Mageough Home Explained

Mageough Home for Aged Females
Map Type:Dublin
Coordinates:53.3167°N -6.256°W
Etymology:Named for its founder, Elizabeth Mageough
Status:Active
Architectural Style:Victorian, Gothic Revival
Address:6 Cowper Road, Rathmines
Location Country:Ireland
Completion Date:1878
Opened Date:1878
Destruction Date:-->
Management:or
Operator:or
Governing Body:-->
Architect:James Rawson Carroll
Public Transit: Cowper

The Mageough Home for Aged Females, commonly known as the Mageough, is a 19th-century retirement home in Rathmines, southern Dublin, Ireland.[1]

History

The Mageough Home was built by the bequest of Miss Elizabeth Mageough, who died in 1869 and left much of her money to fund "a suitable place for elderly ladies of the Protestant faith to live." The home was built to the designs of James Rawson Carroll on land purchased from William Cowper-Temple, 1st Baron Mount Temple. The site was known locally as "The Bloody Fields";[2] 2,000 Catholic and Royalist troops had been killed by Roundheads and buried there during the Irish Confederate Wars.[3] The first residents moved in November 1878.[4] They were required to be "of good character and sobriety."[5] In 1883, Rev. Benjamin Gibson was chaplain, Richard J. Leeper was registrar and a Mrs Le Breton Simmons was lady superintendent.[6]

It is still run today as a residential complex for older people with 36 small homes.[7]

Structure

The complex is built of red brick and slate in a Gothic Revival style.[3] [8] Thirty-nine houses, an infirmary and a Church of Ireland chapel surround a central green.[9]

The houses, chapel, infirmary, gate lodge, stone boundary walls, gate piers and gates are all protected structures.[10]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Peter Pearson's Decorative Dublin. Peter. Pearson. Ian. Broad. October 27, 2002. Dufour Editions. 9780862787844 . Google Books.
  2. Book: Kelly, Deirdre Mary. Four Roads to Dublin: The History of Rathmines, Ranelagh and Leeson Street. October 27, 2001. O'Brien. 9780862787028 . Google Books.
  3. Web site: Rich pickings in Rathmines – the €2m Dublin 6 home inspired by high Victorian design. independent.
  4. Web site: The Mageough. www.mageough.ie.
  5. Book: Curtis, Maurice. The Little Book of Rathmines. April 5, 2019. The History Press. 9780750990233 . Google Books.
  6. Web site: Thom's Irish Almanac and Official Directory of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. October 27, 1883. Google Books.
  7. Web site: The Mageough. www.mageough.ie.
  8. Web site: CARROLL, JAMES RAWSON - Dictionary of Irish Architects. www.dia.ie.
  9. Book: Curtis, Maurice. The Little Book of Rathmines. April 5, 2019. The History Press. 9780750990233 . Google Books.
  10. Web site: Record of Protected Structures. Dublin City Council. Dublin City Council. January 2018.