Genealogy research by Mark Humphrys.
Genealogy research by Mark Humphrys.
Merrion Castle stood opposite Merrion gates, in the grounds of what is now St.Mary's School for the Blind.
It was
abandoned by
5th Viscount Fitzwilliam
1710.
Merrion Castle had sunk into decay by 1729.
This was reported in
Walsh's Impartial News Letter, Dublin, 16 May 1729,
which is a continuation of the
Dublin Mercury.
Can't find surviving copy.
This was reported in the
Flying Post, Dublin, 16 May 1729.
Can't find surviving copy.
The ruins of Merrion Castle were described by Austin Cooper in 1780,
and were being removed in 1780-81.
But a ruin survived for many years.
A new building called "Merrion Castle"
was built at the site.
[Pettigrew & Oulton, 1834]
shows "Merrion Castle" occupied by "Lady Harberton".
MERRION
in
[Lewis, 1837]
lists "Francis Low" at the new Merrion Castle,
and says the ruin of the old medieval castle
is in the grounds:
"In the demesne of Merrion Castle are the ivied ruins of the old castle
from which it derives its name".
[Pettigrew & Oulton, 1838]
shows Merrion Castle occupied by "Francis Lowe".
The
entry
for "Old Merrion"
under MERRION in
[Thom's, 1852]
shows Francis Low at the new Merrion Castle,
"in the grounds of which .. are the ivied ruins of the castle of the ancient proprietors."
The
Sisters of Charity
set up a home and school for the blind at Merrion Castle,
starting in 1865.
Page 470
in
[Blacker, 1860-74]
says that the new "Merrion Castle"
became
St.Mary's Asylum for the Female Blind
in 1865
and "additions on an extensive scale"
were then made to the building.
[Smyth, 1994]
says the ruin of the old medieval castle
was only fully removed around 1866.
[Wilkinson, 1925]
says:
"No vestige remains of the old castle, but some of the stone may have been used
in building the Asylum for Female Blind which now occupies the site".
The site is now
St.Mary's Centre.
A medieval stone plaque, bearing the Fitzwilliam coat of arms,
survives
at the site.
A medieval stone head
also survives.
There is an area of residences at St.Mary's called "Fitzwilliam".
"Merryoung" (Merrion) on
Map of Dublin bay, 1685.
E (sea) is down.
See full size.
Merrion and Merrion graveyard on
John Rocque's map of Dublin, 1757.
Merrion Castle existed as a large ruin at this time.
It must be the complex beside the stream, with the small bridge over it.
To the NW are "Lord Merrion's Brick Fields".
To the SE is
Booterstown.
Merrion is visible (but not marked)
in
[Taylor and Skinner, 1777].
It is at the end of the road leading to the coast.
E is up.
Merrion
in
[Taylor and Skinner, 1777].
Merrion ("Merryon")
on map of
Dublin Bay, 1798.
On display at
National Maritime Museum,
Dun Laoghaire.
W is up.
"Butters Town" is
Booterstown.
See
full size
and
other shot.
Merrion ("Merryon")
on other copy of same map.
From South Dublin Libraries,
which however thinks it is a map of 1728.
See full size.
Merrion Castle site on
1829 to 1842 map.
There is a new "Merrion Castle" building at the site.
Ordnance Survey of Ireland map.
Date created: 1865.
From here.
The castle site is marked.
Merrion Castle site on
1887 to 1913 map.
Elm Park Stream
still flows today through the grounds.
Modern
satellite view.
Site of castle is around front door of
St.Mary's School for the Blind.
Modern
street view.
Site of castle is around front door (porch) of
St.Mary's School for the Blind.
Site of castle is around front door (porch) of
St.Mary's School for the Blind.
Photo 2012.
See full size.
The Merrion Castle stream heading towards the sea.
From the bridge above.
Photo 2012.
See full size.
See other shot.
The Merrion Castle stream.
From the bridge above, looking away from the sea (to the W).
Photo 2012.
See full size.
See other shot.
The Merrion Castle stream (Elm Park Stream)
flowing through Elm Park golf club
to the W.
From Google Maps.
St.Mary's (on RHS) from Merrion strand,
showing on LHS where the Merrion Castle stream flows into the sea.
Photo 2000.
Once the castle would have been the only building visible
in this shot.
Detail of 1757 map above.
Shows the laneway beside the graveyard existed then.
Merrion graveyard on
1829 to 1842 map.
Merrion graveyard.
Photo 1999.
Merrion graveyard.
Photo 2010.
See full size.
From Wikimedia Commons.
Merrion graveyard.
Photo 2021.
See larger
and full size.
See other shot.
See other shot.
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