|
|
Damer House
This prePalladian town house was built in the early 1720s within the castle
courtyard. Its surviving outstanding feature is the Queen Anne pine
handcarved staircase.
The house has had a chequered history: from eighteenth century private
residence to military barracks for all of the nineteenth century, and as a
preparatory school, sanatorium and technical school during the twentieth
century.
Threatened with demolition by the local authority in the late 1960s it was
saved by the Old Roscrea Society and the Irish Georgian Society and partial
restoration – the staircase was fully restored by the IGS - was carried out
in the 1970s.
The lease of the house (the annex had been leased to RHS in 1980 to allow
for its restoration) was handed over to the fledgling Heritage Society by
the Georgian Society in 1984/5. Due to dry and wet rot through the house
and annex major works were once again carried out by the RHS.
In 1999, a 35 year lease on the buildings was granted by RHS to the State,
through Dúchas, in return for a partnership agreement. It is hoped that the
necessary major structural works on the house will commence in the not too
distant future. Its use – whether as a museum, heritage centre or period
house – remains uncertain.
Hours of opening for Roscrea Castle Complex:
The following are the opening times and admission charges for
Roscrea Heritage - Mid-March to October Daily 10.00 - 18.00.
Last admission 45 mins before
closing.
Site open most weekends during winter period.
Site may be open for group bookings during Winter period by prior
arrangements. Telephone Mary O'Neill 087\2704032
Admission Charges - Adult - e3.10 Senior Citizen\Group - e2.20
Child\Student - e1.20 Family - e7.60. This charge includes a Guided Tour
of The Castle, Visit to Damer House and Exhibitions, and formal Gardens.
Acccess for visitors with disabilities is limited to the gardens only,
which is free of charge.
Facilities include Exhibitions, Toilets, Public car\coach park close to
Site.
For further information on Heritage Sites both in the Irish midlands and
throughout the State, visit Dúchas web site:
www.heritageireland.ie
Or find out more about our natural and built
heritage from the following:
Dúchas
Education and Visitor Service
Dept of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands
6 Ely Place Upper,
Dublin 2.
|
