Oak Park, County Carlow Explained

Oak Park is a Georgian house and estate in County Carlow, Ireland, located 3km (02miles) north of the town of Carlow.^[1]

History

The estate was purchased by Irish MP Henry Bruen in 1775 and was substantially remodelled to its current form by the architect William Vitruvius Morrison in 1832.^[2] It remained in the family until 1957, being inhabited by Bruen's son and grandson, both MPs of the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.^[3]

In 1960 the property was sold to the state via the Irish Land Commission, and it ultimately became the headquarters of Teagasc in the 21st century.

Buildings and structures

The site includes several notable buildings and structures including Oak Park House. What was originally an extensive Georgian house dating from around 1760 was remodelled in 1832 to become a five-bay, two-storey house. The redesign was led by William Vitruvius Morrison and Richard Morrison.^[4] A granite ionic triumphal arch was also constructed to their design.^{[5] [6]}

The house was later extensively restored following a fire by architect William Mansfield Mitchell in 1902.

Other structures on the estate include:

• A mausoleum (built c. 1841; now ruined), designed by John B. Keane in a Greek Revival style^{[7] [8]}
• Oakpark Graveyard (c. 1700–1750), with remains of a church built c. 1725^[9]
• A two-storey stable complex (built c. 1750–1780), renovated in 1985^[10]
• A single-arch cast-iron bridge (built c. 1815), designed by George Papworth^{[11] [12]}

Other facilities

120acres of the site are now operated by the Carlow Tourist Office as Oak Park Forest Park.^[13] The admission-free park, which features 4km (02miles) of nature trails, won a Royal Dublin Society Irish Forestry Award in 2013.^{[14] [15]}

Oak Park also hosts a 239order=flipNaNorder=flip "national centre for tillage and bio-energy crops research", operated by Teagasc.^[16]

See also

• Carlow County Museum
• Duckett's Grove
• List of country houses in County Carlow

External links

• Bruen of Oak Park Papers in the National Library of Ireland Catalogue

Notes and References

1. Web site: Oak Park . The Irish Aesthete . 12 June 2023 . 3 October 2020.
2. Web site: MORRISON, WILLIAM VITRUVIUS - Dictionary of Irish Architects . www.dia.ie . 12 June 2023.
3. Web site: Bruen, Henry (1789-1852), of Oak Park, co. Carlow. The History of Parliament. 28 March 2017.
4. Web site: Oak Park House, Oak Park Demesne, County Carlow: 10300206. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. 28 March 2017.
5. Web site: Oak Park House, Oak Park Demesne, County Carlow: 10300209 . 28 March 2017 . National Inventory of Architectural Heritage.
6. Web site: A Grand Approach I . The Irish Aesthete . 12 June 2023 . 30 September 2020.
7. Web site: Oak Park House, Oak Park Demesne, County Carlow: 10300204. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. 28 March 2017.
8. Web site: CO. CARLOW, OAK PARK Dictionary of Irish Architects - . www.dia.ie . 12 June 2023.
9. Web site: Oakpark Graveyard, Oak Park Demesne, County Carlow: 10300214. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. 28 March 2017.
10. Web site: Oak Park House, Oak Park Demesne, County Carlow: 10300215. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. 28 March 2017.
11. Web site: Oak Park House, Oak Park Demesne, County Carlow: 10300207. National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. 28 March 2017.
12. Web site: History and restoration of Oak Park bridge: An overview . Engineers Ireland . 12 June 2023 . en-IE.
13. Web site: Oak Park Forest Park. Carlow Garden Trail. 29 March 2017.
14. Web site: Gardens in Ireland: County Carlow Gardens. ILoveGardens.com. 28 March 2017.
15. Web site: Oak Park Forest Park. Carlow Tourism. 29 March 2017.
16. Web site: Facilities: Crops Science Department, Teagasc CELUP, Oak Park, Carlow. Teagasc. 29 March 2017.