The Bessborough Centre T/A Childhood Matters Bessboro Road, Cork, County Cork

"With that dark history all the buildings have to be leveled and good memorial park developed on the grounds"

"I lived here for 6 months and regardless of what went on back years ago I got great help and care I remember when I first got to the place I got an unpleasant vibe but the care and support for me and my daughters was amazing"

"Depressing place when you enter the atmosphere is abysmal there is a lot going on and people are friendly but it's errie feeling."

"Security ( TOP SECURITY ) woudnt even let me past the main gates . Must be a dark deep secret beyond those gates . Depressing place with the most unpleasant history I imagine . Avoid at all costs people !!"

"Magnificent building interesting from a historical view. Eg: Two plans of the house and grounds exist for 1841 and for 1901 and they highlight the changes that took place in the intervening years, many of which were due to altered estate management practices. Change was constantly happening in Bessborough and its estate. Each owner, members of the Pike family, left a personal mark on the big house and its lands. These would have included the creation of the farmyard as the estate endeavoured to become more self-sufficient. The "New" wind pump used to pump water up to the house also showed this emphasis on economy and self-sufficiency. In keeping with the fashions of the time a Keep was situated to the south east of the house. It was built mainly as a Folly. It is about 25ft. tall, 20ft. wide and 15ft. in length. There is a large stone block at each corner and a small window at each side. A small arched doorway serves as an entrance, which is flanked by two small windows of the same design. Also above the door are two small half-size windows. Inside it there are two small rooms, which are divided by a wall. The roof has since collapsed. Behind the Keep there was a children's burial ground. It is unclear as to whether it was used by the Pikes or used by any of the other families who once resided at Bessborough. Since the Sacred Heart Nuns came to Bessborough in 1922, they have used it as their Sisters' graveyard. Situated on the right side behind the Boathouse there are five islands which are called the "Miniature Lakes of Killarney". These were created by one of the Pikes, probably during the mid-19th Century. Five mini islands were artificially created and surrounded by a deep moat. Small paddleboats were said to have been stored in the nearby Boathouse and were used by the Pike Family to go boating around the island. A number of stone bridges were built to connect the islands, some of which have since collapsed. The grounds now include a crèche, workshops, garden and a Heritage Centre. The garden leads down to the shore by the Douglas Estuary and to the line where the old Cork, Blackrock and Passage Railway ran."