THE IRISH PENNY JOURNAL.
| Number 48. | SATURDAY, MAY 29, 1841. | Volume I. |
ORMEAU, COUNTY OF DOWN, THE SEAT OF THE MARQUESS OF DONEGAL.
In the selection of subjects for illustration in our Journal,there are none which we deem more worthy of attention, orwhich give us greater pleasure to notice, than the mansionsof our resident nobility and gentry; and it is from this feelingchiefly that we have made choice of Ormeau, the fineseat of the Marquess of Donegal, as eminently deserving anearly place among our topographical notices. Many finerplaces may indeed be seen in Ireland, belonging to noblemen,of equal or even inferior rank; but there are, unfortunately,few of these in which the presence of their lordly owners isso permanently to be found cementing the various classes ofsociety together by the legitimate bond of a common interest,and attracting the respectful attachment of the occupiers andworkers of the soil by the cheering parental encouragementwhich it is the duty of a proprietor to bestow.
Ormeau is situated on the east side of the river Lagan,above a mile south of Belfast.
The mansion, which, as our view of it will show, is an extensivepile of buildings in the Tudor style of architecture,was originally built as a cottage residence in the last century,and has since gradually approximated to its present extentand importance, befitting the rank of its noble proprietor, bysubsequent additions and improvements. It has now severalvery noble apartments, and an extensive suite of officesand bed-rooms; but as an architectural composition, it is defectiveas a whole, from the want of some grand and elevatedfeature to give variety of form to its general outline, and relievethe monotonous effect of so extensive a line of buildingsof equal or nearly equal height.
The original residence of the family was situated in thetown of Belfast, which may be said to have grown around it,and was a very magnificent castellated house, erected in thereign of James I. Its site was that now occupied by the fruitand vegetable markets, and it was surrounded by extensivegardens which covered the whole of the ground on whichDonegal-place and the Linen Hall now stand. Of this noblemansion, however, there are no vestiges now remaining. Itwas burnt in the year 1708, by an accidental fire, caused bythe carelessness of a female servant, on which occasion threedaughters of Arthur, the third Earl of Donegal, perished inthe flames; and though a portion of the building which escapeddestruction was afterwards occupied for some years,the family finally removing to their present residence, itspreservation was no longer necessary.
The demesne surrounding Ormeau is not of great extent,but the grounds are naturally of great pastoral beauty, commandingthe most charming views of Belfast Lough and adjacentmountains, and have received all the improvements thatcould be effected by art, guided by the refined taste of its accomplishedproprietress.
We have only to add, that ready access to this beautifuldemesne is freely given to all respectable strangers—a privilegeof which visitors to the Athens of the North should notfail to avail themselves.
P.
THE IRISH SHANAHUS,
BY WILLIAM CARLETON.
The state of Irish society has changed so rapidly withi