Subfonds MAN - Manresa House, Dollymount, Dublin

Identity area

Reference code

IE IJA CM/MAN

Title

Manresa House, Dollymount, Dublin

Date(s)

  • 1947-2020 (Creation)

Level of description

Subfonds

Extent and medium

3 boxes

Context area

Archival history

Material collected by Irish Jesuits.

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Content and structure area

Scope and content

The present community house at Manresa was originally known as Granby Hall and then as Baymount Castle, being at one time the residence of Dr Traill, a northern Church of Ireland Bishop. Renovated in 1838 by Robert Warren, it was later owned by the Irish Loreto Sisters who had a school there. Gutted by fire in 1851, the Sisters had it renovated again, sold it, and moved to Balbriggan.
In 1898 it became the property of Lord Ardilaun, a member of the Guinness family and owner of the adjoining St Anne’s estate. About the beginning of the First World War, William Lucas Scott opened a preparatory school for boys which continued until 1936, when it was acquired by John T Gwynn, of the well-known literary family (relative of Jesuit Aubrey Gwynn). In 1948 the Archbishop of Dublin asked the Jesuits to establish a northside retreat house, and Baymount Castle, with its 17 acres, was bought by them.

Retreats began in 1949. Construction of a new retreat house began in 1966 to the design of architect Andrew Devane of the firm Robinson, Keefe and Devane; it was opened in 1967. In 1969, the Irish Jesuit novitiate moved from St Mary's, Emo Court, County Laois to Manresa, where it was situated until 1991.

The papers of Manresa House, Dollymount, Dublin concern the early history of the house, financial issues, building and development, retreat work and the horse show at Manresa (1963-1973). There are references to the artworks of Richard Enda King and Evie Hone. Material is in the form of letters, ledgers, architectural plans, maps and photographs.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

All items retained permanently.

Accruals

System of arrangement

Material was catalogued in 2004, 2009, and 2016.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

The Irish Jesuit Archives are open only to bona fide researchers. Access by advance appointment. Further details: archivessj@gmail.com

Conditions governing reproduction

No material may be reproduced without the written permission of the Archivist. Copyright restrictions apply. Photocopying is not available. Digital photography is at the discretion of the Archivist.

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Allied materials area

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Publication note

Brennan, Fr Richard SJ, ‘Novices move house’, Jesuit Year Book, pp40-46, 1971.

Publication note

Jesuits., and Jesuit Seminary Association. Just Faith!: The Irish Jesuit: Jesuit Beginnings Today. Dublin: Jesuit Novitiate, 1981.

Publication note

Kearns, Fr Laurence SJ, ‘Manresa House’, Irish Jesuit Directory and Year Book, pp138-142, 1949.

Publication note

Ruddy, Bernardine, ‘Baymount Castle, Clontarf’, Dublin Historical Record, pp. 171-181.Vol. LIX, No.2, 2006.

Publication note

Symondson, Anthony, ‘A New Setting for Ewe Hone's Rahan Windows’, Irish Arts Review Yearbook, p. 205, Vol. 11, 1995.

Notes area

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Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

2020

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Sources

Archivist's note

Clara Burke, May 2020.

Accession area

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