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.
Our 2024 Architectural Conservation and Original Drawing Awards are now open to applicants
02.04.2024
Posted by IGS
The Irish Georgian Society invites applications for its 2024 Architectural Conservation and Original Drawing Awards from all Irish architects and architectural practices, building surveyors, contractors, engineers, and other professionals involved in the conservation of historic buildings on the island of Ireland. The mission of the Awards is to encourage excellence in conservation and to celebrate those conservation professionals and practitioners responsible for projects of merit.
There will be two award categories: one for a conservation project and one for an original drawing (non-CAD) relating to an historic building or structure. Applications concerning historic buildings of all types, including vernacular, are welcome. Previously shortlisted projects have included churches, civic structures, courtyards, and houses both urban and rural.
The John Maiben Gilmartin Award, named for and endowed by the noted art historian, is a new prize granted annually by the Irish Georgian Society to support research in the history of Irish art, architecture and designed landscape, and of culture and society in Ireland of the long eighteenth century (broadly defined).
This award is open to post-doctoral researchers and early career scholars – that is, individuals who have been awarded their PhD degree within the previous seven years. Funds may be used to cover travel and accommodation costs for the purposes of research abroad or may be used to offset fees associated with academic publication, including for image rights and reproduction.
Students currently registered to post-graduate programmes are not eligible and are instead encouraged to apply for the Desmond Guinness Scholarship. https://www.igs.ie/education/scholarship
The assessor panel comprises: Dr Fintan Cullen, Professor Emeritus, School of Culture, Languages and Area Studies, University of Nottingham; Dr Conor Lucy, Associate Professor, School of Art History and Cultural Policy, University College Dublin; and Dr Finola O’Kane, Professor, School of Architecture, Planning & Environmental Policy, University College Dublin.
Award winners will be required to deliver a talk on the subject of their research to the Irish Georgian Society within 18 months of receipt of the award; and are encouraged to submit an article for consideration to Irish Architectural and Decorative Studies, the peer-reviewed journal of the IGS, or similar accredited publication, within 36 months. It is expected that the role of the award in supporting the research will be formally acknowledged by the recipient in due course.
The Scholarship does not have to be awarded in any one year, and the decision of the assessors, appointed by the Irish Georgian Society, is final. The total value of the award fund available for distribution is in the region of €5,000.
The closing date for applications is noon, Thursday 2nd May 2024. Applicants will be advised of the outcome of the competition by Thursday 30th May 2024. The winner of the award will normally be announced at the IGS Summer Party in June.
Application is made by completing the online form available here
Please note the following terms:
No additional information or any other accompanying material will be accepted.
All questions on the application form must be answered. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Late applications will not be accepted.
Two confidential reference letters supporting the application (with subject heading ‘John Maiben Gilmartin Award Reference Letter’) should be sent via email to emmeline.henderson@igs.ie. Each reference must be sent directly from the reference provider’s own email address (not the applicant’s) and arrive by the closing date of the competition.
Canvasing of assessor panel will result in disqualification.
If you have any further queries about the award please contact:
Caption: Desmond Guinness Scholarship adjudicator, Dr Conor Lucey presenting the Desmond Guinness Scholarship 2023 to Victoria McCarthy at the Irish Georgian Society’s Christmas party in Ely House.
Victoria McCarthy is a third year PhD candidate at the School of Architecture, UCD, under the supervision of Professor Finola O’Kane. Victoria’s doctoral research straddles the disciplines of designed landscape history and planning and uses the county of Kerry as a case study to explore the question of how the significance of Ireland’s designed landscapes are assessed, valued and managed.
Victoria applied for the Desmond Guinness Scholarship to undertake archival research in the Public Records Office Northern Ireland (PRONI). Whilst at PRONI, Victoria intends to consult the FitzGerald papers relating to the designed landscapes of Glanleam on Valentia Island, former home of the Fitzgerald’s, Knights of Kerry, as well as other Kerry-related papers (Crosbie, Kenmare, and Ward).
The Society welcomes the decision of the Desmond Guiness Scholarship adjudicators and acknowledges the relevance of this year’s candidate’s research to the Society’s work in promoting and protecting Ireland’s architecture and designed landscapes.
