Two for one...ENNIS AT WORK IN THE 19TH CENTURY BY LUCILLE ELLIS & WATERPARK HOUSE

Two books for one 

ENNIS AT WORK IN THE 19TH CENTURY BY LUCILLE ELLIS & WATERPARK HOUSE.

For those who purchase Ennis at Work in the 19th Century they will also receive a free copy of Water Park House from the Big House to Council Chamber. This book, compiled by Clare Roots Society committee members Larry Brennan and Declan Barron, with the assistance of one of our diaspora members, Katrina Pilkington Vincent, covers the genealogies of the families for whom Waterpark House was a private residence, as well as the more recent role of the building, as a seat of local government. This book will only be available on the launch night, as Ennis Town Council have issued a limited number of copies for distribution to Clare Roots Society members. Waterpark book will not be available in the shops.

The Waterpark book is only available on the night of the launch. Ennis at work costs €10.

Courtesy of Clara Hoyne.

WATERPARK HOUSE PUBLICATION NEARS COMPLETION

WATERPARK HOUSE HISTORY

Have you ever wandered past Waterpark House in Ennis, Co Clare and wondered about it's history? Well, very soon, you will need to wonder no more.

Clare Roots Society, in conjunction with Ennis Town Council, is preparing to publish a booklet on the history of Waterpark House, now the administrative headquarters of Ennis Town Council.

This is being edited by Larry Brennan in collaboration with Declan Barron of Newpark House and the Australian great, great granddaughter of Thomas Pilkington, Katrina Pilkington Vincent.

Thomas Pilkington was one of the previous owners of Waterpark House.

All details of publication and dates will be published here as soon as they are available.

 You can read an earlier post on Waterpark House at

http://astheywere.blogspot.com.au/2013/11/waterpark-house.html

WATERPARK HOUSE

Clare Roots Society is marking the end of Ennis Town Council link with Waterpark House with the publication of a booklet on the building and its people. In April 1989 the Urban Council moved its administrative headquarters from No. 1 Bindon Street to Waterpark House, Drumbiggle.  In choosing Waterpark House as the location for the new Town Hall, the Urban Council was strongly influenced by the desire to conserve one of the town’s fine vernacular buildings and to provide tangible evidence of the Council’s strong commitment to the renewal and conservation of the town’s historic core area. 

The house construction dates back to 1819 with the families of Dulhunty, Pilkington, O’Brien, Russell, Lane, Connellan, Hardwood and Moody associated with the house. The first recorded residents of Waterpark house were the Dulhunty family where in September 1819 Mary Dulhunty was born to Montrose Dulhunty & Mary O’ Donnell. The last resident of the house was Lily Moody who died at Cahercalla Hospital on the 31^st December 1993. Lily lived prior to her hospitalisation all her life at Waterpark. 

The Booklet will include details on the Waterpark Riots, which took place in 1855 when at Waterpark gate more than 100 persons assembled, who were shouting; yelling and crying ‘souper’. This was as a result of the denouncement of Scriptural teachers by the Ennis priests, which was considered so violent as to endanger the lives of Protestant missionaries who stayed at Waterpark at the hands of an Ennis mob.

As part of the research the final publication will also include details on the Butter Market building which is now part of the Civic Building associated with Waterpark. The Plot of ground where the Butter Market is situated was purchased in 1860. The owners the Macbeth Family used the building as a weigh house & butter market along with the yards for tolls, customs, fares & markets. The Butter market closed in 1945. In 1920 a Company of British Infantry used the yard as a Transport Park. Ennis Badminton Club & The Boxing Club used this building between 1933 and 1950 while in the ownership of Ennis Urban District Council. The building was also owned by the building firms of Garvey Solan & Co. Ltd. & Ryan Brothers. It was refurbished for the Town Council offices in 2001. 

The booklet is being edited by Larry Brennan in collaboration with Declan Barron (Newpark House, Ennis) & Katrina Pilkington Vincent (Australia). Katrina is the great great granddaughter of Thomas Pilkington one of the previous owners of the house.

The Society is appealing to those who may have any information, memorabilia, photos, letters or contact details to make contact with secretary@clareroots.org or Larry Brennan at bbs.ennis@eircom.net or (087) 2308100 

Waterpark 1968:  Miss Moody with Nan Pilkington from Australia & Norah Pilkington of Dublin, both grand-daughters of Thomas Pilkington.  Photo taken in 1968 when Nan Pilkington travelled to Ireland for a visit.

Waterpark: c1904