Plassey House, Castletroy, Co Limerick 

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. 

p. 232. “(Maunsell/IFR; Clive, sub Power, E/PB; Russell/IFR) A rambling two storey Victorian Italianate house built by the Russells, whose prosperous milling firm of J.N. Russell and Sons was centred on the nearby Plassey Mills. Pedimented three bay front at one end of the long façade, with two light window above single-storey portico supported by square Corinthian pillars. Aedicules with Corinthian pilasters framing ground floor windows, which are glazed in an unusual way, each with two rounded-headed lights. Pediments and entablatures on console brackets above first floor windows. Eaved roof on heavy bracket cornice. The house is said to incorporate a late C18 house of the Maunsell family. Earlier in C18, the estate, which was originally known as Ballykilty, was owned by the great Robert Clive, who renamed it Plassey after his famous victory. He was thus able to take the title of Baron Clive of Plassey, co Limerick when he was made an Irish peer, neatly commemorating the battle in the territorial designation of his peerage, which had to be a place in Ireland. Plassey House is now the National Institute for Higher Education.” 

https://archiseek.com/2009/plassey-house-limerick

1875 – Plassey House, Limerick 

Architect: Joseph Fogerty & Son 

Italianate style villa now part of the buildings of the Univerity of Limerick and known to the students as the white house (because it contained the offices of the President of the University). Originally the estate was owned by Robert Clive who renamed it Plassey after his victory in India. He later became Lord Clive of Plassey. 

The house has a columned porch to the west and is three stories in height, the third floor being artfully hidden in the roof level. The house was rebuilt by a local firm in 1875 – Joseph Fogerty & Son. 

https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/21900505/plassey-house-sreelane-co-limerick

Plassey House, SREELANE, County Limerick 

Detached L-plan multiple-bay two-storey country house, built c. 1770, comprising three-bay front block with pedimented shallow breakfront having single-storey portico. Rebuilt in the 1870s. Recessed two-bay three-storey block to west with two-bay two-storey extension. Recent extensions to rear. Hipped slate roofs with bracketed eaves course and rendered chimneystacks. Rendered walls having quoins and plinth courses. Square-headed openings to first floor with two-over-two pane timber sliding sash windows, render entablatures, sills and continuous sills course. Those to west block having pedimented architraves. Square-headed openings to ground floor having two-over-two pane timber sliding sash windows with flanking Corinthian style pilasters and render sills. Portico comprising Corinthian style columns supporting entablature with render cornice. Square-headed opening having glazed overlight over half-glazed double-leaf timber panelled doors with flanking sidelights. Ornate cornicing to interior. 

Appraisal 

Plassy House, a notable example of a Georgian villa style country house, was rebuilt in the Italianate style. Originally the estate was owned by Robert Clive who renamed it Plassey after his victory in India. He later became Lord Clive of Plassey. The Russell family extended it in the 1860s, the work was purportedly carried out by the architect William Fogarty. The Russells owned the nearby Plassey Mills. Prominently sited close to the River Shannon and within the campus of the University of Limerick, the house forms a pleasing focal point for the surrounding area.  

https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/21818001/plassey-house-plassey-park-road-newcastle-castletroy-co-limerick

Pair of painted square-profile monolith limestone piers, built c. 1890. Comprising carved rounded caps with recessed panels, recessed panels to piers and acanthus-headed cast-iron railings terminating in carved limestone piers. 

Appraisal 

These imposing and ornate gates, formerly an entrance to Plassey House, are well designed and executed. The monolith piers are finely carved, forming a strong focal point, which is complimented by the ornate cast-iron gates with acanthus leaf motifs. They provide important context to the locality and form an attractive roadside feature. 

 
http://landedestates.nuigalway.ie/LandedEstates/jsp/property-list.jsp?letter=P 

Built by Thomas Maunsell, founder of Maunsells’ bank, Limerick, and occupied by him in 1814. Inherited by his daughter Mrs Robert Hedges Eyre Maunsell. Occupied by Reuben Harvey in 1837 and at the time of Griffith’s Valuation. Harvey held the property from the trustees of Mrs Hedges Maunsell. The residence of Richard Russell in 1868. Home of John Norris Russell in the 1870s. Bence Jones writes that the present Plassey House is “a rambling two storey Victorian Italianate house built by the Russells”. This house is now part of the University of Limerick.