| The Ruishton Gallery - Housing - Rose Farm |
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Early in this
century, a major crime was committed in Dublin, to wit the theft of the Irish Crown
Jewels. These Jewels were never recovered, neither was the thief or thieves ever
apprehended, but although it could never be proved, the finger of suspicion pointed to the
Keeper or Assistant Keeper of the Jewels named Frank Shackleton, who was the brother of
the famous polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton. After the robery, Frank Shackleton left
Dublin and made his way to Ruishton and to Rose Farm. At that time, The Rose Farm was
owned, or rented, by his farther, who had started to grow roses on a commercial basis. The
suspicion he, Frank Shackleton was under must have been widespread, because the village
knew of his association with the Crown Jewels and inevitably of course, rumours began to
circulate. Lights were observed in the house all through the night and the general opinion
was that the Jewels were being dismantled there. Again, on one occasion Shackleton was
seen to be burying a box somewhere in the grounds, the official explanation was that the
box contained the body of a pet dog who died, but village rumour suggested that perhaps
the box contained some of the Jewels. After Shackleton’s eventual departure, some
enterprising men from the village apparently excavated the relevant piece of ground but
found no trace of Jewels, dog or box!’.   
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