MacMurrough House

Terraced two-bay four-storey former house over basement, built c. 1835, with three-storey return to rear (west) elevation. Now in use as offices and gym. M-profile pitched roof, hipped to south, hidden behind granite parapet having carved cornice. Brick chimneystacks with clay pots. Brown brick, laid in Flemish bond, to walls, cut masonry plinth course over rendered walls to basement. Square-headed window openings, having raised render reveals and masonry sills. Mixed three-over-three pane and six-over-six pane timber sliding sash and replacement windows. Round-headed door opening with moulded render surround, carved stone doorcase comprising Ionic columns and entablature, leaded fanlight and timber panelled door. Nosed granite steps having cast-iron boot-scrape to platform. Cast-iron railings having spear-head finials and decorative collars on carved masonry plinth wall.

Part of a uniform terrace, this building maintains the parapet height and fenestration alignment of its neighbours to the north, creating a sense of continuity which makes a pleasing contribution to the streetscape. The retention of salient features, notably a fine Greek Revival Ionic doorcase, decorative fanlight and cast-iron boot-scrape lend artistic interest to the classically restrained facade. The road leading from St. Stephen's Green to Donnybrook was originally called Suesey Street. It was renamed Leeson Street in 1728 to commemorate the Leeson brewing family, who were responsible for significant development in the area. Some early Georgian houses remain but construction predominantly dates from the late eighteenth to mid-nineteenth centuries.