Ligouri House
Building History
Ligouri House was originally built in 1804 by John Joshua Proby in the coastal village of Blackrock. Created the 1st Earl of Carysfort in 1789, John Joshua also became a Peer in the UK in 1801 under the title of Baron Carysfort of the Norman Cross. John Joshua died in 1828 and was succeeded by his son John Proby, 2nd Earl of Carysfort.
Formerly known as Carysfort Park, the house was leased to Judge William Saurin. The property was later acquired in 1891 by Mother Ligouri Keenan, Sister of Mercy and was run as an industrial school until 1903. The red brick buildings were added just before the turn of the century. It later became Carysfort Training College. The property was substantially developed to include the Novitiate, East and West Hall Residence buildings by the 1930’s. The Carysfort Training College continued its expansion in the 1970’s with the addition of restaurant, sports and other academic facilities to the campus, however the training of national school teachers in the college at Carysfort ceased in the summer of 1988.
In 1991, the UCD graduate school of business moved to the dedicated campus at Blackrock. The UCD Michael Smurfit School of Business is Ireland’s top business school, one of the best in Europe and ranked among the highest in the World. Since 1991, the house itself remained out of general use due to building condition and safety issues. However after considerable renovation in 2005 Ligouri House once again became an active and vibrant household.
Building Description
Today, Ligouri House sits within the 20-acre parkland campus which offers a mature, friendly and relaxed atmosphere appropriate to this period house. Formerly known as the Grey House, the house is three storeys over basement with a bow bay to the east façade while the front elevation overlooks Dublin bay. An impressive flight of granite steps lead to the entrance porch which is Palladian in style with tetrastyle portico. The house includes an impressive entrance hall, reception rooms and features typical of a house of this era, including spacious rooms, high ceilings with ornate cornicing, marble fireplaces and sash windows. Rather unusually, the drawing room has gently curved niches on either side of the fireplace.
Restoration Works
Under the careful supervision of Fitzgerald Kavanagh, the extensive redevelopment of Ligouri House required the replacement of the cement render façade with St-Astier lime and Wexford sand, with oxide in a warm pink brown hue. This breathable overcoat has enhanced the appearance and health of the building. Careful restoration of original internal features included stabilising and conserving the decorative ceilings, reinstatement of doors, floors and stairs while removing unsympathetic partitions and other ad-hoc developments.
A parterre sunken garden has been restored to a Victorian scheme and flourishes today within the environs of Ligouri House, offering a picturesque setting for this period piece.
Current Building Use
Ligouri House currently offers receptions facilities for the university and accommodation for visiting staff. This is a unique period residence of enormous character which has been completely refurbished, modernised and upgraded in recent years. Enjoying a partially secluded and tranquil setting amidst the charming mature campus within walking distance from the village of Blackrock, the function of Ligouri House has been returned to that of residence as in the days of John Joshua Proby.
Project Timeline
The refurbishment of Ligouri House at the Blackrock Campus was completed in 2005.
