Myrtle Grove — Youghal-Lands

Adjacent to St Mary's Church (CO067-02903-) 'a much-altered Elizabethan house' (Killanin and Duignan 1962, 460-1) built originally a College for choristers and serving a dual role as residence for the Warden of the Collegiate church of Youghal, established in 1464 by Richard Benet under a charter granted by Thomas Fitzgerald, 8th Earl of Desmond. After the Desmond Rebellion in 1586 some of the then Earl's extensive lands in Youghal and Lismore were granted to Sir Walter Raleigh who used both Lismore and Myrtle Grove as a base serving as mayor of Youghal from 1588 to 1599. 'Myrtle Grove' represents one of the earliest, unfortified, continuously occupied houses in Ireland. A rectangular two-storey masonry house with an inhabited attic storey and some ad-hoc extensions at the N. There are three transverse gables on front and back elevations which together with the prominent chimneys provide an Elizabethan silhouette. However 'the windows have been modernized' (Hayman 1896, xiv-xv); the building has a relatively recent external appearance having been 'put into thorough repair' in 1897 (The Irish Builder, 1st Aug 1897). It represents one of the earliest, unfortified, continuously occupied houses in Ireland. Some internal rooms are lined with floor to ceiling regular oak panels, topped with a frieze panel with dentils. In 'Raleigh's drawing room, the richly carved oak mantlepiece cornice 'rests upon three figures, representing Faith, Hope and Charity, between which are enriched circular-headed panels, and a variety of emblematical devices fill up the rest of the structure' (Hayman 1896, xv; de Breffney and ffolliott 1975, 34). The fireplace itself is lined with blue and white tiles with the chimney piece supported by a pair of caryatid carved oak figures. In 1616 'Sir Lawrence Parsons took this house from the Earl of Cork for a residence' (Hayman ibid.); residence of Hedges family in 17th century, Hayman family in 18th century; still a private residence. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 2: East and South Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1994). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009