lordiveagh

Apologies for the delay in posting this morning, I had a long visit from the Bad Panda's and they could not take the hint and go home again!

Streetview The trees have grown a bit in the intervening years.

Situated beside St. Patrick's Cathedral, tradition has it that St. Patrick baptised the first Irish Christians there with water from the River Poddle which flows underground. Developed by Lord Iveagh under the St. Patrick's Park Act of 1897, work was completed by July 1904 to a layout by Arthur Dudgeon C.E., dated 17th July 1901. Lord Iveagh continued to maintain the park for a number of years under a joint arrangement with the Corporation who eventually took full responsibility in the 1920's. From: www.dublincity.ie/main-menu-services-recreation-culture-d...

From looking at older maps it seems that the building of the park required the clearance of a significant block of buildings.

The park at the NIAH.

Wonderful! In a past life I used to work on St Stephen's Green, just a few doors away from Iveagh House. I remember reading years ago in a book of ghost stories that tradition held that a ghostly cross appeared at one of the windows every Holy Thursday. I've heard at least two explainations for it. The first is that a Catholic servant died in one of the rooms and was refused permission for a visit from a priest by the Protestant owners. The apparition of the cross is said to be a reminder of that injustice. The second is that one of the Guinness family was dying and was being assisted at her deathbed by a Catholic nurse who held a crucifix. Lord Iveagh, we are told, snatched away the crucifix and flung it out the window. I'm not sure if anyone goes to look for the cross any more. I heard somewhere that a crowd used to gather on Holy Thursday to spot it. I suppose a trick of the light is the most likely explaination. Has anyone ever seen it?

Bernard Healy I have not! Though will keep an eye out for it in future...

Sometimes Flickr is amazing! In 2016 (including bollards) via Michael Foley, who has a fantastic album of interior shots which will delight Morning Mary - From his album - www.flickr.com/photos/michaelfoleyphotography/albums/7215...

I see the lovely Elinor Wiltshire took at least six photos of this facade for some reason. All the photos manage to cut off the top of the building, and show a good deal of road and parking spaces. Was her viewfinder skew-whiff?

Bernard Healy There is a great photo in the Catalogue from the Morgan Aerial Photographic Collection NPA MOR630 which shows Iveagh Gardens and the back of the house.