Marlboro Jail

rhapsody

My great great grandfather was apparently in prison in Marlboro Jail, Dublin around the 1920's, because of his activities in the old IRA. Unfortunately I can't find anything about the place on the web. Various sites tell me:
1. it was later named McKee Barracks
2. it was on the site where Met Eireann now have a pyramid shaped building, in Glasnevin
3. it was later named Griffith Barracks.
All of the above are disproved by eachother of course!

I'm just wondering if anyone knows anything about Marlboro/ Marlborough Jail, or can point me in the right direction? Thank you!

CDfm

Have you checked out Marlorough Street

Marlborough House is on Marlborough Street, off O'Connell Street and was also used as an industrial school and then by post & telegraphs (hence my confusion). It is now the Department of Education and Science. The only military connection I know is in the film Michael Collins, this is where prisoners from the GPO are taken to immediatly, to then be moved first to Richmond Barracks and then the adjacent Kilmainham Gaol. Of course, the Michael Collins film used Grangegorman hospital as a set, so "Marlborough House" was actually at the Richmond Hospital.

http://forum.irishmilitaryonline.com/showthread.php?t=7663

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlborough_Street_(Dublin)

http://ireland.archiseek.com/buildings_ireland/dublin/northcity/marlborough_street/index.html

Named after the Duke of Marlborough for his victories in the wars of Spanish Succession. In the late 1800s it was briefly known as Tyrone Street after Tyrone House. The lower part from Abbey Street to Eden Quay was formerly a narrow laneway known as Union Lane or Ferryboat Lane and later Union Street but was included in Marlborough Street early in the 19th century.
It was also intended to build another street in the Duke's honour, Blenheim Street that was to have joined Talbot Street to Abbey Street, and the southern portion of it was transformed into Northumberland Square in 1844. Much of the site of Blenheim Street with other places adjoining, like the Jewish Synagogue of 1746 in Marlborough Green, was absorbed by the large premises of Brooks, Thomas and Co. This in turn was developed into the Irish Life centre and mall. Nothing now remains of either Blenheim Street or Northumberland Square.

But this pic link makes it look like the Country

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/exhibition/dublin/law_order/Marlborough_Barracks_NA06-053.html

rhapsody

Hey thanks for your swift reply! Yeah I looked at both of those links & got more confused because they contradict eachother.
The first one makes it sound like a short-stay kind of place, yet apparently my g.g. grandfather was there for at least a few years. The second one, as you say, looks like its out in the country.
I'll look up the census for Marlborough St. though & see if there's any promising-looking buildings there- good idea

CDfm

A postcard from the early 1900's showing British cavalry at Marlborough Barracks near the Phoenix Park, Dublin, Ireland. It was renamed McKee Barracks after the Irish Free State was formed and is today home of the Irish Army's Equitation school.

The link to a very good photo

http://www.flickr.com/photos/33577523@N08/3642950008/

So comparing the pics should give you your answer

rhapsody

So I spoke to some of the family again, about the trouble I was having, and apparently they just pronounce it "Marlboro", but the place was actually called Maryborough Jail. :mad:
Apparently this was the old name of Portlaoise Prison, so I've been really barking up the wrong tree!
Thanks for your help anyway CDfm

CDfm

That makes all the difference rhapsody - I am never going to ask you for directions anywhere

rhapsody

Ha ha I'm gonna ask people to spell everything from now on!!