Part 5: Sites of later
historical interest (post 1580 AD)
Chapter
53: Belvedere, Dromoland
BELVEDERE, DROMOLAND
Location Nat. Grid Ref. R383702; ½” Sheet 17.
| Townland : | Ballyconneely |
| Parish (R.C.) : | Newmarket-on-Fergus |
| Civil Parish : | Kilnasoolagh |
| 6” O.S. Sheet number : | 42, Co. Clare |
| Reference : | 16.4 cm South; 27.2 cm West |
| 1” O.S. Sheet number : | 133 (Sixmilebridge) |
Irish postage stamp issued
on 6th December, 1978, showing Dromoland Belevdere
Photo 1: Belvedere on Dromoland
Hill, from the South-East
The Belvedere on Tower Hill was designed by the architect John Ahern and was built in the early eighteenth century by Sir Edward O’Brien for viewing horse-racing. By tradition this O’Brien was so interested in horses that he gave nearby Newmarket (on-Fergus) its English name after the racing centre of the same name in England! The oriental taste of the time is reflected in the Belvedere’s stone pinnacle similar to those on some Chinese pagodas.
As one can see from the stamp and Photograph 1 this site had three storeys. The lower floor was, in fact, a cellar and entered via a doorway to the south. The middle floor was the main one and entered via cut-stone steps to the east (Photograph 2). In this floor one had three main windows – facing north, south and west – along with smaller (now blocked up) windows to the north-east, north-west, south-east and south-west. By tradition Sir Edward O’Brien would view his horses from here and the large number of windows ensured a wide view over the area. In fact, by looking out the large north window, one can see Ennis in the distance.
The upper storey, the floor of which has collapsed, also contained a number of small, now blocked up, windows.
To ensure heat a fireplace was provided in the sites north-west interior wall.
Field examination noted that some of the pediment and cut-stone over the doorway to the east was somewhat damaged. If work is not done to repair this damage part of the cut-stone could collapse in the future (Photograph 3).
REFERENCES
Malins and The Knight of Glin, 1976, pages
22 and 23
|
(When describing a 1740 plan (“Ichographia”) of Dromoland
Castle the authors make reference to the existence of the Belvedere “for
viewing racing”. A black and white photograph is provided
of the feature but no other information is given). |
As stated previously a stamp was issued on Wednesday 6th December 1978 which had a view, based on the drawing of Raymond McGrath, of Dromoland Belvedere.
Prior to issuing the stamp the Department of Posts & Telegraphs sent a circular to Post Offices giving some general information on this feature.
Photo 2: Entrance to Belvedere, from the
East
Photo 3: Belvedere, detail over doorway to the East (see Photo 2)
