Masonic Boys School, Dublin Explained

Masonic Boys School
Location:	Clonskeagh, Dublin
Country:	Ireland
Coordinates:	53.3113°N -6.2364°W
Established:	1867
Gender:	Male

The Masonic Boys School (sometimes Masonic Orphan Boys School) was a school in Dublin, Ireland which was originally established for the sons of deceased, or financially distressed, freemasons. It was directly supported by the Brethren of the Masonic Order and was in existence from 1867 until 1981.^{[1] [2]}

The school was located at Richview in Clonskeagh for most of its existence from 1885 to 1980 in what is as of 2023 the University College Dublin's School of Architecture.^{[3] [4] [5]}

History

Following the earlier establishment of the Masonic Female Orphan School of Ireland, the establishment of a boys school was decided upon at a meeting in Freemason's Hall on Molesworth Street on 16 April 1867.^{[6] [7]}

Sport at the school

The school won the Leinster Cricket Union Senior schools cup on a number of occasions in its history.^[8]

The school were runners-up in the Leinster Schools Junior Cup in Rugby on one occasion in 1927.

School campus

Adelaide Hall, Sandymount

The school was established in 1867 and originally operated from Adelaide Hall in Sandymount which it leased from 1873 but moved because of overcrowding to a new site at Richview Lodge in Clonskeagh in 1885.

Richview, Clonskeagh

After some alterations and extensions of Richview Lodge in the 1880s by the architect Sir Thomas Drew, the school finally commenced for the first time from the new campus at Richview, Clonskeagh on 16 January 1888.^{[9] [10] [11]}

In 1980, UCD bought Richview Lodge and its estate of 17.4 acres for £2.1million and the school closed soon after.^[12]

Notable alumni

• Alan Buchanan - Anglican bishop
• George Campbell RHA - painter
• Derek Fielding - author
• Edward Seymour - cricketer
• James Wills - cricketer

See also

• Grand Lodge of Ireland

Notes and References

1. Web site: Masonic Orphans Boys' School Dublin 1867 to 1892 . Irish Masonic History and the Jewels of Irish Freemasonry . 20 January 2023.
2. Web site: Masonic Orphan Boys School, Richview, Clonskeagh, Dublin, Co. Dublin QO-00412 . The Historical Picture Archive . 20 January 2023 . en.
3. Web site: School . Masonic Orphan Boys' . May election, 1910 : Masonic Orphan Boys' School. . [s.n.] . 20 January 2023 . 1910.
4. Web site: In Dublin, the Headquarters of the Irish Freemasons . universitytimes.ie . 20 January 2023.
5. Web site: Report of the Masonic Orphan Boys' School of Ireland, Richview, Clonskeagh, Dublin: With a List of the Governors of the Institution, Etc., for the Year 1921 . Cherry & Smalldridge . 20 January 2023 . en . 1922.
6. Web site: The Masonic Orphan Schools, Dublin . 20 January 2023.
7. Web site: Hill . Gerald B. . Farewell to Richview: Masonic Boys' School Dublin (1967-1980) : the Sequel to the School's History 'Shop Window to the World' . Masonic Old Boys Association . 9 March 2023 . en . 2011.
8. Web site: The Home of CricketArchive . cricketarchive.com . 20 January 2023.
9. Web site: 2. Richview's Masonic Past . Hidden History of UCD . 20 January 2023 . en . 27 April 2009.
10. Web site: Richview . 20 January 2023.
11. Web site: CO. DUBLIN, CLONSKEAGH, RICHVIEW (MASONIC BOYS' SCHOOL) Dictionary of Irish Architects - . www.dia.ie . 9 March 2023.
12. News: Gate lodge with a history for €1.15m . The Irish Times . 20 January 2023 . en.