Indicated — Mountpelier

Situated on the crest of Montpellier Hill the house enjoys panoramic views N and E with those to the S and W somewhat restricted by forestry. The building popularly known as the 'Hell fire Club' was built by the Right Hon. William Connolly, speaker of the Irish House of Commonsc.1729. It was situated in the centre of an extensive deerpark. A detached five-bay single-storey-over-basement former hunting lodge on hill summit, built c.1740, burnt soon after, with vaulted stone roof repair, now derelict. Projecting porch / gallery with arched window to front, between plain openings in main elevation. Two wings with small rooms and sloping stone roofs, and projecting shelter walls. Projecting wing to rear with small semi-circular window. Internal rooms with fireplaces, arched doorways and niches, and connecting gallery. Healy noted that the house consisted of two large rooms and a hall on the upper floor. There was a small loft over the parlour and hall. There was a small loft over the parlour and hall. On the ground level was the kitchen, servants' quarters and stairs to the upper rooms. The hall door was reached by a flight of stone steps (Healy 2004, 162-3). Compiled by: Paul Walsh and Padraig Clancy Revised upload on: 7 July 2018