Kirwan House

Kirwan House or The Female Orphan House was a female orphanage on Dublin's North Circular Road established in 1791. Destitute Girls (whose both parents were deceased) were placed in the home, and were instructed in the reformed (Protestant) Christian faith, and were trained to be domestic servants. The Female Orphan House was founded by Mrs. Edward Tighe and Mrs. Margaret Este initially in a small property on Prussia Street but moved to larger premises on North Circular Road, and named after the Dean of Killala, Walter Blake Kirwan, who preached sermons regarding the establishment of such an institution.[1]

The Architect of the Chapel built in 1818 was William Farrell renowned for many Church of Ireland buildings,[2] and contained plaster work by the renowned stuccodore George Stapleton.

The Home was visited by George IV in 1821 during his Irish visit,[3] stopping on his way to the Viceroys Lodge in the Phoenix Park. The home had accommodation for 160 orphans and an episcopal chapel. For a time some land in the Phoenix park was allocated to the home to provide cattle for the production of milk.[4]

Regardless of their religion before entering the Institution the girls were brought up in the Anglican faith. The Institution was funded through government grants, subscriptions, donations and the proceeds of the work of the girls.[5]

The La Touche family having a long history associated with the home, Peter La Touche and his brother John were governors of Kirwan House,[6] Peters wife Elizabeth was headmistress,[7] in 1942 the last La Touche associated with the Home Miss Mary La Touche who was governor died.

Rev. Charles Dickinson DD, who became Anglican Bishop of Meath served as chaplain to the home for 12 years.

In 1943 another Protestant run orphanage Belvedere Protestant Children's Orphanage, in Westmeath, closed and the remaining four orphans were transferred to Kirwan House.[8]

Kirwan House would have been associated with another Church of Ireland designated Mother and Child Home, the Bethany Home, with mothers and children transferred between them[9]

Kirwan House closed in the late 1950s. A tombstone was erected following donations in 1859 on a plot in Mount Jerome Cemetery, Dublin, where orphans who died were interred in without their names.[10] A former matron of the orphanage Eliza Shiels is buried in a marked grave beside the Homes plot.

The name Kirwan House was used as the name of the girls residential home, in the 2016 film Sing Street.

References

  1. ↑ Dublin Orphans
  2. ↑ Chapel Female Orphanage North Circular Road William Farrell, Archiseek.
  3. ↑ P. 134, 'An historical guide to the city of Dublin, illustrated by engravings' By George Newenham Wright
  4. ↑ Kirwan House - A Female Orphanage Greystones Archeology and Historical Society Journal, Volume 4, 2004
  5. ↑ New picture of Dublin: comprehending a history of the city By John James McGregor
  6. ↑ La Touche Family Turtle Bunbury.
  7. ↑ Legacy Lives on Irish Independent, 7 April 2010.
  8. ↑ Welcome to Ethos
  9. ↑ Lifeline - Joe Duffy, RTE Radio One, Friday 13 June 2014
  10. ↑ Interred without a Name - Female Orphan House Dublin Tombstone Tuesday
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