Manresa House, Dublin

About

Manresa House is a retreat centre run by the Society of Jesus in the Dollymount area of Clontarf in Dublin, near Saint Anne's Park. In the 19th century it was home to Robert Warren and Arthur Guinness, and it is a protected structure.

Manresa House is a large house originally constructed in the mid 18th century. It was originally known as Granby Hall, and then Baymount Castle and included 17 acres of land surrounding the house.

The house was used briefly as a school named Baymount House School from 1834-38.

In 1838, it was leased from J.E.V. Vernon by Robert Warren who largely remodelled the house in a gothic revival castellated style, possibly by the architect George Papworth. New outbuildings and gate lodges were also constructed at this time.

In 1845 it became the property of the Sisters of Loreto who opened a school there from 1847. In 1851, it was renovated by the sisters, because the building was damaged by a serious fire that year and they ultimately moved to Balbriggan in the years following.

In the later 19th century the house was owned by George Tickell, a property developer.

In 1898, it was sold to Arthur Guinness, 1st Baron Ardilaun.

In around 1904 William Scott opened a school on the premises called Baymount Preparatory School, of which he was headmaster until 1936.

The school was then later acquired by John Tudor Gwynn, who ran it until 1948 when the school closed. John T Gwynn was a descendant of John Gwynn and a member of the Gwynn family that included noted literary figures such as Stephen Gwynn and Edward Gwynn.

In 1948, the Archbishop of Dublin, John Charles McQuaid asked the Jesuits to establish a spirituality centre in the Dollymount area, so they bought Baymount Castle. They renamed it Manresa House after Manresa in Catalonia, Spain, where St Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits had many spiritual experiences that contributed to formulation of his Spiritual Exercises.

Manresa House is a large house originally constructed in the mid 18th century. It was originally known as Granby Hall, and then Baymount Castle and included 17 acres of land surrounding the house.

The house was used briefly as a school named Baymount House School from 1834-38.

In 1838, it was leased from J.E.V. Vernon by Robert Warren who largely remodelled the house in a gothic revival castellated style, possibly by the architect George Papworth. New outbuildings and gate lodges were also constructed at this time.

In 1845 it became the property of the Sisters of Loreto who opened a school there from 1847. In 1851, it was renovated by the sisters, because the building was damaged by a serious fire that year and they ultimately moved to Balbriggan in the years following.

In the later 19th century the house was owned by George Tickell, a property developer.

In 1898, it was sold to Arthur Guinness, 1st Baron Ardilaun.

In around 1904 William Scott opened a school on the premises called Baymount Preparatory School, of which he was headmaster until 1936.

The school was then later acquired by John Tudor Gwynn, who ran it until 1948 when the school closed. John T Gwynn was a descendant of John Gwynn and a member of the Gwynn family that included noted literary figures such as Stephen Gwynn and Edward Gwynn.

In 1948, the Archbishop of Dublin, John Charles McQuaid asked the Jesuits to establish a spirituality centre in the Dollymount area, so they bought Baymount Castle. They renamed it Manresa House after Manresa in Catalonia, Spain, where St Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits had many spiritual experiences that contributed to formulation of his Spiritual Exercises.

The first retreat was held there in 1949. In 1966, a new building designed by Andrew Devane was added to accommodate more retreatants and was opened in 1967. Building and renovation work was undertaken in 2022 to provide a new dining and reception area, to renovate accommodation and to refurbish the castle structure.