Front of Gortmore from the Carmelite website
Gortmore
NAME Gortmore later Gort Muire
AREA LOCATION Wyckham Place, Balally, Dublin 16
MAP LOCATION OSI maps of 1838-1845 and 1898-1913 place it in the townland of Balally
but it is only annotated as Gortmore on the later map.
GENERAL The house was owned by William Ridgeway in 1810. When William died
in 1817, the house was up for lease until his son William reached his majority. It was on 33
acres in 1818 and 8 acres in 1887. A small house with a well laid out garden, it was the property
of Richard Atkinson by 1857 who had a new house designed for him in 1858 by John Skipton
Mulvany. In 1883 Edward Burke installed electricity, powered by a gas motor in the house.
During his time at Gortmore he made a lot of improvements including the installation of an oak
staircase which had his initials carved in and oak panelling to the study, both of which survive to
this day. In 1895 it was for sale by J G Nutting and for sale again in 1906 with immediate possession.
It was described at this time as a picturesque and well built mansion on 56 acres. It was approached
by a long carriage drive and lodge. It had twelve bedroom and dressing rooms, two bathrooms,
large dining and drawing rooms, boudoir, study, a music room with a pipe organ, a billiard room
and a conservatory with a miniature waterfall. Outside there were domestic offices, extensive
modern stabling, steward's house and farm buildings. The pleasure gardens had a water tower,
ornamental waterfall with lake and shrubberies and lawns with miles of walks. It also had electric
light, gas and a water supply.
In 1929 Lady Redmond sold Gortmore and the furniture and effects were put up for sale, however
this auction was cancelled at the new owner agreed to buy all. There were four cottages attached
to the estate, one a gatelodge and another a steward's lodge which survived until the late 1990s. The
gatelodge survives albeit cut off from the main house by Wyckham Way and is a protected structure,
as are the gates and the water tower.
YEAR BUILT New house built for Richard Atkinson circa 1858.
VALUATION In the 1901 census it is noted as having 35 rooms occupied by family.
No valuation found.
ARCHITECT John Skipton Mulvany
SOURCES Thom's, contemporaneous newspapers, NAI Census & Wills, OSI Maps, South
Dublin Historical Mapping.
OCCUPANTS
1810 - 1817 William Ridgeway
1824 William Ridgeway
1825 George Fitzpatrick
1838 - 1841 William Ridgeway
1857 - 1871 Richard Atkinson
1871 - 1877 Mary Jane Atkinson
1878 - 1887 Edward F Burke
1888 - 1895 John Gardiner Nutting (brother in law of the above)
1896 - 1903 Richard J Mecredy
1904 - 1905 Vacant
1906 - 1913 Dr Joseph Michael Redmond
1911 - 1929 Lady Elizabeth Oswaldina Redmond
1906 - 1913 Oswald L Hegarty (son of Lady Redmond)
1929 - 1943 Lefroy family
1944 todate Carmelite - School of Studies
2007 Wyckham Point (500+ apartments) built in the grounds
STAFF
1886 - 1895 Edward John Knowldin - Gardener
1899 Annie Fitzsimons
1901 Edith Amos - Governess
Mabel Richards - Secretary
Kate Kavanagh - Parlourmaid
Kate Phillips - Cook
Emelie Monjonet - Nurse
Mary O'Brien - Housemaid
Patrick Murphy - Gardener
1910 William Murphy - Gardner
1911 John Murray - Butler
Mary Hayden - Cook
Bridget Deane - Housemaid
Marcella Winder - Kitchenmaid
Anne Mills - Laundress
Charles Tully - Steward & Gardener
1911 - 1913 Thomas Tobin living in one of the estate cottages
1911 - 1917 Bartholomew Hyland - Chauffeur
1924 Thomas Noone - Chauffeur
1929 - 1932 Edward Mason - Gardener
1938 Edward Kelly - Gardener
CURRENT
STATUS Extant and a protected structure
CONTRIBUTOR © June Bow & Karen Poff
DATE November 2019