Granada
NAME Riversdale/Granada
AREA LOCATION STILLORGAN
MAP LOCATION OSI maps of 1838-1845 and 1898-1913 place it in the townland of Stillorgan Park
on both.
GENERAL Two storey non basement house on approx 13 acres in 1830 and 1849 and 1855.
Charles McDermott was the lessee from 1855 to 1880 and sometimes occupier but it was leased out
for many short periods. It was for sale in 1920 described as a castellated two storey non basement
residence. It had a conservatory and a vinery and it had a billiard room and man's room. It also
had stabling for four horse, a coach house with a gatelodge and a broad avenue. The name of the
Riversdale was changed in 1964 to Granada reflecting the birthplace of the order of St John of God
in 1539. It 1920 it was set on 14.5 acres and described as a castellated, two storey, non basement
house. It was also noted that it had a new entrance with a gatelodge.
In 2017 the house underwent major refurbishment and the entire external plaster was removed
and under the direction of an Archaeological Architect it was re-plastered with a “breathable”
render which needed a year to dry and was repainted in 2019.
YEAR BUILT circa 1778
VALUATION In 1912 the valuation was 77 Stg and in the 1901 census it is noted as having 19 rooms
occupied by the family, but by 1911 it is no longer considered a 1st class house and it
seems to have been divided into two residences.
ARCHITECT Unknown
SOURCES Thom’s directories, contemporaneous newspapers, NAI Census, Registry of Deeds, OSI
Maps & Valuation Office and Brother Finnian Gallagher & Brother Kilian Keaney of John
of God Hospitaller Services.
OCCUPANTS
1778 Eliza & Mary Ryves
1830 - 1836 Benjamin Ball
1837 John Wilson Barlow
1840 Leased to Michael Harris….Guinness
1840 - 1841 Hon Major Arthur Francis Southwell
1841 Robert Doyne
1842 Elizabeth Jane Doyne
1846 - 1850 Edward Reynolds
1849 - 1850 Roderick Reynolds
1854 -1855 Mark Cardiff Esq.
1856 Robert Perse Esq.
1855 - 1880 Charles Joseph McDermott
1857 - 1859 Alexander McMahon Esq.
1864 - 1865 Clement Edwards
1869 George Berg, Op. Dr (Excm)
1870 - 1871 Carleton N Atkinson
1873 - 1874 Ralph Budd
1875 Edw J Darys Esq.
1877 - 1878 Thomas Farrell Esq.
1879 Vacant
1880 - 1882 John McClelland, Insp. Gen of Hosp
1883 - 1888 Vacant
1889 - 1893 Robert McLaren Esq.
1894 - 1896 M J O Farrell Esq., solicitor (see death of father in law Patrick O'Connor in 1894)
1897 - 1900 Vacant
1900 - 1915 Gerald O’Reilly
1920 House For Sale
1916 - 1925 Francis Patrick Walsh
1926 Contents of house for sale
1926 - 1948 Mrs Harriet Bewley
1947 For sale on 14.5 Acres
1948 - 1954 William J Ahern of Ballsbridge
1954 - todate St John of Gods
2017 Refurbished
STAFF
1849 Mary Hanly - Gatekeeper
1871 William Donnelly - Gardener
1876 Daniel Finlay - Coachman living at the gatelodge
1877 James Sullivan - Coachman
1901 Paul Kelly - Apprentice
Margaret Heslim - Cook
1911 Ellen Murphy - General Domestic Servant
CURRENT
STATUS Extant and under refurbishment in 2017
CONTRIBUTOR © June Bow & Karen Poff
DATE May 2017