Open House Dublin – Number 6, Kildare Street

Since the foundation of the College at the end of the seventeenth century the Fellows had made various attempts to secure a permanent home for themselves. However, it was not until 1860 that the College finally made an offer, of £5,000, for the premises of the Kildare Street Club. Four months after the purchase of the building, in November 1860, a fire totally destroyed the building, leaving only the separate racquet court at the back of the site standing. The College received nearly £6,000 in insurance money as a result of the fire and this was put towards the new building. In 1861 six architects were selected by ballot and the rules of the competition for a design were laid out. Expenditure was limited to £5,000 initially, the rooms required in the two story building were detailed and the style was to be anything but Gothic. William Murray junior won the competition, and his designs were built by James Beardwood of Westland Row.