Beyond the modern bustle of Tallaght lies Oldbawn. It’s a place whispered to have once been a world of its own. Oldbawn’s name itself echoes its history. “An Seanbháthán” in Irish, meaning “cattle-stronghold” or “cattle-enclosure”. This tells us about a time when protection and livestock were paramount. Imagine Oldbawn in 1635. Archdeacon William Bulkeley, son of Archbishop Launcelot Bulkeley, built Old Bawn House. This wasn’t just any house. It was a statement, one of the first Irish houses not built primarily for defense. Can you picture the “H” shaped structure? Its high-pointed gables and twelve chimneys must have been a sight. Inside, a magnificent chimneypiece stretched towards the ceiling, depicting the building of the walls of Jerusalem. A carved oak staircase added to the grandeur. These treasures now reside in the National Museum of Ireland. Outside, pleasure gardens offered a tranquil escape. These gardens, though later neglected, survived until 1900. A wide fosse with a drawbridge protected the house. Southward, a sprawling garden boasted walkways, ponds, and trees. The rebellion of 1641 brought damage to Old Bawn House, but it was quickly restored. The estate changed hands, eventually belonging to Lady Tynte who leased it. In 1830, the McDonnell family purchased Old Bawn and established a paper mill behind the house. The once grand house sadly declined in the early 1900s. It became a storehouse during the 1960s developments before its final demolition. Now, St. Maelruan’s school occupies the site. Oldbawn itself transformed from a small village of a few hundred in the mid-19th century to a bustling suburb of nearly 14,000. The construction of the Old Bawn Housing Estate in the 1970s by McInerney Homes significantly contributed to this expansion. Oldbawn, from “cattle-stronghold” to modern suburb, whispers tales of centuries past.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to