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,
William Vitruvius Morrison (1794 – 1838)
William Vitruvius Morrison was born at Clonmel, County Tipperary, second son of Sir Richard Morrison (1767-1849). Sir Richard headed a successful private architectural practice, with William joining in 1809. In 1821 he made an extensive tour of Europe, including visits to Rome and Paris. Upon his return he built up a successful practice, but later his health broke down. After a second visit to the continent he died in his father’s house at Bray, County Wicklow, on 16 October 1838 and is buried in Mount Jerome Cemetery, Dublin.
Morrison designed a number of works with his father, including Baronscourt, Co. Tyrone (from 1835), Kilruddery, Co. Wicklow, Ballyfin, Co. Laois and Fota, Co. Cork.
Notable houses that he designed himself include Clontarf Castle(1836-1827), Glenarm Castle and Barbican (1823-1824), Hollybrooke House Bray (1835) and Mount Stewart, Newtownards, County Down (1825-1828).
His public buildings include Carlow Court House (1828),Tralee Court House (1828).
1756 – Glenarm Castle, Co. Antrim
Architect: Christopher Myers / William Vitruvius Morrison
There has been a castle at Glenarm since the 13th century, and it is at the heart of one of Northern Ireland’s oldest estates.
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.
1784 – Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Cashel
Architect: William Vitruvius Morrison
The historic cathedral on the Rock of Cashel was closed for worship in 1721. Meanwhile the old parish church of St John was removed and the present Georgian cathedral completed in 1784.
1812 – Ballyheigue Castle, Co. Kerry
Architect: Richard Morrison & William Vitruvius Morrison
Long rambling castle sited across a hillside. Burnt during 1921, a wing was recently restored.
1818 – Kilcoleman Abbey, Milltown, Co. Kerry
Architect: William Vitruvius Morrison
Also known as Milltown House. More or less abandoned from 1800 to 1818, the house was renovated under the second Baronet,
1819 – Salmon Weir Bridge, Galway
Architect: William Vitruvius Morrison
Previously known as the Jail Bridge, as the city jail was on the site of where the Cathedral now is.
1819 – Templemore Abbey, Co. Tipperary
Architect: William Vitruvius Morrison
Constructed on the site of an earlier house, Templemore Abbey was a vast neo-Gothic mansion designed by one of the masters of the genre in Ireland,
1823 – Ormeau House, Co. Down
Architect: William Vitruvius Morrison
A long rambling Tudor mansion designed for the 2nd Marquess of Donegall on the then outskirts of Belfast,
1825 – Design for Fota House, Co. Cork
Architect: William Vitruvius Morrison
An unbuilt scheme to enlarge the 18th century house at Fota. Ultimately, the Morrisons did extend the house but in a more restrained classical scheme.
