It still is important to many of our readers to describe briefly the architecture and arrangements of this large and prosperous establishment. It occupies the summit of a hill overlooking the valley of the Shourna, facing Blarney Castle and its historic groves. The pile consists of a main building, surrounded by ornamental detached villas, the grounds being tastefully laid out with walks, terraces, flower-gardens and conservatories. The whole, including the Baths, form a group of unique beauty, replete with every convenience and luxury, which has been created by Dr. Barter solely for the special purposes to which it has been devoted, and for which it has become so long and justly celebrated. The divisional walls of the sudatorium or hot-room are carried out in Cork stone piers and styles, panelled in red Cork marble. The capping of the top rails is finished in polished Sicilian marble. The floors throughout the entire building are laid in Cork red marble which has a beautiful effect. On the gentlemen’s side the wall dividing the hot-room from the cooling room is broken by a circular-headed archway, twelve feet high and six feet broad, occupied by a single sheet of plate glass, through which from either side a beautiful view is presented of the cooling room from the one side and the hot-rooms from the other. These noble rooms are decorated in the highest style of architectural and ornamental art, and with the most consummate taste. Much use has been made of mirrored and stained glass, which, combined with the charming colours displayed by the tapestry and other decorations, give an Oriental and magnificent effect. In the centre of the beautiful cooling-room above as described, a marble fountain plays into a passage of large dimensions. The exquisite harmony of the colouring in this room requires to be seen to be appreciated, and, in fact, each portion of the building becomes a study in itself. The ladies end of the building is carried out in the same harmony and finish, but here more privacy has been obtained without injury to the general effect. A special arrangement is provided in the hot–rooms, which are lit from the ceiling by a novel and effective plan, the chief features of which are the maintenance of the purity of the internal atmosphere, the products of combustion of the gaslight passing directly into the external air, being separated from the hot-rooms by oblong circular-headed stained glass panels, the light from which produces a most pleasing effect. The architectural beauty of this stately structure is due to the talents of Mr. Richard Barter, on whom it reflects the highest credit. The arrangements made for the accommodation of the company yesterday were worthy of the place and its spirited proprietor. In addition to the magnificent suite of apartments thrown open for the occasion, an immense and taste-fully decorated marquee had been erected on the esplanade. Guests began to arrive at an early hour, and when the fête was at its fullest there could not have been less than seven hundred ladies and gentlemen on the ground. The coup d’evil at this time was of a character perfectly charming and in some respects unique. It is only in some “Eastern province of the Sun” or in some forward region of that land, from which the title of the establishment has been drawn that portions of the picture might be looked for. In a few words our readers must fancy for themselves a landscape worthy of the loveliest clime – mellow depths of woodland enfolding reaches of emerald sward, all sheen and shadow beneath the soft glamour of an Irish summer sky. Centred in this fitting frame work let him picture the gleaming pinnacles and picturesque Oriental outlines of a building, which might be Aladdin’s lost palace dropped on a Munster hillock, the harem of the good Caliph Haroun, stolen (with the Monarch’s daughter in it) by the magician Nouvezin, and transplanted to a country where abduction was at one time a popular recommendation – or, to be at once modern and matter-of-fact, the Serai of some wealthy pasha in the Valley of Sweet Waters. Only that the Sunday’s Well of the Turkish capital can boast of no accessories such as those which heightened the grace of yesterday’s festival. Scattered in laughing groups on the greensward or promenading on the terrace and shaded woodland ways, the company wiled the time to the music of the band of the 63rd Regiment, which, with the Rhine String Band, was in attendance, till, assembled at a signal, the gay throng congregated at the marquee, where Dr. Barter delivered the following address: – Dr. Barter then said- Ladies and Gentlemen, we are this day, to celebrate the 14th anniversary of the introduction of the Bath into Western Europe since the time of the Romans, by the opening of the Bath just completed. But, as the Romans never visited Ireland, we celebrate the first Bath of this kind ever built upon Irish soil, and further the first Bath in the world’s history built for the purpose a special curative agent. So you see we commemorate several events to be recorded by future historians. I was not long in preserving that the bath had a far wider range of usefulness than that of a mere curative agent, important as that is. I have laboured hard to establish it as a great social institution, and now, every town of importance in Ireland has its hot air bath. Several hundred private mansions possess them. They are also to be found in large factories, lunatic asylums, union workhouses and hospitals. It is worthy of remark that the