1850 – Former Garda Station, Monaghan, Co. Monaghan

Architect: E.T. Owen / Board of Public Works

ric_station_lge

Like many buildings around the country from the time of the British administration, the former Police Station in Monaghan has an urban legend connected. The story goes that the plans for the building were sent to the wrong foreign outpost and that Monaghan got a police station design that was meant for the Transvaal in South Africa. Presumably this means that there is a large Hiberno-romanesque style station in a town there. Other towns in Ireland have similar stories, the former Brunswick Hospital in Dublin was “meant” for Australia.

The station is a fine tall stone structure with pointed windows on all levels – and probably designed to be defended. Renovated for use as offices after the new station alongside was completed.