tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705771450596300887.post5893953650360563008..comments2024-03-28T07:36:37.715+00:00Comments on Lord Belmont in Northern Ireland: Gormanston CastleTimothy Belmonthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15111145260662707575noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705771450596300887.post-50766931232318345442016-10-16T10:13:28.322+01:002016-10-16T10:13:28.322+01:00I remember the interior very well. The entrance ha...I remember the interior very well. The entrance hall was oak panelled. We would see it during visits by our parents. Off to the the left was a large room, also oak panelled which was used as the study hall. A similar room off to the right was used as a chapel. The refectory was at the back of the building on the ground floor, the classrooms on the second floor and the dormitory on the third floor.<br />The grounds included an arched yew-trree walk designed for a member of the Gormanston family who was a nun (the Prestons were the oldest titled RC family in Ireland). There was a little cemetery for the Gormanston family dogs nearby.<br />The wooded avenue included two cork oaks, a rarity in Ireland, and the undergrowth consisted largely of wild garlic which gave the grounds a pungent odour.<br />The river Delvin ran through the grounds with its right bank in County Dublin and left bank in County Meath.<br />These memories are from more than 60 years ago. Perhaps I am in my "anecdotage." Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17441385870439231266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705771450596300887.post-59742271222756589762016-10-15T15:25:05.068+01:002016-10-15T15:25:05.068+01:00I was one of the 40 boys who boarded in Gormanston...I was one of the 40 boys who boarded in Gormanston Castle before the main buildings of Gormanston College were completed. We later became known at the 40 Thieves.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17441385870439231266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705771450596300887.post-39219767623006568132013-03-25T09:43:06.645+00:002013-03-25T09:43:06.645+00:00It is said that my great or possibly great great g...It is said that my great or possibly great great grandfather was the land agent to Lord Gormanston . Not sure of the dates . Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705771450596300887.post-25512457890689628832012-05-18T16:44:30.088+01:002012-05-18T16:44:30.088+01:00I used to live not three miles from Gormanston Cas...I used to live not three miles from Gormanston Castle. The Preston family certainly have a very distinguished history. This is quite an entertaining account of their association with the foxes.<br />http://christopheranton.hubpages.com/hub/Truth-that-really-is-stranger-than-fiction#Christopherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11250393369617532087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705771450596300887.post-40806835566540166542012-01-05T20:10:30.641+00:002012-01-05T20:10:30.641+00:00Above comment about St. George's Cathedral (se...Above comment about St. George's Cathedral (second-last sentence) is missing the word 'wooden' between free-standing and buildings. H.S.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705771450596300887.post-12993574583923691542012-01-05T19:52:36.444+00:002012-01-05T19:52:36.444+00:00I totally agree with what Anonymous said. I live i...I totally agree with what Anonymous said. I live in Georgetown. The statue of Queen Victoria at City Hall is missing her left hand. The building obvsiouly was magnificent in its day and apparently they're "planning" restoration (which has been in the planning stages for a very long time now) but it's disintegrating.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705771450596300887.post-67746398089179155632012-01-05T11:47:56.988+00:002012-01-05T11:47:56.988+00:0014th Lord Gormanston, while Governor of British Gu...14th Lord Gormanston, while Governor of British Guiana, opened the new City Hall in Georgetown in July 1899. A large Gothic wooden structure with iron columns, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Alas, it is now in a lamentable state and much of it is abandoned. Georgetown is also home to one of the tallest (150 feet) free-standing buildings in the world in St. George's Cathedral. It, too, now suffers from neglect. H.S.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com