Oriel House

Oriel House is a hotel in the west end of the town of Ballincollig. It was built shortly after the Ballincollig Gunpowder Mills which was built in 1794 by Charles Henry Leslie. In 1983 it was officially opened as a hotel by Bill and Angela Shanahan. The hotel recently redeveloped and opened in late 2006 after being bought in 2003 by Cork Luxury Hotels.

History

Construction

Charles Henry Leslie, a Cork banker built Ballincollig Gunpowder Mills in 1794. Oriel House was built shortly after this. It was not known as Oriel House until later. In 1804/5 the house and powder mills were bought by the board of ordnance. The deeds were signed on behalf of the board by Brigadier General Orlando, the latter having fought in the wars to regain Portugal from Spain. He later allied himself with England against Napoleon. Mr.Charles Wilkes, who was a super intendent in the gunpowder mills, seems to have lived in the house from 1805-1815. In 1834 the Gunpowder Mills were bought by Thomas Tobin of Liverpool. He married Catherine Ellis in 1835 and they moved in to the house. Catherine was a keen painter so Thomas built an oriel so that she could paint from inside the oriel, which is about 20ft long and 10ft wide and even has a glass roof to give maximum natural light. It wasn’t until after this it was called Oriel House. Sr.Thomas Tobin was knighted in 1955 and was at this time employing about 500 people in his mills. During his years in Oriel House he always wore a velvet silk coat and a silk hat of bowler form. He died in 1881 and is buried in Inniscarra. After his death Lady Catherine moved to Albert House Mansion in London.

Post 1881

The house passed through a series of owners after this. In Guys directory of 1886 Colonel W. Balfe of the 11th Hussars was in Oriel House. The 11th Hussars were in Ballincollig from 1884-1886.In 1893 J.McKenzie MacMorran Was in the residence. In 1911 Lt. Col. Onslow R.F.A. lived there. In 1916 W. J. O Hara was living there. In 1922 the house was set on fire by the republicans but some local people cut the roof joyces and saved the Eastern Part of the house. In 1925 A. F. Mac Mullen lived in the house and his son R. Mac Mullen was living there in 1938. In 1947 Mrs. Marie Louise Perrins (of lea and perrins fame) came to live there. She later married Noel ……Mahoney of Blarney Woollen Mills. She was a very keen horse women. She moved out of the house as she felt the road was getting busy and dangerous for her and her horses (1957). She moved to Greybrook House Waterfall.

The Hotel

The house was left to various people until Bill Shanahan bought it in 1970 ho officially opened it as a hotel in 1983. The house retains its old world charm. The cellar bar is unique. Bill Shanahan has ensured that the past history of the house will be remembered by giving some of the rooms in the house historical names, such as “ Sir Thomas Tobin Room”, “Lady Catherine Room” and “Orlando Room”.

Recent Developments

Oriel House was recently redeveloped and opened in late 2006. It has a leisure centre, swimming pool and a spa. As the only hotel in Ballincollig it attracts many visitors.