Once one of Dublin’s finest private houses

St Helen’s was originally called ‘Seamount House’ and is set in stunning formal gardens believed to have been designed by the famous gardener Nivian Nivien. It was renamed ‘St Helens’ by Lord Gough when he bought it in 1851. In 1925 the Christian Brothers bought the house and used it as their headquarters and its large ballroom was converted for use as a chapel. The lands and the house came under so much pressure in the 1980s that it was proposed to be knocked down for re-zoned for housing. It was however listed as a building of national importance and has since been stylishly incorporated into the designs of this 5-star hotel. The building displays the motto “Mors Potior Macula”, meaning “Death rather than infamy.