# Athy Courthouse

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{{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](/source/Athy)
| area =
| built =1857
| architect = [Frederick Darley](/source/Frederick_Darley_(architect))
| architecture = [Tudor Revival style](/source/Tudor_Revival_architecture)
| governing_body =
| website= 
}}
'''Athy Courthouse''' is a judicial building in Emily Square, [Athy](/source/Athy), [County Kildare](/source/County_Kildare), [Ireland](/source/Republic_of_Ireland). The structure, which was previously used as a [corn exchange](/source/corn_exchange), is listed on the [National Inventory of Architectural Heritage](/source/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](/source/corn_exchange) by [Augustus FitzGerald, 3rd Duke of Leinster](/source/Augustus_FitzGerald%2C_3rd_Duke_of_Leinster), whose seat was at [Carton House](/source/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](/source/Frederick_Darley_(architect)) in the [Tudor Revival style](/source/Tudor_Revival_architecture), built in [rubble masonry](/source/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](/source/loggia) of four bays on either side. There was originally a small [porch](/source/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 window](/source/sash_window)s with [architrave](/source/architrave)s surmounted by moulded gables with [finial](/source/finial)s. 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](/source/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](/source/assizes) were held in Athy in the early 20th century, but during the [Irish War of Independence](/source/Irish_War_of_Independence), the building was completed destroyed by fire in an attack by [Irish Republican Army](/source/Irish_Republican_Army_(1919%E2%80%931922)) 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](/source/District_Court_(Ireland)) and quarterly meetings of the, more senior, [circuit court](/source/Circuit_Court_(Ireland)).<ref name=cs/> It also hosted for the County Kildare [Gaelic Athletic Association](/source/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](/source/Minister_for_Justice%2C_Home_Affairs_and_Migration), [John O'Donoghue](/source/John_O'Donoghue_(politician)), 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

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Athy Courthouse](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athy_Courthouse) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athy_Courthouse?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.