Sligo Town Hall


Third and Fourth Classes
We went on a field trip to Sligo Town Hall.
It had just been refurbished so it was like looking at the Town Hall when it was new.

Sligo Chronicle 6-8-1884
'In preparing the designs herewith submitted, the author (William Hague) has carefully considered the leading requirement essential to the success of the structure of this class, ............. it will be found that all the minor points have also received their full share of thoughtful attention...... the question of expense has been closely considered...... this design has been carefully prepared to afford the greatest amount of accomodationwithin the smallest limits of extent and expense.....furnished with effective cornices, panelled wallsand all other requisite and architectural accessories..........'

Architects Sean Martin and Paul Ryan explain the technology of the Chamber Room

A newly exposed pillar is closely examined by 3rd & 4th class
On the way to Sligo we went past the mountain Benbulben. There was a waterfall on the mountain called Glencarr. After watching the waterfall been blown upwards. We drove off around the corner and there on front of us the sun was shining on Donegal bay. We travelled on and soon we were in Sligo. The bus parked at the harbour. And a short walk brought us to the town hall. We sat on the benches outside and wrote about the different features of the town hall like the windows and the pillars. We looked at the statue of Mayor Alfred jinks.
Then an architect called Seán Martin lead us through the town hall. It was good to pretend to be the Corporation members standing around the new horseshoe- shaped table. When we got tired of that we went down stairs and out the front door we walked in two's to Burger King. I walked down to Burger King with Catherine.At Burger King I had chicken nuggets and chips. On the way back we stopped in a gift shop I bought presents for my family. Then we walked back to the bus and we drove off. Our next stop was Manorhamilton to look at the church after that we went too Kinawley church where my mother's nanny is buried. On the way Returning over the Humpback Bridge at Strathgowna we were on our journey.

Catherine and Edel presented a small memento of our visit, from the place of birth of the architect, to the Sligo Town Hall Architect, Mr Sean Martin.

Original drawing in ink by William Hague

We were nearly in Sligo. Talking and singing was all you could hear. Then suddenly Gavin gave me a nudge and told me to look out the window. I looked out the window and saw the Harbour. I wondered what it would have been like to be the Harbour master looking out the top of the tower, watching the ships come in to land. After all he asked William Hague to change the tower plan for him.
Diarmaid

Shauna's worksheet on stairway

Wrought iron railings on the stairway were amazing but we loved sketching the intricate patterns on our worksheets.
It was a very bumpy ride but we got there. I found myself sitting in front of a beautiful, astonishing building design by William Hague. I stood up and got to work. A few minutes later a man talked to teacher. He led us into a mysterious building .We went into the first room. We met an architect. His name is Seán Martin.He told us what he did with the building. He brought us through two rooms and then he took us up stairs. He took us into the meeting room. He told us that when the Mayor wanted to start a meeting she said "I am on my feet." Then he went down stairs and out side. We all took one last look at the town hall. We started our new trip to BurgerKing. We stopped twice at traffic lights. We got there at last. Everyone rested. I told the waiter what I wanted. I ate all my food. Martin J and I gave our money to Kurt to pay. After that we went to a shop and brought back trinkets for my family. We walked back to the bus and travelled home. We stopped at two churches Manorhamilton and Kinawley. William Hague designed these too.
Gary -fourth class


Aodhagan's sketch of front entrance


I could see grapes on the wrought iron staircase.
Martin J.

Some William Hague
 features on
Sligo Town Hall


The windows are shaped like rectangle and oval shaped

The pillars are Curved.

The stone is hewn and curved.

The harbour masters tower is made of the same brick as the wall around the building. There is a clock and a narrow bridge on top of the tower. There is also a bell on the tower.

Kelvin

Checking the local map with Mr J. Gallagher of Sligo Education Centre.

Thanks to the Director and Mr Gallagher of Sligo Education Centre for their assistance when we were organising the trip. Luckily for us they were still opposite the Town Hall at that time.

Original drawing of tower by William Hague

Another view of a window

This is my drawing by Martin

Ciara (4th class) hard at work getting the details of a pillar.

Measuring up.


Beautiful Stairway

Catherine sketched the door

'Pillasters make the chamber look very important'

When we got to Sligo, up to the town hall we went. We sketched pictures of the windows, doors and walls, pilasters, capitals and railings. We learned the names of all these from the Architect. He was very happy to answer our questions.
Megan

The bus parked at part of the harbour and let us off. Then we all walked up to the town hall. The teachers told us to sit down to sketch and write about the windows, pillars, stone and other things like that in our worksheets. When I looked up at the harbour master's tower, the town hall looked like it was falling down on top of me. It was because the clouds where moving so fast that it looked so horrifying, I nearly ran away. I screamed so hard and loud everyone stopped and laughed so much, water came out from their eyes
Kim. Fourth Class

Stephanie sketched this window

Archbishop's House Drumcondra

Fifth and Sixth Classes
We wanted to visit a William Hague building other than a church.
So we viewed the exterior of the Archbishop's Palace in Dublin


1891: An extension was built on to house the Diocesan archives. The total cost of the building was £20,000 approx. Today Dr. Desmond Connell lives there. The house is half hidden by trees but still looks much the same as it did over century ago.

P.S. The London journal 'Piccadilly' declared "that the brick palace at Clonliffe, while externally one of the the ugliest of edifices, is internally, a most beautiful and commodius residence".

Archbishop's House, Drumcondra, Dublin .

1885: William Joseph Walsh became Archbishop of Dublin. Lived in Rutland Square. He did not like inner city life even though he came from Dublin's inner city.

1888: 29th September he asked William Hague to design a new home for him.

1873 Hague had designed a residence for the Bishop of Meath in Mullingar.

1889: January. Hague presented his plans for a new residence at Clonliffe, Co. Dublin. The Plans were accepted. Hague appointed William Connolly & Son as contractor.

1889: November. It was reported in the press that the new 'palace' would be lit from top to bottom by electric light. Dr.Walsh wanted the library to be the most important room in his new house. He had a telescope erected on the roof as he had a keen interest in astronomy.

1890: Dr. Walsh moved into his new home. It became known as the 'brick palace'.

   

Schools Integration Project 1999/2000.
Archbishops House, Drumcondra, Dublin.
April 13th 2000.
The building was designed by William Hague
At half past two we arrived at the Archbishop's House. The Archbishop was not there.We split up into groups. My group was sketching the left side of the building. In my group were Niall, Oisín, Grace, Megan, Jolene, Lorraine and myself. A road ran by the facade where we were drawing. .The building was red bricked at the top and grey at the bottom. There were five windows on the first two rows and three on the bottom. Some of the windows had bars on them. To the left of the wall near the end was an arched window. There were bushes to the left of the building and rocks for us to sit on while we were working. We got a photograph on the entrance steps before we left. Caitríona

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