Cé Rath Maoláin

Cé Rath Maoláin (Rathmullan Pier) is located on the western shore of Lough Swilly on the Fanad Peninsula, Co. Donegal. The village, named after ‘Maoláin’s Ringfort’ is redolent in history, the scene of the Flight of the Earls in 1607, a major turning point in Irish history.

This popular seaside village lacked in public facilities for years until the Local Authority called for a Public Convenience Building to serve the needs of ferry users, locals and visitors with the aim of improving local services and enhance the visitor experience – a small but essential community hub that sits deftly in its historical context.

Cé Rath Maoláin provides an information hub, essential toilet and changing facilities, office and store. The sloping roof line in a seaward direction is a subtle nod to the ‘Flight of the Earls’ where the Earl of Tyrone and 90 followers ascended the gangway to sail to mainland Europe from the pier. Cé Rath Maoláin also references the adjacent Gun Battery, built to withstand a possible French invasion 200 years later – through its scale, solidity and form. Like the Battery, a protective structure, atmospheric and historic – voids are carved out of the limestone envelope to define a singular entry point, frame a sea view from the office and create a public interface at the information hub.

The lobby is an extension of the footpath to create a seamless transition between public, semi-public and private space within the building, it also provides refuge from the elements. An external stone bench protects the entrance from sand storms and a standalone external shower is located on the same axis as the bench. The strong pallet of materials is influenced heavily by its surroundings, fit for extreme coastal conditions. The stone envelope is muted and although contemporary, find its origins in the historical context – robust, timeless and tactile. The timber cladding and the stainless-steel trims around openin¬gs are a reference to other nautical elements found along the pier. Internal materials are durable, and walls are intentionally bright, referencing aquatic structures and equipment locally. Cé Rath Maoláin is an inclusive community resource that makes its subtle mark on historic ground.

Size
95 sq.m

Year
2018

Photography
Paul Doherty Photography

Awards
2019: Irish Construction Industry Awards
2019: KPMG Community Benefit Award (Property Industry Excellence Awards)
2019: Public Building of the Year Award (Building & Architect of the Year Awards)

Published
RIAI Architecture Ireland – August 2019
The Sunday Times
Building Ireland 2019