Yesterday I was at the rugby international Ireland v Wales at The Aviva Stadium Dublin. This was only the second time at an international game the first being a couple of years ago in Croke Park Ireland v Scotland. We had arranged to meet a few friends at this hotel which is now called the “Sandymount” but which I would have known as “The Mount Herbert” Ten years ago our family celebrated da’s 70th birthday here before a night out at the greyhounds in Shelbourne Park. This statue is at the front of the hotel and has been a recent addition. It’s in the shadow of the new Aviva Stadium which I guess explains the rugby theme of the statue.
The Mount Herbert Hotel, is sited on the old Haig’s Distillery. The hotel consists of 8 interconnected Victorian houses, which were originally constructed in 1866 and built with bricks from the old distillery. For 100 years the buildings were the homes of Dublin aristocracy, with famous residents including Sir Henry Robinson, Vice President of the Irish Local Government Board from 1879 to 1891, and more recently the famous writer Mary Kenny. The hotel was founded in 1955 by a couple from Downpatrick, George Loughran and his wife Rosaleen. On 10 January 2011 the hotel changed its name to the Sandymount Hotel.
It Occurred To Me 
Great photo of our sculpture! Delighted to hear that you’ve known the hotel for a number of years and we look forward to welcoming you back in the future.
Oliver, thanks for the photo.
My mother, Rosaleen Mc Conn was from Downpatrick. My father, George Gerard Loughran was in fact from Dunamore, outside Cookstown. My grandmother was Mary Mc Guckian from Ardboe. I know Coalisland well. Be sure and say hello next time you are down. John Loughran
Hi John At the back of my mind I knew I had been told about the Tyrone connection with “The Mount Herbert” but couldn’t remember what it was. A number of years ago I was in a house in Ardboe and a man (who’s name I forget) talked about working as a porter in the Hotel for many years. Also, my mother in law Margaret Buckle née Woods went to the convent school in Ballynahinch and visits an lady who was at that school with your mother.The Old cliché applies “It’s a small world”
Good Luck Oliver