Roman Catholic Institute Building

[Matt McNamara]

I came across this old turn of the century 1900/05 picture of troops walking past a building that is named Roman Catholic Institute, Curragh Camp. I don’t know the building myself, but I do recognise the Married Quarters in the rear of the picture. Can anybody put a name on the building today or was it knocked down before my time. Eariler this month Sue Rowbotham sent in an extract from Curragh Camp and District 1910 and in it there is a reference to the above mentioned building.

Catholic Soldiers’ Institute

This building, of which the first stone was laid by Lady Anne Kerr, wife of major-General Lord Ralph Kerr, on 18th April 1896, was opened by Field Marshall Lord Roberts, V,C., on April 29th, 1897. The Institute consists of a large Reading Room, a Room for games, a Dining Hall, sleeping accommodation, Chaplain’s Room, etc. The three Large Rooms are so constructed that they can be converted into one large apartment for Concerts and Social Gatherings.

Notice of above would be incomplete without reference to Rev. Joseph Delany, late Catholic Chaplain to the Forces, Curragh. To his tact and unflagging zeal the Catholic Institute owes its existence. One fact may be mentioned. – that mainly by visiting the different parishes of the diocese of Kildare and Leighlin. He obtained a purely civilian contribution to the building fund, which defrayed nearly two-thirds of the expenses. The aim of the Institute is to provide for the material and social well being of the Soldiers.

Matt

[liz]

Hi Matt,
Might be way off but would it be the band hall opposite magins ?
Married quarters being McDonagh

[Kentgal]

Feels like it could be (but not looks like) the Weslene which I remember.

[rose5mcdonaghtce]

Hi Matt,
Could be totally wrong here, but is it on the site of the girls school now with McDonagh in the background and did it burn down.
Rose.

[tommyhetherington]

Hi Liz,
Maybe wrong but the band hall beside Mcginns has a stone saying laid by Lady Morton ??( I hear the giggles guys stop) which does not fit with the above passage.
The houses do look like McDonagh(Middle Block)

TommyH

[liz]

Came across the following newspaper article dated November 1894. I haven't corrected any errors just copied and pasted but though it may be of interest. Although it states a site has been selected , still no clue as to where ?? MUST TRY HARDER ..............................................
Under the patronage of Field- Marshal Viscount Wolsely, K.P. commander of the forces in Ireland, and Major-General Lord Ralph Kerr, C B , corn-nan img the Curragh district, a movement has been started for the erection of a Catholic soldier's institute at the Curragh The committee include Brigade Surgeon Lieutenant-Colonel Barry," M.D , Veterinary-Major Froßt, Captain G. F. Stenson, Rev J. Delaney, acting Catholic Chaplaio, and Staff Sjrgeant-Major C. J. Guerin. The hon treasurer is the Rev J. Delaney, and the hon secretary Supt. Clerk, J, Burke, X >y*l Engineers. The want of an institute or suitable building at the Curragh Camp, where Catholic soldiers can meet for mutual improvement and recreation has long been felt. Such an institute already exists at this camp for the convenience of soldiers of the Wesleyau denomination, and a sum of about £1,200 has already been collected for the erection of a Church of England's Soldier's institution. The Catholic soldiers at this station would, therefore be the only denomination without tbia most desirable establishment. At present an old wooden hut is used as a meetingroom for the Catholic soldiers. The accommodation is, however, wholly inadequate and unsuitable ; besides, the hut now used will shortly have to be damolished to clear the eita for new barracks. ln view of these circumstances, a committee has been formed for the purpose of raising funds for the building of an institute for Catholic soldiers, which is estimated to cost about £800. A sum of nearly £200 has already been subscribed, aod a site has been selected. Field- Marshal Lord Wolseley, commander of the forces in Ireland, have kindly granted his patronage and promised his support, and Lord Kalph Kerr, the general commanding the district, has subscribed a sum of £50 towards the building fund.

[rose5mcdonaghtce]

just looking at the photo again, there were the remains of railings left at the green beside the Gaelic Hall when I was a child, as far as I can remember there were gates that just led on to the green, this railing would have been adjacent to the third, C Block in McDonagh was it there, not enough trees around to be the site of the girls school? often wondered what the gates and railings had surrounded.

