Heritage
The Schoolhouse boasts a captivating history dating back to its origins in the 19th century. Originally built in 1859, the building served as a school for the nearby St. Stephen’s Church. With its distinctive architecture and red-brick facade, the structure exudes an air of timeless elegance.
Early Beginnings
In 1997, the historic schoolhouse was transformed into a boutique hotel, seamlessly blending its rich past with modern amenities. Today, the Schoolhouse Hotel and Gastrobar stands as a charming testament to Dublin’s heritage, offering guests a unique and immersive experience in a setting that once nurtured young minds.
What stands today as The Schoolhouse Hotel began as the St. Stephen’s Parochial School. The foundations were laid, quite literally, for a place where young minds would find inspiration.
Beyond the sound of children’s laughter and dutiful lessons, the very design of this building was what first shifted minds and evoked creativity. Designed by two of the most famous architects in European history, this very site is a testament to skill, craftsmanship and architectural brilliance.
The Architects of Schoolhouse
During the 19th century, two remarkable architects, John George Coppinger Deane and Benjamin Woodward, wove a story of reverence, nostalgia and architectural brilliance through Dublin. Their legacy left an indelible mark on the city’s skyline.
John George Coppinger Deane, born in County Cork in 1829, embarked on a journey of architectural enlightenment across England and Italy. Deane’s journey began alongside Pugin & Ashlin before fate led him to partner with the talented Benjamin Woodward. Benjamin Woodward, hailing from England in 1816, found his artistic soulmate in Deane amidst the streets of Dublin. Together, they set out to rekindle the grandeur of Gothic architecture.
Gothic architecture, with its pointed arches, ribbed vaults and intricate decorative elements, captured their imaginations and defined their creative journey. It was their ability to connect this design to the hearts of the Irish that catapulted both Deane and Woodward to their fame.
Their masterpiece, the Museum Building at Trinity College Dublin, stands tall with its elegant pointed arches and ornate stonework. The Kildare Street Club, another jewel in their portfolio, preserves the spirit of Victorian elegance. Deane and Woodward championed the Gothic Revival movement in Ireland, bridging the gap between past and present.
The Creation of St. Stephen’s School
Built in 1856 and completed 1859, the Schoolhouse embodies the very essence of the Gothic Revival, with its pointed arches, raised ceilings and a sense of an almost spiritual abode.
In 1861, the doors of this institution swung open, welcoming the children of Dublin into its embrace. Guided by Headmaster Isaac Woodley, and later by the headmistresses Margaret and Jane Dowdall, this sanctuary of learning bloomed into life.
The laughter of 307 young hearts once filled these halls during the peak of the school’s glory in 1892. By 1910, Mr. Samuel Flynn had taken up the role of Principal, making his home in the graceful residence adjoining the school.
Let your imagination wander to the bygone era when the aroma of cooking wafted through the present day kitchen, once a classroom where young girls mastered the art of domestic science. The honour of the final principal was bestowed upon Miss Hilda Foster, who held the reins from 1956 to 1969.
As the walls witnessed these changes, they held within them tales of courage. The school desks themselves once served as barricades during the Battle of Mount Street Bridge, adorned with bullet scars and shrapnel fragments. In 1969, the Department of Education closed the doors of St. Stephen’s Parochial School. For 108 years, the halls had resonated with laughter, inquiry and growth.
The Schoolhouse Hotel
A period of quietude descended upon the building, until 1997 when a new chapter of rejuvenation unfurled. The Sweeney Hotel Group embraced the historic site, embarking on a passionate journey to restore its former grandeur. Guided by visionary designers and skilled architects, the Schoolhouse Hotel & Gastrobar was reborn in 1998, a phoenix rising from the ashes of time. Many original features were lovingly retained, allowing guests to traverse through history with every step.
Behold the transformation of former classrooms into the cherished Award-Winning Schoolhouse Hotel and Gastrobar, where conversations and camaraderie flow as freely as the history that surrounds them. With Room 331 having an incredibly special connection to the past. The Headmaster’s Room, the only suite that was present in the original 1859 Schoolhouse.
Tales & Fables
Beyond its historical significance, the Schoolhouse found its way into the pages of Irish literature. James Joyce, Ireland’s literary luminary, paid homage to the Schoolhouse Hotel in his famed work, Ulysses. Through his character Stephen Dedalus, Joyce draws a connection between the schoolhouse and the cyclical nature of history, an apt reflection of the building’s enduring presence through time.
During the 1916 Easter Rising, a defining moment in Ireland’s journey toward self-governance, the Schoolhouse bore witness to the upheaval and fervour of those times. With bullet holes dotting the ceiling of our Gastrobar, there is no doubt that battles were fought in this special space.
In the Schoolhouse’s early days as St. Stephen’s Parochial School, a heartwarming tale emerges. The headmaster and his loyal horse shared an extraordinary friendship. Tragedy struck when the horse passed away. Overwhelmed by grief, the headmaster laid his beloved companion to rest in the Schoolhouse’s garden, where the horse still remains today.
The Schoolhouse Hotel, a living bridge between eras, stands as a tribute to generations of learners. As you walk through the original doors, gaze out our iconic framed windows and meander through our bar and Blue Room, you step into history. We welcome you to Schoolhouse, where the past and present collide to showcase the excellence of the Irish.
