Drishane Castle Millstreet

Artdeco30

Does anyone know if this historic building is still being used to house asylum seekers, or if not, then what its current use is?

mossie

Artdeco30 wrote: »

Does anyone know if this historic building is still being used to house asylum seekers, or if not, then what its current use is?

I believe it is, not the actual castle but the house / school on the same site.

whisky_galore

The tower house can be accessed on request as far as I know.

Artdeco30

Thank you both.

I was referring to the buildings that had been a school, and previously a stately home, rather than the Tower House. I think the entire complex is referred to as Drishane Castle?

whisky_galore

It is.

It's still a Direct Provision Centre, or whatever the latest euphemism is...

Artdeco30

Thanks whiskeygalore. I wonder what condition the former stately home is in.

whisky_galore

Never been inside what was the house, I assume it's been greatly changed since the nuns took it over to make a boarding school out of it.
Around 2013 there were complaints about the living conditions there.

Here's an 1833 account and illustration of a far plainer building than what's there now.
http://www.libraryireland.com/articles/DrishaneCastleDPJ1-37/

By way of comparison.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drishane_Castle#/media/File:Castles_of_Munster,_Drishane,_Cork_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1392794.jpg

Artdeco30

Thanks very much for the link to the 1833 account - I'm not familiar with that website but it looks good.