The vision of the Irish Georgian Society is to conserve, protect and foster a keen interest and a respect for Ireland’s architectural heritage and decorative arts. These aims are achieved through its scholarly and conservation education programmes, through its support of conservation projects and planning issues, and vitally, through its members and their activities.
Sirius Arts Centre restoration update
04.09.2025
Posted by IGS
With the first phase of works in restoring the former clubhouse of the Royal Cork Yacht Club completed in 2024 (read more here), the Society is continuing its collaboration with the Sirius Arts Centre in revitalising this maritime gem and reinstating key architectural features that have been lost over time. This year, through the support of the Society’s US members, the project is focussing on roof works to the annex structures, the reinstatement of a chimney stack and barrel roof lights to the east wing, the reinstatement of doors to the loggia which faces out to Cork harbour, crack repairs and painting exterior walls and windows.
Reinstating doors to a loggia to the rear of the building which looks out over Cork harbourReconstructing a chimney stack to the east wing which had been removed in the past.Reinstating pitched roof to the east annex which had previously been replaced by a flat roof.View of barrel roof lights from Lawrence Collection photo (NLI)
Conservation architect Gareth O'Callaghan (JCA Architects) discusses the materials that may have been used in constructing the barrel roof lights ion the east wing.
The board of the Irish Georgian Foundation wishes to express its deepest thanks to Michael Wall on his retirement as Chair, a position he has held since 2018. His outstanding leadership during this time guided the Irish Georgian Society through its completion of the City Assembly House, a successful navigation of the challenges of Covid, and the adoption of the Sirius Arts Centre as a restoration project. Under his guidance, the Society has not only strengthened its advocacy and conservation work but has also grown in reach and relevance, ensuring the continued safeguarding of our unique heritage for future generations. Michael will remain very much involved with the Society and continue to support its valuable work.
With Michael’s departure from the board, the Irish Georgian Foundation is delighted to announce the appointment of his successor, Jacqueline Hall. Jacqueline has been an active member of the IGF board since 2023 and also sits on the IGF Governance Committee and the Sirius Arts Centre Governance Working Group. She is founder and principal of Partners in Communication, and is a lay Member of the Board of St. Patrick’s Cathedral. She has previously served on the Board of Governors and Guardians of the National Gallery of Ireland, and as President of the Public Relations Institute of Ireland. She is a graduate from UCD (BA (Hons.) History & History of Art) and holds further qualifications from TUD (Marketing Management), UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School (Grad Dip in Corporate Governance), The Honourable Society of King’s Inns (Advanced Dip in Data Protection Law/GDPR), and TCD (Grad Dip in Conflict & Dispute Resolution). The board very much looks forward to working with Jacqueline in the coming years as the IGS continues its important role as a champion of Ireland’s architectural and decorative arts heritage.
Launch of 'The Patrick Earley Collection' exhibition, 10th July 2025
16.07.2025
Posted by IGS
Mary Heffernan launching the exhibition
We were delighted to welcome a large crowd of attendees for the launch of our new summer exhibition The Patrick Earley Collection: Eighteenth and Nineteenth-Century Views of Dublin and Wicklow on the afternoon of Thursday the 10th of July.
Guests gathered in the Daniel O'Connell and Knight of Glin rooms in the City Assembly for an introductory speech by Michael Wall, followed by a speech by Mary Heffernan of the OPW to formally launch the exhibition. Attendees on the day included collector Patrick Earley and his family.
The exhibition is open 10am to 5pm Tuesday-Friday, and 12pm-5pm Saturday until the 27th of September in the Daniel O'Connell room. Admission is Free. For more information on the exhibition click here.
L-R: Exhibition curator William Laffan, Mary Heffernan and Patrick Earley Michael Wall and Jaqueline Hall PJ Walls and IGS Director Donough Cahill L-R: Seamus Moran, Mary Heffernan and Ian Lumley L-R: Johnny McCoy, Letitia Pollard and Scott Hayes L-R: Alannah Pollard and Marianne Gorman L-R: Lord and Lady Ardee, Vitoria Browne Philip O'Kane and his daughter Professor Finola O'Kane L-R: Ivor McElveen and Glascott SymesL-R: Robert Towers and Donough Cahill
Last Saturday afternoon, the 28th of June, IGS members and friends enjoyed our annual Summer party. This year's event took place at Killua Castle in Westmeath. The castle has connections to both Sir Walter Raleigh and Lawrence of Arabia and has been completely restored by the Krause family after lying in ruin for almost one hundred years.
Despite the overcast weather, guests enjoyed drinks & canapes on the lawn followed by the ever popular annual summer party raffle. The highlight of the afternoon was a tour of the castle's magnificent interior.
We would like to thank the IGS Events Committee, all who attended, and owners Allen and Lorena Sangines-Krause for being such accommodating and gracious hosts.
IGS Director Donough Cahill addressing attendees
L-R: Emmeline Henderson, Donough Cahill, Jaqueline Hall
PJ Walls and Cliona Buckley
Robin Mandal and Pat Murray
Jacqueline Hall and Rose Mary Craig
L-R: Scott Hayes, Geralyn and Kieran White
Shirley Henderson and Donough Cahill
L-R: Olga Safronova, Lesya Melnychuk, Lorena Krause, Larysa Gerasko and IGS Events Coordinator Yuliia Parkhomenko
The Patrick Earley Collection: Eighteenth and Nineteenth-Century Views of Dublin and Wicklow 11th July - 27th August, The Daniel O'Connell room, City Assembly House, Dublin 2
Over the course of fifty years Patrick Earley assembled an outstanding collection of Irish topographical art, focusing on portrayals of Dublin and Wicklow over the period 1770 to 1870. The collection has recently been acquired by the State and a selection will be exhibited in the historic Daniel O'Connell room at the City Assembly House. The exhibition will feature early nineteenth-century views of Powerscourt Waterfall and Grafton Street, of Georgian College Green and Victorian Bray. Among the artists represented will be William Sadler, John Henry Campbell and Patrick Vincent Duffy.
This Irish Georgian Society exhibition is delivered in partnership with the Office of Public Works and with the support of Northern Trust, the National Built Heritage Service, and the Heritage Council.
Opening Hours: Tuesdays-Fridays 10am to 5pm, and Saturdays 12pm to 5pm Admission is FREE
*Please note the Daniel O'Connell room is only accessible by stairs*
Image: Sackville Street and Carlisle Bridge, 1813, by William Sadler (c. 1782-1839). Photo courtesy OPW.
Earlier this month IGS members enjoyed a memorable trip to Romania.
This was the second IGS trip to Romania, following a very successful and popular trip last April.
On May 8th twenty of our members arrived in Bucharest for a 6-day trip to tour some of the architectural and heritage highlights of the country. This year's trip was enhanced and featured a more in depth visit of the fascinating towns of Cluj and Targu Mures.
Members saw a great variety of architectural styles during the trip - from Neo-Wallachian & Bavarian palaces to Saxon & Hungarian manor houses - reflecting the many minorities in a country influenced by the former Ottoman, Russian and Habsburg empires.
