Photograph courtesy of Brother Kilian, St John of God Hospitaller
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Stillorgan Castle
NAME Eagle House/Mount Eagle/Stillorgan Castle/House of St John of God
AREA LOCATION STILLORGAN,
MAP LOCATION OSI maps of 1838-1845 and 1898-1913 place it in the townland of
Stillorgan Park and it is annotated as Stillorgan Castle and House
of St John of God respectively.
GENERAL Frequently noted as the site where the Wolverstones lived and
where Stillorgan Manor House was, but the Manor lands were more likely to have been
at the site of Stillorgan Park House as per Rev N Donnelly DD (Lord Bishop of Canea).
It it thought to have been known as Mount Eagle or Eagle House locally as it had three
stone eagles mounted on the roof. There is also some evidence that it was colloquially
known as The House of Lords during the tenure of Henry Deane Grady due to his
daughters having all made extremely good matches.
In 1836 it was to let or the interest in the lease sold on 20 acres. It was described as a
first rate residence with four reception rooms, a library and billiard room with six
bedrooms. There were water closets and servants accommodation in the basement.
It was again for sale in 1842/3 on 23 acres (37 statute acres) and advertised by Guinness
& Mahon as being suitable for a family of distinction.
It was purchased in 1882 by the Brothers of St John of God as a "House of Retreat for
the old and the Invalid" and enlarged using granite from the Dublin mountains near
Stepaside. A cemetery was opened in 1884. It was further enlarged in 1890 when a
community wing and chapel were added. On the 25th November 1908 it burned to the
ground. Fire appliances arrived from Blackrock, Tara Street and Mr Talbot Power of
Leopardstown Park came to their aid with his own fire appliance. Offers of help came
rolling in from various local owners to help including Dr Peacocke and Marcus
Goodbody of Obelisk Park. The fire was thought to have started by a spark from a
chimney which ignited the clock tower. By 1911 a new building had emerged from the
ashes, little survived the fire and what did survive was subsequently damaged. However
the largest of the three eagles survived and was restored, and is now situated close to the
church.
In 1977 part of the land fronting on to the road was acquired by Dublin County Council for the
new Dual Carriageway. The gatelodge and swimming pool were demolished and the railings
were moved to St John of God Islandbridge. A semi circular drive was installed at this point.
YEAR BUILT circa 1820
VALUATION In 1910 the valuation was 540 pounds and in the 1901 census it was home to
118 persons and had 94 windows to the front.
ARCHITECT Original building unknown. 1913 Chapel - Mr Thomas Kinsella, windows by
Early & Co Dublin.
SOURCES Thom’s directories, Registry of Deeds, contemporaneous newspapers, Griffith's
Valuation, NAI Census & Wills, F E Ball and OSI Maps.
OCCUPANTS
Manor lands occupants if this is the site of original manor house.
John De Clahill
Raymond De Carew
Hacketts
1360 Sir John Cruise
1405 John Derpatrick
1410 Robert Derpatrick
1422 John Loghenan
Plunketts
Wingfields
1587 Wolverstons
1670 O’Neills
Known Occupants
1795 - 1808 William Monck Mason
1809 - 1858 Henry Deane Grady
1846 - 1858 Captain Robert Deane Grady
1858 - 1882 David Sherlock
1867 - 1868 Robert William Hillas
1882 - todate The Brothers of St John Of God
STAFF
1849 John Doyle, Gatekeeper
1851 Susan Bennett - Nurse
1901 James Dolan - Lodge keeper
1904 - 1953 William Traynor - living at gatelodge
1904 - 1971 Esther Traynor - living at gatelodge
CURRENT
STATUS Extant and in use as a hospital by St John of God Hospitaller.
CONTRIBUTORS ©June Bow & Karen Poff
DATE May 2017
NAME Eagle House/Mount Eagle/Stillorgan Castle/House of St John of God
AREA LOCATION STILLORGAN,
MAP LOCATION OSI maps of 1838-1845 and 1898-1913 place it in the townland of
Stillorgan Park and it is annotated as Stillorgan Castle and House
of St John of God respectively.
GENERAL Frequently noted as the site where the Wolverstones lived and
where Stillorgan Manor House was, but the Manor lands were more likely to have been
at the site of Stillorgan Park House as per Rev N Donnelly DD (Lord Bishop of Canea).
It it thought to have been known as Mount Eagle or Eagle House locally as it had three
stone eagles mounted on the roof. There is also some evidence that it was colloquially
known as The House of Lords during the tenure of Henry Deane Grady due to his
daughters having all made extremely good matches.
In 1836 it was to let or the interest in the lease sold on 20 acres. It was described as a
first rate residence with four reception rooms, a library and billiard room with six
bedrooms. There were water closets and servants accommodation in the basement.
It was again for sale in 1842/3 on 23 acres (37 statute acres) and advertised by Guinness
& Mahon as being suitable for a family of distinction.
It was purchased in 1882 by the Brothers of St John of God as a "House of Retreat for
the old and the Invalid" and enlarged using granite from the Dublin mountains near
Stepaside. A cemetery was opened in 1884. It was further enlarged in 1890 when a
community wing and chapel were added. On the 25th November 1908 it burned to the
ground. Fire appliances arrived from Blackrock, Tara Street and Mr Talbot Power of
Leopardstown Park came to their aid with his own fire appliance. Offers of help came
rolling in from various local owners to help including Dr Peacocke and Marcus
Goodbody of Obelisk Park. The fire was thought to have started by a spark from a
chimney which ignited the clock tower. By 1911 a new building had emerged from the
ashes, little survived the fire and what did survive was subsequently damaged. However
the largest of the three eagles survived and was restored, and is now situated close to the
church.
In 1977 part of the land fronting on to the road was acquired by Dublin County Council for the
new Dual Carriageway. The gatelodge and swimming pool were demolished and the railings
were moved to St John of God Islandbridge. A semi circular drive was installed at this point.
YEAR BUILT circa 1820
VALUATION In 1910 the valuation was 540 pounds and in the 1901 census it was home to
118 persons and had 94 windows to the front.
ARCHITECT Original building unknown. 1913 Chapel - Mr Thomas Kinsella, windows by
Early & Co Dublin.
SOURCES Thom’s directories, Registry of Deeds, contemporaneous newspapers, Griffith's
Valuation, NAI Census & Wills, F E Ball and OSI Maps.
OCCUPANTS
Manor lands occupants if this is the site of original manor house.
John De Clahill
Raymond De Carew
Hacketts
1360 Sir John Cruise
1405 John Derpatrick
1410 Robert Derpatrick
1422 John Loghenan
Plunketts
Wingfields
1587 Wolverstons
1670 O’Neills
Known Occupants
1795 - 1808 William Monck Mason
1809 - 1858 Henry Deane Grady
1846 - 1858 Captain Robert Deane Grady
1858 - 1882 David Sherlock
1867 - 1868 Robert William Hillas
1882 - todate The Brothers of St John Of God
STAFF
1849 John Doyle, Gatekeeper
1851 Susan Bennett - Nurse
1901 James Dolan - Lodge keeper
1904 - 1953 William Traynor - living at gatelodge
1904 - 1971 Esther Traynor - living at gatelodge
CURRENT
STATUS Extant and in use as a hospital by St John of God Hospitaller.
CONTRIBUTORS ©June Bow & Karen Poff
DATE May 2017