Burren Mount Hotel, Salthill

leocullensface wrote: »

What colour?

leocullensface wrote: »

Relying to me? I’m a wee bit lost

Hi, I have a story to tell about Burren Mount. I read this thread some time ago and have only now registered so I could add my account. My father Sean Murphy was an architect in Dublin, and practised with Peter Legge who passed away in recent years. My father died in Jan. 1969 and it was he who designed the extension to the Burren Mount. The owners wrote to my mother, and because they had formed a close relationship with my father during the design process invited her and her six children to stay for a week in one of those big front rooms , for free. We all set off, probably summer 1969 or 1970 and it was brand spanking new. We parked outside, my mother had a mustard coloured Renault 4, and piled in. I remember the receptionist's desk, and lots of chairs lining the walls, and really kind young women working there. The large room was a family room, and I think all seven of us stayed there. I remember vividly the full height windows looking over the sea, and especially the bright orange waffle weave curtains from floor to ceiling. Knowing we could see out and no-one could see in thrilled me. It was like magic. The architecture was like nothing we had seen before. I remember a little shack like shop for sweets and toys beside it, and how busy the street was with children. My main memory is the glass wall and the big sky, and the people below. My father did another project for a clothes shop on Duke st. off Grafton street. The shop was called Alias Tom, and there is a plaque outside it for Legge Murphy architects, who had won an award for it (maybe an an Taisce award). You can see a similarity in style. Anyway, that's my story, and the people there were lovely, my mother could not get over the generosity of the owners. I live in Gaway now, and sometimes pass the building, the same curtains are tattered and grey with a hint of orange. I saw it very recently , just before Chirstmas, from the distance, and there were lights on inside, and it looks as if the curtains were gone. I remember seeing a painting of it at one of the Galway art fiestivals, by Jennifer Cunningham, and the stripey wallpaper in it looked familiar, though I dont remember it specifically. Incidentally, my sister and I who would have been 7 and 8 brought about twenty dolls and soft toys with us on the holiday, and one by one took them into the reception area from the car, and sat each of them on a chair while the young women behind the reception desk looked on smiling. I think it was our first time in a hotel..

I remember it at the launch back then. My parents and Uncle were invited as he was a friend of the owners.

Things are changing already: the net curtains, and lots of other stuff, are gone.

All part of it, being converted into accommodation I hear.

Frankies was Flannerys. The Burrenmount was Francies 21's Club.

Not that I can remember but I moved to England for a while so it's possible it may have happened while I was away.

The Arts Festival used it for a while in the eighties. I remember being at an early Hothouse Flowers gig there when Maria Doyle (Kennedy) was the lead singer. Really low ceiling with beams going across and no ventilation. It wouldn't pass any H&S regulations but it was great craic at the time 😂.