Sans Souci?
NAME Sans Souci
AREA LOCATION STILLORGAN, Its main entrance was located south off the entrance of
St Helen's (Radisson) on what is now the N11.
MAP LOCATION OSI maps of 1838-1845 and 1898-1913 place it in the townland of
Booterstown and it is annotated as Sans Souci on both. Entrance from
Stillorgan Road and Booterstown Avenue.
GENERAL This is a possible image of Sans Souci. The house had two fronts, extensive
stabling, coach houses, a lock up yard and a observatory tower. Three storey, seven bay over
basement residence. In 1781 Peter La Touche was letting it on 30 acres, the lease was held
from Lord Fitzwilliam which had 58 years unexpired. Over 60 outhouses were reported on the
1911 census. The house was approached by gates that now form the entrance to St Helens. In
1836 the house was 'For sale' on 35 acres, fully furnished enclosed by high walls following the
death of Robert Roe, a Dublin merchant who had declined many offers of being a representative
of Dublin in parliament but remained as honorary treasurer of the Chamber of Council of Dublin.
Sans Souci (from the French without worry/carefree) had a second entrance and gatelodge on
Booterstown Avenue created after Cross Avenue was built. During the hurricane of 1839 many
of the ancient elm trees at San Souci were uprooted. These were part of the garden designed
by the landscape gardener Gabriel Griffin in 1769. It was the site of the shooting of Kevin
O'Higgins who was found lying by a 'lamppost outside the gates of the house Sans Souci, which
directly faces up Cross Avenue'.
YEAR BUILT circa 1750
VALUATION In 1912 the valuation was 184 pounds and in the 1911 census it is noted
as having 22 rooms occupied by family.
ARCHITECT Unknown, additional wing added between 1801 and 1803 designed by the
architect Richard Morrison.
SOURCES Thom’s directories, contemporaneous Newspapers, Griffith's valuation, NAI
Census & Wills and OSI Maps.
OCCUPANTS
1760 - 1781 Sir Humphrey Butler, 1st Earl of Lanesborough
1781 - 1779 Brinsley Butler, 2nd Earl of Lanesborough
1780 - 1788 Earl of Lanesborough - Robert Herbert Butler married to Elizabeth La Touche, daughter of David
1789 - 1803 William Digges La Touche
1804 - 1827 James Digges La Touche
1828 - 1836 Robert Roe
1837 - 1838 To be Sold or Let
1839 - 1840 Patrick Sweetman
1842 - 1870 Richard Pearce O'Reilly, M.D.
1870 - 1920 Joseph Richard O'Reilly
1920 - 1936 Mrs J R O'Reilly (Frances)
1926 Acquired by the Irish Christian Brothers together with St Helens
1937 Sale of furniture
1937 - 1948 Vacant
1941 Gate lodge demolished.
1948 House Demolished
1953 San Souci Park (Housing Estate built)
STAFF
1830 Mr Hessian - Gardener
1849 Andrew Crigley - Gateporter
1882 Arthur Byrne - Domestic Servant
1895 Patrick Lawless - Labourer
1901 Bridget Bryan - Cook
Julia Byrne - Kitchenmaid
Mary Brady - Housemaid
Florence Cook - Children's maid
James McLoughlin - Butler
Thomas Ryan - Coachman
Denis Fallon - Groom
1911 William Lawless - Butler
Patrick Lawlor - Coachman
Bridget Brien - Cook
Susan Hanohoe - Housemaid
Mary Hughes - Laundress
Mary Bennett - Kitchenmaid
1937 - 1948 Jason Mulvaney, caretaker living at gatelodge
CURRENT
STATUS No longer extant..
CONTRIBUTOR © June Bow & Karen Poff
DATE Updated March 2017