and for a time, Rathfarnham Castle became a source of earthquake information for the national media. Jesuits would spend their Tertianship at Rathfarnham. To the north of the castle was a long vaulted chamber formerly known as Cromwell’s Court or Fort. This was apparently a barn or storehouse erected as part of the castle farm and had narrow loopholes in its thick walls. In 1922, it was incorporated into the new retreat house, to which it formed the ground story and its character concealed from the outside by a uniform covering of cement plaster. Not far from the Golf Club House was an attractive little temple built of stone and brick, another relic of Lord Ely's occupation of Rathfarnham. Although rather out of repair, if restored, it would have added much to the charm of this part of the links. Unfortunately, by decision of the committee, it was demolished in 1979. In 1986, the Jesuits sold Rathfarnham Castle but before leaving, they removed the stained glass windows, made in the famous Harry Clarke studios, from the chapel and donated them to Tullamore Catholic Church which had been destroyed by fire in 1983. The other windows were donated to Our Lady's Hospice, Harold's Cross and Temple Street Children's Hospital, Dublin. Preservation The castle was sold to Delaware Properties in 1985 and it was feared that it was facing demolition. After immense public pressure to save the building, in 1987 it was purchased by the State and declared a National Monument. Currently, the Office of Public Works is carrying out extensive refurbishment throughout the castle but it is still open to the public during the summer months (5 May - 12 October). The Castle is presented undergoing active conservation, where visitors can see at first-hand tantalising glimpses of layers of its earlier existence uncovered during research. References External links Rathfarnham Castle - official site at Heritage Ireland The Ely Papers, PRONI Much of the text in this article is taken, with permission, from Rathfarnham On-Line https://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.geocities.com/jorgenpfhartogs/Rathfarnham_Castle.html&date=2009-10-26+01:01:04 South Dublin Libraries and Archeology, Early Christian Remains and Local Histories, Chapter 10, by Patrick Healy. Rathfarnham National Monuments in County Dublin Castles in South Dublin (county) Museums in South Dublin (county) Historic house museums in the Republic of Ireland Buildings and structures in South Dublin (county)