‘Hopeful’ that Katharine Tynan House is protected and restored
By Aideen O'Flaherty
THE Tallaght Historical Society is hopeful that the former home of prolific writer Katharine Tynan, known as Whitehall House, will be protected and eventually restored.
The restoration of the home was part of the plans for the Newlands Farm site that were put forward by developer Hibernia REIT in recent months, as part of a wider residential development.
Hibernia lodged plans for the Katharine Tynan House
However, these plans were dealt a blow after the Newlands Farm site was not rezoned for residential use by councillors in a recent County Development Plan meeting, which is required for residential development at the site.
This week, The Echo asked a Hibernia spokesperson what their plans for Katharine Tynan House – which they lodged planning permission for earlier this month – would be, now that the land has not been rezoned.
In response, the spokesperson said: “The restoration of Katharine Tynan House has always been contingent on the delivery of the full Newlands Farm vision.”
The South Dublin County Development Plan meetings are ongoing, and the draft plan is expected to be published next month.
Last April, funding of €15,000 for repair and reinstatement works on Katharine Tynan House was awarded under the government’s Built Heritage Investment Scheme.
Katharine Tynan house c1902
Hibernia went on to submit a planning application for the project on June 4, outlining plans to refurbish the house – which is a Protected Structure – and change it from “a disused dwelling” into a community centre.
However, it is unclear if the developer now plans to progress this project if they secure planning permission. A decision on the application is due from South Dublin County Council by July 27.
The refurbishment of the house was backed by the Tallaght Historical Society, who hope that the structure will be protected whatever the outcome.
Ken Harrington from the Tallaght Historical Society told The Echo: “As I understand it, in the meantime Hibernia will continue to protect the structure insofar as is humanly possible.
“I’d be hopeful that the application for the restoration will be successful, and maybe in the fullness of time the house will be restored by somebody. I would hope that it will be kept and stabilised in the meantime.”
Katharine Tynan House has fallen into disrepair over the years, leading to repeated calls for it to be restored.
The prolific novelist and poet hosted numerous literary greats, including William Butler Yeats and AE Russell, in her home in the late 1800s.
