which all the jambs, arches, fireplaces, niches, &c., have been executed, with decided economy; the entire front and ends, with all decorations, being in Portland cement, and the entire cost has been estimated at about 40,000f. It has occupied about eleven years in construction.

Special provision has been made for life protection in case of fire. Grand staircases, 6 ft. wide, are provided at either end of the main building, and also stairs at either end of the central block, the upper apartments and corridors being in direct communication through-out the entire length on each floor. The designs were prepared by Mr. Charles Geoghegan, architect, under whose superintendence the entire works have been executed.”
The Builder, January 20, 1883