Curragh Chase, Adare, Co Limerick – ‘lost’ 

Mark Bence-Jones. A Guide to Irish Country Houses (originally published as Burke’s Guide to Country Houses volume 1 Ireland by Burke’s Peerage Ltd. 1978); Revised edition 1988 Constable and Company Ltd, London.

“(de Vere, a sub Hunt/ LGI1912; De Vere, sub Inchiquin, B/PB) A large house of two storeys over a basement with two adjoining fronts. The shorter of two is C18, by a Limerick architect, with two bays on either side of a central three sided bow; lower storey windows with shouldered architraves and simple entablatures; upper storey windows with shouldered architraves on console brackets. The longer front is early C19, probably added 1829 by Sir Aubrey de Vere, 2^nd Bt (author of Julian the Apostate and The Duke of Mercia), to the design of an English architect, Amon Henry Wilds; of 11 bays, the three end bays on either side breaking forward; it is plain, except for prominent quoins, and has a curved bow at one end. A terrace with a broad flight of steps leading up to it runs along the whole length of the front, concealing the basement. Large library. The house is what Mr James Lees-Milne describes as “one of the most remote and romantic settings conceivable”; above a reed-fringed lake with woods stretching away to distant hills. The landscape was largely created by Sir Aubrey de Vere, 2^nd Bt, with whom, in the words of his son, the C19 Catholic poet Aubrey de Vere, “landscape gardenings was one mode of taking out the poetry which was so deeply seated within him.” Aubrey de Vere was born here and though only a younger son, lived here for most of his long life; dying here at the age of 87 in the same small room which he had occupied as a child. His friend, Tennyson, often came to visit him here; and while here he wrote Clara Lady Vere de Vere. Curragh Chase passed to a great-nephew of Aubrey de Vere, R.S.V. O’Brien, of the Inchiquin family, who assumed the name of de Vere. The house was gutted by fire 1941 the ruin and its surrmoundings are now kept in good order by the Dept of Lands, which maintains the demesne as well as a forest park.” 

Featured in Mark Bence Jones, Life in an Irish Country House. Constable, London. 1996. 

On An Taisce Buildings at Risk register 

Listed in Vanishing Country Houses of Ireland by The Knight of Glin, David J. Griffin and Nicholas K. Robinson, published by The Irish Architectural Archive and The Irish Georgian Society, 1988. 

On An Taisce Buildings at Risk register 

https://www.antaisce.org/buildingsatrisk/curraghchase-house-adare

• Vacant with no identified new use 

• Suffering from neglect and/or poor maintenance 

• Fire damaged 

Assessment 

• Condition of Structure: Poor 

• Level of Risk: High 

Appraisal 

This building has been vacant for a number of years and does not appear to be maintained. Most of the external fabric remains, but there are obvious signs of deterioration, particularly water penetration, slipped slates and vegetation growth. There is no immediate danger of collapse but the condition is such that unless urgent remedial works are carried out the building will sharply deteriorate. 

Curraghchase House which was the residence of by the de Vere family and was the birthplace of the poet Aubrey de Vere is set in a magnificent demense landscape. The house is now derelict and vacant following a fire in 1941 but retains many limestone features. It is currently in the ownership of Coillte who have not put in any significant measures to improve the condition of the structure. This building urgently requires a conservation management plan and new uses to be identified to prevent further deterioration of its character. 

Photograph Credit: buildingsofireland.ie/niah 

http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?county=LC&regno=21901128&type=record 

Detached eleven-bay two-storey over half-basement house, built c. 1750, with two adjoining fronts, shorter one dating to the eighteenth century, longer front dating to c. 1829. House now derelict following a fire in 1941. Having bowed north elevation, full-height canted bay to south elevation and extensions to rear (west). Projecting three-bay end bays to front (east) elevation. Roof missing. Cut limestone walls with cut limestone quoins, plinth course, cornice and raised parapet. Cut limestone platband to south and part of rear elevation. Lined-and-ruled rendered walls to part of rear elevation, having render quoins. Mixed red brick and rubble stone walls to north elevation of extension. Square-headed openings having cut limestone sills and voussoirs throughout, now blocked. Those to south elevation having cut limestone surrounds and hoodmouldings. Shared limestone hoodmoulding to ground floor windows, north elevation. Square-headed openings to basement, north elevation, with limestone sills and surrounds and metal railings. Some openings to rear having red brick voussoirs. Square-headed opening to front with cut limestone voussoirs. Limestone slab to entrance. Square-headed opening to north elevation of rear extension with red brick surround and voussoirs, and metal door. Semi-circular opening to threshold with cut limestone surround and cast-iron lid. Raised land to front of house with cut limestone retaining wall with cut limestone copings. Rubble stone wall to rear of house enclosing yard. Segmental-headed arch to south elevation set within cut limestone breakfront, having red brick voussoirs and double-leaf timber battened door. Segmental-headed opening to north elevation, with red brick voussoirs, cut limestone surround, and bellcote to top. Five-bay single-storey stable building to rear. Pitched slate roof having cut limestone eaves course. Rubble stone walls. Square-headed openings with limestone sills, red-brick voussoirs and surrounds. Square-headed opening with red brick voussoirs and surround, and timber battened door. Segmental-headed opening having red brick voussoirs and double-leaf timber battened door. Rubble stone semi-circular retaining wall marking meditation area to site. 

The house and estate was formerly owned by the de Vere family and was the birthplace of the poet Aubrey de Vere, lending historical and cultural significance to the house. The work dating to 1829 was carried out by the architect Amon Henry Wilds. Although its been severely damaged by the fire, the house retains much of its original fabric, such as its limestone sills and decorative window surrounds. Its imposing size and austere appearance make a notable impression on the surrounding landscape. The outbuildings and yard to the rear of the house add context to the site.