Damer Haus / Damer House

In 1703 the family Butler sold Roscrea and in 1722 it came into the possession of John Damer. Damer had a residential house in Georgean style built within the bawn of the castle, attaching great importance to the details of the interior decoration. However, the family Damer only lived for a short time there, then the house was rented out to various persons. After the death of the last Damer in 1798 the house and later the whole castle was sold to the army. In 1906 the house was converted to a school, from 1924 to 1932 it was a tuberculosis sanatorium, until 1956 a school again and afterwards a library. In the 1970s the building was unused and was targeted for demolition and replacement by an amenity centre. The demolition could be prevented with a campaign by the Old Roscrea Society and the Irish Georgian Society. In 1974 the Irish Georgian Society leased the house for 99 years and started a time, money and work intensive restoration. The newly founded Roscrea Heritage Society took over the house and the lease in 1983. Today it is in the custody of the Office of Public Works and is open to the public.