[Brendan]

Hi All:

I'll give my tupence worth. I think that the ivy-looking cottage/single storey building was just after where Reggie Darling had his shop.

The building on the right was between the Gaelic Hall (which isn't there) and the first block of Married Quarters.

Maybe I should go back to sleep!

Brendan

[Matt McNamara]

I was thinking along that line Brendan, but for such a large building of that size to disappear and leave no foundations. The green area opposite the present girl’s school must be the site. The building must have burned down and the site cleared, maybe some of the older members might remember any old foundations on that particular area.

Good find by the way Liz, another piece of the Jigsaw.

Matt

[Matt McNamara]

Anybody else have any ideas about the building and location.

[sallyanne]

Hi

I check in on this wonderful site every now and then but have never made a contribution. Well there's a first time for everything, so here goes.

I grew up in McDonagh Bks in the 50's and 60's and clearly remember "the bank" at the top of A Block. This bank was made up of soil or dirt of some kind and It covered the area at the top of A Block and stretched over to the houses at the top of B Block. As a youngster (about 4 or 5) I vividly remember being sent to Maginns with a note for a message (6 eggs). When I got to Maginns the 6 eggs were carefully placed in a brown paper bag and off home I went. However, as soon as I left the shop it started to rain and as I climbed "the bank" (it was always up and over, never the long way round) I slipped and fell on the wet surface. I continued home bawling my eyes out all the way (more afraid of what the mammy might say or do than anything else). I needn't have worried, the mammy took one look at me and all was forgiven. I must have looked a sorry sight, dripping wet, bloodied knees and still clutching the soggy brown bag oozing the remains of the 6 broken eggs. "The bank" was leveled sometime in the 50's.

You may be wondering where I am going with this story, well, if you go into Picture Gallery 4 and look at the photo of the Corpus Christy procession, on the right hand side, you will see that a portion of "the bank" is visible. Now if you look at the photo of the Catholic Institute that same bank is visible in the background.
The photo appears to have been taken on the road in front of the Gaelic Hall. The photo shows not only "the bank", but what I believe is A Block, with the angle obscuring B and C Blocks.

I too, like Rose, remember the railings, gates and foundations on that site. I also remember my late mother referring to the Catholic Home which occupied the site at some stage. I have no memories of the cottages, the first I knew of their existence was the photo on this site. I would love to know what happened to them as they look really lovely, they would have been beside Darlings, so maybe Reggie could shed some light on what happened to them.

I have some great memories (some sad ones too) of my childhood on the Curragh, so watch this space!

Sallyanne

[Matt McNamara]

Hi Sallyanne

Well done on your first post, another great story and more pieces of the jigsaw on the Roman Catholic Institute Building. I am glad you decided to post your memories, because I know there is many more like you who visit the site and love to read all the posts. I know one or two personally and even yesterday at the Cemetery in Newbridge I was talking to a good family friend and she was saying how good the site was and all the great postings on the site. The same woman has plenty of stories, but just hasn’t got around to taking the first step like you and making her first post. I know she will be reading this, so hopefully this will encourage her.

Anyhow Sallyanne well done again and look forward to reading some more of you posts.

Matt

[maryfarrell6]

Hi Matt,
I may be mistaken but is that not the Roman Catholic Institute Building in the center of the last picture in photo gallery 10? Only the chimney stack and the windows look remarkably like the one in your photo.
By the way loved the photo of Harry couldn't get to see the video
but my computer keeps shutting down on me.
Best Regards Mary F

[kellquinn]

Hi all
Welcome Sallyanne, I remember the Roman Catholic Institute Building very well, the railings, the building itself a fine imposing well structered place, it was situated between the Gaelic hall Mc Donagh and Heffernans house, that block obscured by the Institute itself. Masie's house visible in the photo. It was finally knocked down circa 1962 with the tanks from the Cavalry Corps assisting in the demolition. When going through the rubble we found heaps of coins which may have fallen beneath the floorboards, Farthings, Pennies, etc got myself and Andy Heffernan to the pictures. The area itself now, a nice piece of manicured lawn if it could talk would have many a story.

Hope this helps fills in some blank questions.

Regards to all
Joey