medical officers attached to those latter institutions have, without exception, reported favourably of the Bath, after long experience of its value as a sanitary and sanitive agent. Indeed, as far as Ireland is concerned, the Bath has assumed the dignified position of a national institution, of which Ireland may feel pretty proud. I have been accused by several of my friends of want of prudence in extending the bath. They said I should have kept ‘the goose that laid the golden egg’ at home, but, the good of my fellowman was my guiding principle. When the Bath was built I had to undergo an amount of persecution almost beyond human endurance. My fellow labourers in the large field of professional advancement were my chief opponents, and are still, with a few honourable exceptions; but they are fast following the tide of public opinion, which has now fairly turned in my favour. Dr. Golden, physician to St. Thomas’ Hospital, in London, says that “the bath has opened a new era to man healthy and man diseased.” Erasmus Wilson says, “the bath is to man what the sun is to the world and its inhabitants.” Sentiments of similar import now frequently come from medical men, who have given the Bath a fair trial. The class who do not approve as a rule, are those who have no personal experience of the Bath, and they are legion. The Bath has already conferred untold happiness on millions of the present generation, and will millions still unborn. The Bath is a luxury free from vice, and may be daily taken with increasing pleasure and benefit, in health and disease. Its mission is to suffering humanity, its objects are the prolongation of life, the increase of human happiness, and mitigation of human misery. It is based upon science, is supported by theory and is established by experience. It is the only institution in the world’s history that has been handed down unchanged in its leading principles and has always been enjoyed by the Eastern nations and Homer sings its praise. In conclusion, I have to thank you all for coming here. I see many in this large assembly who have come from a distance at great personal inconvenience to testify by their presence here, their approval of my principle, for which, be assured, I feel deeply grateful. I have to thank my friend, Mr. Barter for his untiring zeal, and for the taste displayed in the architectural design and ornamentation of the building; nor must I forget my lady friends, who for the love and gratitude to the Bath, for curing them, have added much to the internal adornment. We will now proceed to open the building. I will lead the way with my daughter and then leave you to other hands, trusting you may enjoy the comforts and pleasures which I have provided for you, as far as it was possible for me to do for so large an assemblage, but without the cup that inebriates, and as that is contrary to my principles, you will have an abundance of Samson’s beverage. (Non-alcoholic drink) At the conclusion of the address, the ceremony of the opening of the New Bath was performed; an interesting feature in the proceedings being the delivery of the following address by Miss Barter. The young lady said: – I now declare this Bath opened, and I hope you will all experience it yourselves, its benefits some time or other. My father has told you how he was led to build the first bath, and how successful it has since proved itself, under God’s blessing. Permit me, for him to say that no thought of self, influenced him in his exertions, his one and only aim being to spread the principle he believes to be so beneficial to his fellow-man. In conclusion, I desire God’s blessing on the building now open. At the conclusion of this address, which was received with universal applause, three hearty cheers were given for Dr. Barter and Miss Barter, and the company were then entertained to a magnificent dejuneur comprising the most excellent delicacies of French cuisine, after which dancing commenced and the company separated at a most reasonable hour, having spent a charming evening. The reporter then named, in alphabetical order, the entire seven hundred people who attended. The above article was printed in the Cork Examiner of 7th July 1870. The next illustrated lecture of the Blarney and District Historical Society is on Thursday 7th January 2016 at 8p.m. in Scoil Mhuire Gan Smál. Mr. Gerry White, of the Cork Branch of the Western Front Association, talks to us about ‘The Unknown Warrior or The Unknown Soldier of Westminster Abbey’. He was an unknown victim of the carnage of the First World War and Gerry asks: ‘Could he have been from Cork?’ We invite you all to hear his opinion. On 12th July 2015 the Blarney and District Historical Society celebrated 30 years in existence and our latest ‘Old Blarney’ Journal, is a special 30th Anniversary Edition of 160 pages. It also marks the 250th Anniversary of what is regarded as the official founding of Blarney Village. It is for sale in the local shops and it makes a perfect gift for both family and friends, especially those living abroad, at Christmas-time which is now fast approaching. Blarney and District Historical Society would like to thank all its members and friends for your support during the past thirty years and would like to take this opportunity to wish each and every one of you a Pleasant and Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year. Check out the new website for Blarney and District Historical Society at www.blarneyhistory.ie Enquiries to Brian Gabriel 087 2153216 / bg1@eircom.net
