Doorus House
was built c.1810 by the de Basterot family of France,
some of whom had come
to live in Ireland in the late 18th century.
The house was
renovated in 1866.
In the late 19th century it was the summer house of
Florimond, Comte de Basterot
(a French count, born 1836, died 1904),
who lived abroad otherwise.
Comte de Basterot was a
friend of
W.B. Yeats and
Edward Martyn
and Lady Gregory.
The idea for the Abbey Theatre
emerged from their talks at Doorus House in 1896-1898.
The house was later owned by the Quinn family.
Then bought as a
shooting lodge by
Charles Ebrill.
Charles is listed in
Connacht Tribune,
9 Dec 1939,
as selling
"part of the lands at Dooras",
with the house known as "Duras Cottage"
(described as 2 storey cottage with outbuildings, at seashore),
apparently as part of some court case he seems to have lost.
See
also
Connacht Tribune,
16 Dec 1939.
Charles Ebrill died in 1954.
The house was inherited by his sons
Denis and Adrian Ebrill.
Denis and Adrian donated it to
An Oige
(Irish Youth Hostel Association) in 1961.
It was formally opened as a youth hostel
(with a plaque about its literary past)
by literary critic
Thomas Rice Henn
on
Sun 20 Aug 1961.
Opening attended by many literary and prominent guests,
including
Ernest Blythe
and
Douglas Gageby.
See Connacht Tribune, 26 Aug 1961,
p.7
and
p.10.
See feature on house,
Connacht Tribune,
July 20, 1973.
It was for some years
Doorus House Youth Hostel
(thus spelt).
It is now
Duras House & Gardens
(thus spelt).
Doorus House.
See larger
and full size.
Photo 2007. From Stephen Holman.
Used with permission.
Doorus House.
Formerly on facebook.
Doorus House.
Formerly on facebook.
Doorus House.
Photo 2009. From here.
Used with permission.
Doorus House, Kinvara, Co.Galway.
Formerly at An Oige.
Doorus House, Kinvara, Co.Galway.
Formerly here.
The plaque today.
Formerly on facebook.
The plaque today.
Photo 2009. From here.
Used with permission.
Same room as above. Picture referring to opening of youth hostel in 1961.
Photo 2009. From here.
Used with permission.
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