Little Ratra
Encyclopedia
Little Ratra, sometimes called Ratra House, is one of the minor state residences located in Dublin's Phoenix Park
. Until recently it was used as the Civil Defence School.
The building, which was built circa
1876 and originally known as the Little Lodge, was the official residence of the Private Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
, who lived out of season in the next door Viceregal Lodge
. Its first resident was Lord Randolph Churchill
who was appointed his Private Secretary by the then Lord Lieutenant, his father John Winston Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough. Churchill lived there with his wife Jennie Jerome, and his young son Winston Churchill
. Winston Churchill in his writings described his four years, from aged 2 to 6, spent in the Little Lodge as among the happiest of his life. It was claimed that he developed his interest in the military from watching military parades at the Lodge.
Following Irish independence in 1922 the house was used for some years by staff of the Governor-General of the Irish Free State
before becoming the official residence of Adjutant General of the Irish Army, Major General Brennan between 1926 and 1940.
It was the last Irish state residence to be connected to the ESB
grid, in 1937.
In 1945, the wheelchair-using retiring first President of Ireland
, Douglas Hyde
was judged too ill to return to his Roscommon
country house, Ratra. It was decided instead to move him into the vacant residence in the grounds of the Lodge (then renamed Áras an Uachtaráin). Hyde named the residence Little Ratra in honour of his old home. Hyde died there in 1949.
On 18 June 1951 it became the headquarters of the newly formed Irish Civil Defence
and renamed Ratra House, though Hyde's affection Little Ratra name remains widely used except in formal documents. The Irish Civil Defence School was relocated to Roscrea
, County Tipperary
in 2006 but Ratra House remains in use as an administrative building. Parts of the complex are still used by the Civil Defence such as the purpose-built training range used by firemen and rescue personnel.
Phoenix Park
Phoenix Park is an urban park in Dublin, Ireland, lying 2–4 km west of the city centre, north of the River Liffey. Its 16 km perimeter wall encloses , one of the largest walled city parks in Europe. It includes large areas of grassland and tree-lined avenues, and since the seventeenth...
. Until recently it was used as the Civil Defence School.
The building, which was built circa
Circa
Circa , usually abbreviated c. or ca. , means "approximately" in the English language, usually referring to a date...
1876 and originally known as the Little Lodge, was the official residence of the Private Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland was the British King's representative and head of the Irish executive during the Lordship of Ireland , the Kingdom of Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
, who lived out of season in the next door Viceregal Lodge
Áras an Uachtaráin
Áras an Uachtaráin , formerly the Viceregal Lodge, is the official residence of the President of Ireland. It is located in the Phoenix Park on the northside of Dublin.-Origins:...
. Its first resident was Lord Randolph Churchill
Lord Randolph Churchill
Lord Randolph Henry Spencer-Churchill MP was a British statesman. He was the third son of the 7th Duke of Marlborough and his wife Lady Frances Anne Emily Vane , daughter of the 3rd Marquess of Londonderry...
who was appointed his Private Secretary by the then Lord Lieutenant, his father John Winston Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough. Churchill lived there with his wife Jennie Jerome, and his young son Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
. Winston Churchill in his writings described his four years, from aged 2 to 6, spent in the Little Lodge as among the happiest of his life. It was claimed that he developed his interest in the military from watching military parades at the Lodge.
Following Irish independence in 1922 the house was used for some years by staff of the Governor-General of the Irish Free State
Governor-General of the Irish Free State
The Governor-General was the representative of the King in the 1922–1937 Irish Free State. Until 1927 he was also the agent of the British government in the Irish state. By convention the office of Governor-General was largely ceremonial...
before becoming the official residence of Adjutant General of the Irish Army, Major General Brennan between 1926 and 1940.
It was the last Irish state residence to be connected to the ESB
Electricity Supply Board
The Electricity Supply Board , is a semi-state electricity company in Ireland. While historically a monopoly, the ESB now operates as a commercial semi-state concern in a liberalised and competitive market...
grid, in 1937.
In 1945, the wheelchair-using retiring first President of Ireland
President of Ireland
The President of Ireland is the head of state of Ireland. The President is usually directly elected by the people for seven years, and can be elected for a maximum of two terms. The presidency is largely a ceremonial office, but the President does exercise certain limited powers with absolute...
, Douglas Hyde
Douglas Hyde
Douglas Hyde , known as An Craoibhín Aoibhinn , was an Irish scholar of the Irish language who served as the first President of Ireland from 1938 to 1945...
was judged too ill to return to his Roscommon
Roscommon
Roscommon is the county town of County Roscommon in Ireland. Its population at the 2006 census stood at 5,017 . The town is located near the junctions of the N60, N61 and N63 roads.-History:...
country house, Ratra. It was decided instead to move him into the vacant residence in the grounds of the Lodge (then renamed Áras an Uachtaráin). Hyde named the residence Little Ratra in honour of his old home. Hyde died there in 1949.
On 18 June 1951 it became the headquarters of the newly formed Irish Civil Defence
Civil Defence Ireland
Civil Defence Ireland is the national civil defence organisation of the Republic of Ireland. It is operated at local authority level in conjunction with the Department of Defence....
and renamed Ratra House, though Hyde's affection Little Ratra name remains widely used except in formal documents. The Irish Civil Defence School was relocated to Roscrea
Roscrea
Roscrea is a small heritage town in North Tipperary, Ireland. The town has a population of 4,910. Its main industries include meat processing and pharmaceuticals. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Ikerrin...
, County Tipperary
County Tipperary
County Tipperary is a county of Ireland. It is located in the province of Munster and is named after the town of Tipperary. The area of the county does not have a single local authority; local government is split between two authorities. In North Tipperary, part of the Mid-West Region, local...
in 2006 but Ratra House remains in use as an administrative building. Parts of the complex are still used by the Civil Defence such as the purpose-built training range used by firemen and rescue personnel.