[Extracts from the Town of Monaghan list by C E B Brett , published by the Ulster Architectural Heritage Society and An Taisce in 1970 (reprinted 1973).]
As a square, not of great distinction; as an open space providing
a focus and centre for the town, important. In 1801, Coote says:
'a handsome square, which has the court house in the principal
front, with a new town clock, commands one entrance, and here
the linen market is held on Mondays'. The old courthouse disappeared
early in the century; the hiring cross was removed in the 1870s
to make way for the Rossmore memorial in the centre of the square,
to its present site in Old Cross Square. If an adequate car-park
could be built near-by, and the feeling of spaciousness restored
by banning parking and planting mature trees, the Diamond would
be greatly improved.
In 1835, John O'Donovan noted: 'The large house in the Diamond
opposite Glasslough Street is said to occupy the site of a Castle
... in the rear of this, some old walls are to be seen, said to
be the remains of an old Abbey".
Rossmore Memorial, The Diamond:
c. 1875; architect unknown. A formidable High Victorian fountain
of red sandstone, now deeply weathered, in the very centre of
the square on an octagonal plinth of two granite steps. The eight
letters R-O-S-S-M-O-R-E are strung conveniently around the octagon
above. There is an inscription, "In memory of the Rt. Honble
Henry Robert 4th Baron Rossmore who died at Windsor 28th day of
March 1874 in his 23rd year"; another inscription, now wholly
illegible; and a scattering of escutcheons and badges. The central
pink marble column supports a drinking bowl: around this, eight
grey marble columns with floral sandstone capitals, support the
pinnacled superstructure on pointed arches; the finial is borne
on eight more little columns, this time of granite; the weathercock,
the original railings, and the drinking trough, have now disappeared.
It would be nice if the fountain could be restored.
The appearance of this striking, if at present rather unfashionable,
monument is greatly disimproved by the fact that immediately beside
it stands an enormous silver painted steel pole carrying no less
than 41 wires, and a lamp; and by three traffic direction signs.
Go to Publications or
to Index