Courthouse

The National Monuments Service's description

In a prominent position at the E end of O'Connell Street. The Main Guard was built by James Butler, first Duke of Ormond, between 1673 and 1684 as a prestigious courthouse for the Palatinate of County Tipperary (Quinlan 1991, 2). Stonework from the Cistercian abbey at Inishlounaght (TS083-017----) was reused to built the courthouse. This can be seen at the base of the southern column of the arcade which has traces of fluting and on the easternmost pier on Mitchell street which has a rare survival of plaster incised with a consecration cross. The building has many of the hallmarks of a Sir Christopher Wren design, and it is likely that its architect, possibly Sir William Robinson, Surveyor General of Ireland (Shee and Watson 1975, 35-6), was influenced by Wren's works. In c. 1715 the palatinate jurisdiction was extinguished and the building was subseqently used as a tholsel and seat of the Assize Courts until 1803, when the present courthouse was completed (Killanin and Duignan 1967, 173). It is believed that the Assize Courts stood to the rear of the Main Guard, in the return block which extended eastwards to the rear of the front building and whose outline was confirmed by excavation (Henry 1996, 81). In c. 1810 the ground floor, a loggia of open arches, was converted into shops (ibid.). It is a long rectangular building built of sandstone ashlar consisting of a open arcade at ground-floor level and a first floor. It has a moulded triangular floating pediment and heavy cornice, a Mansard roof and a finely executed octagonal lantern which may be an original feature of the building (Craig and Garner 1975, 28-30). Among the surviving internal features are the first-floor level and a number of reused original floor beams; arches supported by several half-round engaged columns some of which still carry their capitals and relieving arches in the front wall, interrupted by the present fenestration (Quinlan 1991, 2). There are two sandstone heraldic plaques (TS083-019099-; TS083-019100-) dated 1675 on the W facade at first-floor level. The most northerly of the two displays the much eroded arms of Butler of Ormond, while its S counterpart bears the arms of the Borough of Clonmel, and is in equally poor condition. The building was taken into State care in the 1990s and has been restored to its 17th-century appearance. (Farrelly and FitzPatrick 1993, 70-71).

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of revised upload: 2 February 2015

References

Farrelly, J. and FitzPatrick, E. 1993 Urban archaeological survey - county Tipperary (South Riding) (2 vols.). Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Dublin.

Craig, M. and Garner, W. 1975 National heritage inventory of buildings of architectural, historic and artistic interest in County Tipperary - South Riding. A preliminary survey. An Foras Forbartha Teoranta. Unpublished.

Killanin, M.M. and Duignan, M.V. 1967 (2nd ed.) The Shell guide to Ireland. London. The Ebury Press.

Shee, E. and Watson, S. J. 1975 Clonmel: an architectural guide. Dublin. An Taisce.

Quinlan, M. 1991 The Main Guard Clonmel: a brief account of the rediscovery of a 17th century courthouse and the case for its restoration. Unpublished report, Office of Public Works.