Current tenants Taoiseach Floors 2 Owner Government of Ireland Renovated 2006 | Floor count 2 Province Leinster Renovation cost 600,000 EUR Current tenant Taoiseach | |
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Location Phoenix Park, Dublin, Ireland Similar Green Street Court Ho, Deerfield Residence, Phoenix Park, Chapel Royal - Dublin, Abbeville - Dublin | ||
The Steward's Lodge is a house which was originally part of the Farmleigh estate, alongside the Phoenix Park in Dublin. It is sometimes used as a residence by the Taoiseach (prime minister) of Ireland.
Contents
Map of Steward's Lodge, Castleknock, Dublin, Ireland
Origins
The Steward's Lodge was originally built in the grounds of Farmleigh house – an 18th Century estate which was formerly owned by members of the Guinness family. Originally accessible within the grounds of the estate, the lodge was subsequently separated from Farmleigh during later refurbishment works.
Taoiseach's residence
There is no official residence of the Taoiseach, with each Taoiseach residing in either their own homes, or in an apartment in Dublin. In the 1970s, plans were made to turn the former Apostolic Nunciature (formerly the Under Secretary's Lodge) in the Phoenix Park into an official residence. However, the plans fell through and the Georgian building was subsequently demolished.
In 2006, it was announced by the Office of Public Works that the Steward's Lodge had been renovated, at a cost of nearly €600,000. It was speculated that the house would become the official private residence of the Taoiseach after the 2007 general election and any official engagements would be carried out in the nearby Farmleigh or Government Buildings.
There was political sensitivity at government level about the project, with some concerned that it could be depicted as a lavish "perk" for the Taoiseach. In 2005, a spokeswoman for Bertie Ahern stated he had no interest in using it, and he remained resident in his private home in Drumcondra in Dublin. In 2008, it was reported that Brian Cowen might use it as his official residence. Media reports suggest that Garda concerns for the Taoiseach's security precluded him from continuing to reside in his own Dublin home in the city centre. Cowen did not formally reside in the Steward's Lodge, preferring to return to his family home in County Offaly, but he did use it "from time to time". In 2011, the Mail on Sunday and Sunday Mirror newspapers reported that the current Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, would make use of the residence, but there is no indication that he has used the Lodge over his private Dublin apartment or Castlebar residence.