1450 – Howth Castle, Co. Dublin
The current building is not the original Howth Castle, which was on the high slopes by the village and the sea.
Richard Morrison (1767 – 1849)
Richard Morrison was born at Midleton, Co. Cork, the son of John Morrison, also an architect. Originally intended for the church, he was eventually placed as pupil with James Gandon, the architect, in Dublin. He obtained through his godfather, the Earl of Shannon, a post in the ordnance department at Dublin, but this he abandoned, when he entered into full practice as an architect. Having resided for some time at Clonmel, where his son, William Vitruvius was born, he moved about 1800 to Dublin and settled at Bray, Co. Wicklow. He was a founder-member in 1839 and first vice-president of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland. In 1793 he published Useful and Ornamental Designs in Architecture.
Morrison had very extensive public and private practice in Ireland. Among his public works were alterations to the cathedral at Cashel, the court-house and gaol at Galway, court-houses at Carlow, Clonmel, Roscommon, Wexford, and elsewhere. He built or altered very many mansions of the nobility and gentry in Ireland, and was knighted by the lord-lieutenant, Earl de Grey, in 1841. Morrison designed a number of works with his son, William Vitruvius, including Baronscourt, Co. Tyrone (from 1835), Kilruddery, Co. Wicklow, Ballyfin, Co. Laois and Fota, Co. Cork. He died at Bray on 31 October 1849, and was buried in Mount Jerome Cemetery, Dublin.
1669 – Crotta House, Kilflynn, Co. Kerry
Architect: Richard Morrison
Original house of 1669, owned by the Ponsonby family. Additions of 1819 in a Jacobean style to the existing house by Sir Richard Morrison,
1731 – Borris House, Borris, Co. Carlow
Architect: Richard Morrison & William Vitruvius Morrison
The ancestral home of the Mcmorrough Kavanaghs, High Kings of Leinster, and originally an important castle guarding the River Barrow,
1739 – Carton, Maynooth, Co. Kildare
Architect: Richard Cassels / Richard Morrison
In 1739, the 19th Earl of Kildare employed Richard Castle to build the existing house replacing an earlier buildng.
1781 – Baronscourt, Newtownstewart, Co. Tyrone
Architect: John Soane, Richard Morrison, William Vitruvius Morrison
Originally built as a 5-bay, 3-storey house for James Hamilton, 8th Earl of Abercorn in 1781 by George Steuart.
1790 – Bishops Court House, Naas, Co. Kildare
Architect: Sir Richard Morrison
An early work of Richard Morrison in a classical style reminiscent of the work of James Gandon.
1791 – Design for Cashel Cathedral Steeple
Architect: Richard Morrison
The lower part of the tower was completed as per this design, but the secondary level and the spire received a different treatment.
1801 – Proposal for St. George’s Church, Dublin
Architect: Richard Morrison
In 1800, eight architects were invited to submit proposals for St. George’s Church, even though a proposal by Francis Johnston had already been approved.
1802 – Design for house, Co. Laois
Architect: Richard Morrison
A design published in “A collection of designs for rural retreats” by James Malton, with two elevational treatments.
1802 – Proposal for Bank of Ireland, College Green, Dublin
Architect: Richard Morrison
In 1802, architects were invited to submit designs for the conversion of the old Houses of Parliament into a new Bank of Ireland.
