Michael J. OBrien

It was mainly used as small concert/comedy/disco venue.

It definitely was open in the late 1990’s.

Definitely not Castleboro.

Castleboro is more of a trditional classical house with 4-5 columns.

It is also a very impressive ruin.

Couldn’t agree more with you.

Where is the new Irish National Trust that is supposed to be protecting our architectural hertiage.

It always amazing me to think of the quality of architectural in Irish Churches built in the 1980s when there was no money and huge emigriation.

The Celtic Tiger is a blessing???……….

Ridiculous decision. I think the obvious site for it is on the Cartlon cinema site.

If they want to move it to the docklands give it a high profile river front site and not fill in open space in a area surrounding by huge office blocks. Most cities try to hold onto what is left of their green and blue spaces. Build this new building on a brown field site.

Interestingly when the old IRA went to burn Carton in the 1920’s the last resident Fitzgerald or Duke of Leinster took a picture of Lord Edward Fitz off the wall and gave them a lesson in the history of Irish Independence including 1798 rebellion. They left without causing any damage.

The BBC series Aristocrats is about the Fitzgerald and Lennox families and was actually filmed in Carton house and estate. This is well worth a look at;.

Recently, I visited Hearst Castle in Calfornia where I believe some of the original contents of Carton reside. Enormous and impressive place but no one had heard of Carton or Irsih content in the Castle.

This site is an excellent blue print as to how to open up an historic building to the public.

http://www.hearstcastle.com/

Why don’t they join forces with the Irish Lankmark Trust I wonder.

Interesting that Martin Cullen believed the purchase and restoration of Lisadell would cost €30 million. I believe that the new owners a spent a total of around €5 million. How can the state defend this calcaulation- Eddie Hobbs please investigate!

Strange to say but I think they appear to be better protectors of the property than the state would have been.

It seems a pity not to have included on the stamps a picture of the tallest round tower in Ireland on Scattery Island, off Kilrush in Co. Clare.

One of the unique aspects of the tower is the fact that the door is on the ground floor.

Scattery Island is a very impressive place. It has 7 churches; a couple of which are cathedrals, it has a deserted village, round tower, light house, napoleonic battery. It is about a 30 minute boat ride from either Capagh or Kilrush Creek marina and well worth the trip. You can also see the island on the way from the Killimer car ferry to Kilrush just after Moneypoint power station.

The monastic settlement was founded by St. Senan. A impressive bell shrine from the island is on display be National Musuem (Leinster House campus). An actual bell (I don’t think it is the one from the shrine as it is only a few inches high) and a few other artifacts are on display in the British Musuem in London.

See attached for a couple of images of the tower.

Link to Scattery Visitor Centre website

This would be the most ridiculous decision they could make. 😮 There must be plenty of liffey front sites between the IFSC aand the point that would be way more suitable, on either the north or the south side of the city. Isn’t there already a potenial theatre site in the south side of the docklands that would appear ideal.

I still believe the most suitable site would be the Carlton site on O’Connell St and this would be the most significant statement about how serious Dublin & Ireland takes their national street and national theatre.

I would throw in one other site that is 95% likely to become available in the short to medium term is part of the Guinness site along the quays or even is part of the Collins Barrack Museum site that also has Luas access.

Graham you obviously have not been on the tour of the house yet as the OPW guides tell an interesting story about the trees at the front of the house. Orginally there were two trees planted by Prince Albert & Queen Victoria. I believe that Prince Albert’s died over a period of time. The second tree was planted by none other that the Pope John Paul II during his visit to Ireland.

The orginal Clement house was a Red brick house I believe. At the back of the house (the current front door) there was orginally no porch but a very interesting fanlight door which has been retained as part of the inner hall along with a barrel ceiling.

From the Áras website
There was major resistance to the use of Vice Regal Lodge as the official residence of the President. The power of the old associations still resonated throughout Irish society. Various houses were considered but found wanting. Particular attention was devoted to St. Anne’s in Clontarf, the former residence of Lady Ardilaun then occupied by Bishop Plunkett but when it was found that Dublin Corporation were negotiating with him for the acquisition of its gardens as a public park, the search continued elsewhere “Ashton” in Castleknock was considered and “South Hill” at Milltown but there was always some difficulty.

Finally, and with enormous reluctance, it was decided that Vice Regal Lodge would have to be used probably on a temporary basis. Its name was changed to Aras as Uachtarain and, in 1939, President Hyde planted a tree in the grounds, a symbolic act that initiated the new era that the house was about to experience as it became the permanent official residence of the Presidents of Ireland.

I for one am delighted that the Presidency remained in the Aras, alohough alas St Anne’s in clontaf met its own Waterloo. I think all that you have to do is visit nearby Ashtown Castle where they started to knock the third major house in the Park (20th century Papel Nunico’s house) only to discover a castle in the middle of it. Does anyone have a picture of this house?

I think it is a pity that there isn’t further promotion of the buildings within the Phoenix park as now there is almost an archectitural trail with the Aras, Ashtown & Farmleigh. Hoping some day the OPW will eventually restore the Magazine Fort buildings in the Park too. There are also some wonderful lodges throughout the park which I always think would make wonderful tea rooms.

One final interesting fact about the Irish Presidency that is not well published. DeValera apparently approached, the O’Brien, Lord Inchiquin, the apparent direct dessendant of Brian Boru, the last High King of Ireland to become the honorary leader of the Free State in the 1930s. Apparently he politely declined.