{{Short description|Judicial building in Athy, County Kildare, Ireland}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}} {{Use British English|date=June 2023}} {{Infobox historic site | name = Athy Courthouse | native_name = | image = Emily Square, Athy, Co. Kildare (geograph 6442332).jpg | caption= Athy Courthouse | locmapin = Ireland County Kildare | map_dot_label = Athy Courthouse | coordinates ={{coord| 52.9914 | -6.9838 |type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}} | location = Emily Square, Athy | area = | built =1857 | architect = Frederick Darley | architecture = Tudor Revival style | governing_body = | website= }} '''Athy Courthouse''' is a judicial building in Emily Square, Athy, County Kildare, Ireland. The structure, which was previously used as a corn exchange, is listed on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage.<ref name=niah>{{cite web|url= https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/11505116/athy-court-house-emily-square-back-square-athy-athy-co-kildare |title=Athy Courthouse, Emily Square, Athy, Kildare|publisher=Buildings of Ireland|access-date=14 June 2023}}</ref>
==History== thumb|left|Plaque on the courthouse The building was commissioned in the mid-19th century as a corn exchange by Augustus FitzGerald, 3rd Duke of Leinster, whose seat was at Carton House.<ref name=cs>{{cite web|url=http://www.courts.ie/Courts.ie/Library3.nsf/0/F289C30271956D9A80256FBF003C6A31?OpenDocument |title=Architecture and heritage: Athy Courthouse|publisher=Courts Service|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201192544/http://www.courts.ie/Courts.ie/Library3.nsf/0/F289C30271956D9A80256FBF003C6A31?OpenDocument |archive-date=1 February 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> It was designed by Frederick Darley in the Tudor Revival style, built in rubble masonry and was officially opened on 6 October 1857.<ref>{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=9PNIAQAAIAAJ |title=The Courthouses of Ireland: A Gazetteer of Irish Courthouses|first1=Mildred|last1=Dunne|first2=Brian|last2=Phillips|publisher=Heritage Council|location=Kilkenny|year= 1999 |page=14|isbn=978-1901137132}}</ref>
The design involved a central courthouse block with a single storey loggia of four bays on either side. There was originally a small porch at the north end, although this was later converted into a toilet, and an office block of four bays at the south end.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.leinsterleader.ie/news/local-news/73233/Temporary-closure-of-Athy-courthouse-.html |title= Temporary closure of Athy courthouse|date=7 September 2012|newspaper=Leinster Live| access-date=14 June 2023}}</ref> Above the loggia, there were three sash windows with architraves surmounted by moulded gables with finials. Internally, the principal room was the main hall which was {{convert|70|feet}} long and {{convert|30|feet}} wide. Large quantities of corn were purchased there for the local mills and for the Dublin market.<ref>{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=VeJDAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA171 |title= Sights and Scenes in Our Fatherland |first= Thomas|last= Lacy|year= 1863|publisher=Simpkin, Marshall and Company |page=171}}</ref>
The main hall was found to be badly ventilated and poorly lit, and by the 1860s, it was in limited use.<ref name=cs/> Its use as a corn exchange declined further in the wake of the Great Depression of British Agriculture in the late 19th century.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=obn5AQAAQBAJ|first=T. W. |last=Fletcher|title= 'The Great Depression of English Agriculture 1873-1896' in ''British Agriculture 1875-1914'' |location=London|publisher= Methuen|year= 1973|isbn=978-1136581182|page= 31}}</ref> It was therefore converted for use as the local courthouse at around that time.<ref name=cs/>
The assizes were held in Athy in the early 20th century, but during the Irish War of Independence, the building was completed destroyed by fire in an attack by Irish Republican Army volunteers on 20 July 1920.<ref>{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=4jzBDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT102 |title= The War of Independence in Kildare |first= James|last= Durney |year= 2013|publisher=Mercier Press|isbn= 978-1781172292}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://kildare.ie/ehistory/index.php/a-deplorable-state-kildare-july-1920/ |title= 'A deplorable state' – Kildare July 1920|first=James|last=Durney|date=15 July 2020|publisher=Kildare Community Network|access-date=14 June 2023}}</ref> It was rebuilt to a design by Foley and O'Sullivan in around 1928. It then hosted regular meetings of the district court and quarterly meetings of the, more senior, circuit court.<ref name=cs/> It also hosted for the County Kildare Gaelic Athletic Association convention in February 1932.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://underhung13.rssing.com/chan-7985713/all_p11.html |title=Athy in 1932|publisher=Eye on the Past| access-date=14 June 2023}}</ref>
However, by the mid-1990s the fabric of the building was in a poor condition.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/letters/athy-courthouse-1.48578 |title=Athy Courthouse|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=13 May 1996|access-date=14 June 2023}}</ref> A major programme of refurbishment works was carried out by local contractors, D. and J. Carbery, at a cost of circa £362,000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2002-01-30/684/ |title= Dáil Éireann debate: Departmental Expenditure| date= 30 January 2002|access-date=14 June 2023}}</ref> to a design my Michael Lysaght in the late 20th century: it was officially re-opened by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, John O'Donoghue, on 21 June 2001.<ref name=cs/>
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Commercial buildings completed in 1857 Category:Athy Category:Buildings and structures in County Kildare Category:Courthouses in the Republic of Ireland Category:Corn exchanges in the Republic of Ireland