NEW KILDARE INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL
Leinster Leader 27 April 1946
New Kildare Industrial School
Briefly reported in last issue, Oakley Park, the magnificent Celbridge mansion, intimately associated with Irish history, changed hands once again, when it was sold last week for £14,625 by Mr. Kevin Wilson, the Auctioneer to the Irish Christian Brothers, to be turned into an industrial school.
Oakley Park was owned by Mr. P. Guiney a cousin of Mr. Denis Guiney.
A splendid example of Georgian architecture, it will be used by the Christian Brothers as an institute on the lines of Artane school and is expected to be ready to house about 200 boys in a year. It contains 16 bedrooms and will be further extended and fitted by the Brothers.
Here, it is told, are the graves of Henry and Mary Grattan, believed to have been the famous Henry Grattan’s grandparents – in a private burial ground. On a different occasion it was the residence of Richard John Caswell Maunsell, J.P., who was High Sheriff of Ireland. Large wine cellars attached to the mansion support the belief, current in the district, that here the first stout was brewed by a member of the Guinness family. Now plans of a very different nature are envisaged for the great house. Dormitories will be erected and special attention paid to the development of a farm. Everything is at hand for such a project, for the mansion stands in 153 acres of excellent land. A dairy section attached to the house is also ready to be taken over. Nothing definite however, has been announced, as to when alterations will start, owing to shortage of materials. No decision has been taken either regarding what boys will be accommodated, but a good case could be made for the committal of boys from country districts to this type of school.
The disposal of the property at such an excellent price has been, in any event, a signal success for the house of Wilson, the Auctioneers. The sale was at Commercial Buildings, Dame St., Dublin.
Oakley Park, Celbridge, was bought by the Christian Brothers as an institute to house about 200 boys
