Survey Data
Reg No
31805015
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Artistic, Historical, Social, Technical
Previous Name
Ballaghaderreen Barrack
Original Use
Barracks
Historical Use
Garda station/constabulary barracks
In Use As
School
Date
1795 - 1800
Coordinates
161861, 295112
Date Recorded
20/08/2003
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
St. Nathy's complex, comprises a school, former barracks and gate lodge. Now used as a school. Detached fourteen-bay three-storey former barracks, established 1798, with five-bay breakfront with stepped parapet and two-storey gable fronted advanced block to north-east. Later in use as RIC barracks. Hipped tiled roof with rendered chimneystacks. Pebbledashed walls with timber casement windows. Detached U-plan seven-bay three-storey school, built 1916, with extension built 1941 connecting school to former barracks. Three-bay breakfront with advanced pedimented entrance bay. Two-bay projecting terminating blocks. Hipped slate roof with red brick chimneystacks, copper vents and stucco console brackets to eaves. Ruled-and-lined render to walls with channelled render to ground floor with string course and stucco quoins. Tooled cut stone plinth. Segmental- and square-headed windows with stucco surround and cornice to some, containing timber sash windows with stone sills. Tripartite windows with segmental pediment and ashlar surround to projecting block. Round-headed door opening with ashlar surround and keystone with timber panelled double doors approached by steps. Cast-iron water pump set in limestone slabs, c.1880, to north-west. Site bounded by random coursed wall with cast-iron railings to front elevation. Rendered piers with cast-iron gates. Three-bay single-storey gate lodge with hipped tiled roof and rendered walls, now vacant. Square-profiled cut stone gate piers to site of former Church of Ireland dating to 1798 to north of rear site to gate lodge.
Appraisal
St. Nathy's college complex is of social and historical importance as it incorporates the eighteenth-century barracks, which was subsquently occupied by the RIC in 1830. The architectural design of the school is apparent, articulated by the ornate stucco detailing, rhythmical fenestration and artistically designed gates. The monumental size and architectural quality makes it one of the most impressive public buildings in the town.