Kirwan House

Kirwan House or The Female Orphan House was a protestant run female orphanage on Dublin's North Circular Road.

The Female Orphan Society was established in Dublin, in 1790 (possibly Irelands oldest Charity, incorporated in one of the last acts of the Irish Parliament before the Act of Union in 1800). Destitute Girls (whose both parents were deceased) were placed in the home, and were instructed in the reformed (Protestant) Christian faith, and were trained to be domestic servants. The Female Orphan House was founded by Mrs. Edward Tighe and Mrs. Margaret Este(who died in 1791 and replaced by Elizabeth La Touche) initially in a small property on Prussia Street but moved to larger premises on North Circular Road, and named Kirwan House after the Dean of Killala, Walter Blake Kirwan, who preached sermons regarding the establishment of such an institution.

The Architect of the Chapel built in 1818 was William Farrell renowned for many Church of Ireland buildings, and contained plaster work by the renowned stuccodore George Stapleton.

The Home was visited by George IV in 1821 during his Irish visit, stopping on his way to the Viceroys Lodge in the Phoenix Park. The home had accommodation for 160 orphans and an episcopal chapel. For a time some land in the Phoenix park was allocated to the home to provide cattle for the production of milk.

Regardless of their religion before entering the Institution the girls were brought up in the Anglican faith. The Institution was funded through government grants, subscriptions, donations and the proceeds of the work of the girls.

The La Touche family having a long history associated with the home, Peter La Touche and his brother John were governors of Kirwan House, Peters wife Elizabeth was headmistress, in 1942 the last La Touche associated with the Home Miss Mary La Touche who was governor died.

Rev. Charles Dickinson DD, who became Anglican Bishop of Meath served as chaplain to the home for 12 years.

In 1943 another Protestant run orphanage Belvedere Protestant Children's Orphanage, in Westmeath, closed and the remaining four orphans were transferred to Kirwan House.

Kirwan House would have been associated with another Church of Ireland designated Mother and Child Home, the Bethany Home, with mothers and children transferred between them

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