Gore’s vision lives on. Oldconnaught House stands as a testament to Ireland’s rich history. It is not just a building. It is a story etched in granite and slate.
Oldconnaught House, located in Rathmichael, County Dublin, is an 18th-century house with a fascinating past. Originally built for Bishop William Gore around 1784, Oldconnaught House has seen many changes. It embodies architectural, artistic, historical, and social significance.
Imagine Oldconnaught House in its original splendor. The house stood proudly overlooking rolling grounds with sea views. Killiney Hill and Bray Head framed the vista. It was a deliberate alignment maximizing panoramic views.
After Bishop Gore’s death in 1784, William Plunket leased Oldconnaught House. The Plunket family occupied it for generations. Lord William Conyngham Plunket was one-time Lord Chancellor of Ireland. The Plunket family has historic connections here.
Old Connaught’s architecture tells its own story. The symmetrical frontage centers on a pillared portico. The silver-grey granite shows good quality workmanship. Openings diminish in scale on each floor creating a graduated visual impression. The pediment embellishes a parapeted roofline. The architect used cut-granite detailing.
Around 1946, the Congregation of Christian Brothers bought Oldconnaught House. From 1946 to 1972, it served as a novitiate school. Later, the house remained unoccupied for several years. It was then leased to a non-profit equestrian organization.
Old Connaught House has eleven bays and two stories. It has a basement country house built between 1783 and 1784. It originally had nine bays. The rectangular plan features a symmetrical design. A three-bay pedimented breakfront stands out. A single-story prostyle tetrastyle Ionic portico graces the ground floor. The hipped slate roof sits on an elongated quadrangular plan. Rendered chimney stacks punctuate the roofline.
In the year 2000, Oldconnaught House was sold. It was renovated to accommodate alternative use. Today, it is a development of apartments. Twenty-four apartments are in the main house. Twenty-six more are in a separate building on the grounds.
Even with modern updates, Oldconnaught House retains its original character. The elementary form and massing survive intact. Quantities of original or replicated fabric remain both inside and outside.
The surrounding area adds to the historic value of Old Connaught. A farmyard complex and a walled garden contribute positively to the estate. Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council identified the townland as an Historic Landscape Character Area in their Draft County Development Plan 2022-2028.
Walking through Old Connaught today connects you to centuries of Irish history. You can almost hear echoes of laughter. Maybe snippets of philosophical discussion. Feel the weight of generations who lived within these walls. Oldconnaught House stands not just as a residence. It is a landmark. A place where the past and present intertwine. It is a privilege to experience this piece of Dublin’s heritage.