Castlebar Infantry Barracks

Detached five-bay two-storey canteen, sanctioned 1828; under construction 1831; extant 1838, on a symmetrical plan with three-bay two-storey rear (north) elevation. In alternative use, 1995. Refenestrated. Now disused. Pitched slate roof with clay or terracotta ridge tiles, drag edged tooled limestone ashlar chimney stacks having cut-limestone stringcourses below capping supporting terracotta or yellow terracotta tapered pots, and cast-iron rainwater goods on cut-limestone eaves retaining cast-iron hoppers and downpipes. Roughcast walls on rendered chamfered plinth. Segmental-headed central door opening with drag edged cut-limestone block-and-start surround centred on keystone framing replacement timber boarded or tongue-and-groove timber panelled door having overlight. Square-headed window openings with cut-limestone sills, and concealed dressings framing replacement uPVC casement windows replacing six-over-six timber sash windows. Set in shared grounds.

A canteen illustrating the development or redevelopment of the Castlebar Infantry Barracks complex in the early nineteenth century with the architectural value of the composition confirmed by such attributes as the compact rectilinear plan form centred on a streamlined Classical doorcase displaying good quality workmanship; and the uniform or near-uniform proportions of the openings on each floor. Having been well maintained, the elementary form and massing survive intact together with quantities of the historic or original fabric: the introduction of replacement fittings to most of the openings, however, has not had a beneficial impact on the character or integrity of the composition.