The history of Mountain View House is inextricably linked with the history of the Dower family who were prominent in the business and social life of Dungarvan for over 180 years. In the mid 18th century Robert Dower had a small brewery at Main Street, Dungarvan. In the early 1800s he moved to an existing brewery at Fair Lane (the property of the Marquiss of Waterford?) and was joined by his brother John Dower. They expanded the business calling it St. Brigid’s Well Brewery. Edward Dower was appointed chief brewer. They had their own brand name ‘Shamrock Ales’.

The Dower’s built two houses next to the Brewery. Mountain View was built in 1815 by John Dower (d. 1842). He left his estate including Mountain View to John Dower junr. The house was built on about 2 acres of land which was then “the fair green of Dungarvan”. For years it had been the official residence of the local resident magistrate. John R. Dower was a Justice of the Peace. The ground rent and adjoining land wAs purchased in fee by John R. Dower at the sale of the Marquis of Waterford’s property.

Brewery Lodge was built in 1837 by Robert Dower according to the Dungarvan Observer article. However, this could not be correct as Robert had died in 1830. “The ground on which it was erected was prior to that time a commonage with some thatched houses adjoining the road and a forge at the corner of it. At that time it was a much smaller house. In 1842 [This date is not correct as the house and grounds, walled garden etc. appear on the 1841 OS. map, so the work was carried out several years earlier. On the map there is a well marked “fort well”. The forge referred to is probably the building shown on the corner to the left of the house.] John R. Dower purchased the commonage and spent thousands of pounds in raising it and laying it out as it is now. He planted it with great care and laid out the garden, coach house, tennis court, etc.” In 1857 the house, grounds and 10 acres of marsh were leased by J.R. Dower from the Marquis of Waterford for 91 years at 100 guineas per anum. In 1872 JR. Dower renovated and enlarged the lodge at a cost of £1,800. Guy’s Directory of 1886 notes J.R. Dower as resident at Brewery Lodge.

John Dower built Mountain View in the early 19th century. According to a newspaper article in the Dungarvan Observer published in November 1917 the house was built in 1815. An Indenture of 1885 gives the date 1825. John Dower had gone to Pisa for health reasons and died there in 1842. He left his estate to John Robert Dower. The latter died in 1875 and the estate was administered by the Chancery until 1885 when the Dower interest in the brewery was sold. In March 1885 John R. Ignatius Dower (son of John R. Dower) purchased Mountain View for £250 from John Henry de la Poer, Marquis of Waterford whose family seat was at Curraghmore House. The document states that the property consisted of 2 acres 17 perches, the house, lawn, yards, garden cottages and lane. It states that the property was conveyed In fee-simple to John Dower in 1825 at £12 per annum for a period of 90 years.

In 1903 John R. Ignatius married Anne Lelia Longan (died 1964) daughter of Robert Toucher Longan Clerk of the Petty Sessions, whose family had settled at Ballinacourty in the late 17th century. John Ignatius died at Mountain View in 1928. His obituary was published in the Dungarvan Observer of 6 October 1928. It states that in 1887 he was appointed clerk to Dungarvan Poor Law Union. ‘Socially he was a great favourite. Possessed of a keen wit...he was a charming conversationalist...his topographical information was unbounded so far as his native town and county were concerned. An admirer of every form of sport, a sound constitutional Irishman, a fervent Catholic.’ He inherited various properties in and around Dungarvan including the Cunnigar which his father had purchased from the Duke of Devonshire in 1861.

In 1900 William E. Cartwright, Brewery Lodge married Josephine Mary Dower, a sister of John Ignatius. William was the son of the Rev. C.W. Cartwright of Seaton Rectory, Uppingham, Rutland. William managed the Dungarvan brewery for the Marquis of Waterford. In the mid 1930s John A. Cartwright was living at Mountain View. Some years later the house was acquired by the Casey family.

In recent times the house was left derelict and it seemed that the house and its fantastic architectural detail were to be lost forever.

Luckily the present owners Tom and Breda Conway saw the potential of the house and have restored and furnished it to its former glory. Many of the original features still remain including the sash windows and shutters; all in proper working order. Our guests can now enjoy period house accommodation in a convenient location in the centre of Dungarvan.