Ardmore House
The Belfield Campus is known for its parkland setting and mature landscaping, much of which is influenced by the 19th century landscape still evident through original period houses, archaeological features, woodland boundaries, tree avenues, and walled gardens. Since the 1930’s, the Belfield Campus has taken shape through the purchase of some of Dublin’s finest period houses and estates. The modern campus takes pride in its links to the past and provides an important amenity to students, staff and the local community.
The Ardmore estate first appears on an 1866 Taney parish map, showing a summer house on either side of the main house, and a footbridge marked over a stream which flows toward Dublin Bay. It was previously known as Belview and seen at the periphery of the former Belfield and Belgrove estates.
Built c.1800, Belview was a typical example of a 19th century country villa. Extensions built in the late 1800’s incorporated a balustraded Corinthian porch and bow ends, generating the building we see today as Ardmore House. With two storeys over basement the villa once boasted ten bedrooms and two fine reception rooms and incorporates a grand Victorian staircase.
In 1948 the government Department for Post and Telegraphs acquired the Ardmore estate with 20 acres to develop a new broadcasting house. Around the same time, UCD bought the former Montrose estate on 23 acres. In 1957, UCD swapped the Montrose estate for Ardmore House and associated lands.
Recent renovation of the ground floor reception rooms enables their use for meetings and small functions. This work forms an initial phase of the overall redevelopment of Ardmore House, which in time will provide additional reception and meeting facilities while improving accessibility, welfare and administration support.
Booking arrangements are through the Commercial, Residential and Hospitality Services at Tel. 01-716-1205.