Lastly, the Society wishes to thank the Desmond Guinness Scholarship adjudicators (Christine Casey, Kathleen James Chakraborty, Alison FitzGerald, David Fleming, Conor Lucey, Anna Moran and Primrose Wilson) for lending their expertise, which ensures that the scholarship continues to be held in high academic regard.
Celebrating Desmond Guinness: family, friends & supporters gather in Dublin Castle, 1st Nov 2023
02.11.2023
Posted by IGS
Caption: Celebrating Desmond Guinness convenor, Robert O'Byrne with speaker Jerry Hall.
Celebrating Desmond Guinness, Dublin Castle, Wednesday 1st November 2023. Family, friends, and supporters gathered in Dublin Castle to celebrate and commemorate Desmond Guinness’s legacy in promoting and protecting Ireland’s architecture and allied arts.Celebrating Desmond Guinness was delivered by the Irish Georgian Society, in partnership with the Guinness family and the Office of Public Works, and with the support of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, The Heritage Council and Ecclesiastical Insurance.
Inspiring papers were delivered on themes that explored Desmond’s work in advocating for the protection of the Irish country house; campaigning to save Georgian Dublin; fostering research and publications on Ireland’s architecture and decorative arts; and his work overseas as an unofficial ambassador for Ireland’s cultural heritage, where he raised vital funds and forged relationships with benefactors in the UK and USA, which continue to this day through the Irish Georgian Society, which he co-founded with his first wife, Mariga Guinness.
The Society wishes to thank all the speakers and chairs for sharing their memories of and tributes to Desmond, as well as their knowledge and expertise of the Irish Georgian architecture and allied arts, which Desmond fought to save. The day was a fitting homage to Desmond’s herculean endeavours and achievements and captured and reflected the wit and dynamism, magnetism and aplomb with which he accomplished them.
Sir David Davies, President, Irish Georgian Society opening the Celebrating Desmond Guinness.
Rosemary Collier, Head of Heritage & Capital Works Delivery, Asst. Secretary General, OPW welcoming delegates to Dublin Castle.
Dr Edward McParland, (Chair), MRIA, Fellow emeritus of Trinity College Dublin chairing the morning session.
Sir Humphry Wakefield Bt., Friend of Hon Desmond Guinness delivering his paper, Fleeting Glimpses of a Shining Dragonfly: A Life of Constructive Achievement from Childhood, Oxford, Ireland and America.
Dr Erika Hanna, Assoc. Professor, Modern History, University of Bristol delivering her paper, Desmond Guinness, the Irish Georgian Society and the Preservation of Georgian Dublin, 1957-1972.
Dr Conor Lucey (Chair of the afternoon session), Assoc. Professor, School of Art History and Cultural Policy, UCD, member of the board of the Castletown Foundation and the Irish Georgian Society delivering the paper Bulletin, Journal and Prize: a Legacy in Scholarship by Dr Christine Casey, Professor, Architectural History, Trinity College Dublin and Castletown foundation board member.
Mary Heffernan, Director of National Monuments, OPW chairing the second morning session.
Máirtín D’Alton, Architect, Heritage Services - Conservation, OPW delivering his presentation entitled The Legacy of Desmond Guinness: Recent Works Uncover the Building History of Damer Housewhich included a slide showing him at a reception where he was awarded the Desmond Guinness Scholarship by the Hon. Desmond Guinness.
Christopher Moore, former Irish Georgian Society and Castletown Foundation board member and Chair of the latter, 2013 -2018 delivering his paper, Castletown & Doneraile: from the brink, which included previously unseen images from the Guinness family's private photographic albums.
Desmond's friend, the cultural icon, Jerry Hall treating us to extracts from his Leixlip diaries.
Dr John Goodall, Architectural Editor of Country Life Magazine delivering his paper, Country Life and the Irish Country House.
Jeremy G.D. Musson, LLB (Hons), MPhil, FSA deliver his paper entitled, ‘Through Desmond’s Eyes:’ Architectural History and Heritage Advocacy for a World Audience,which contained many personal reminiscences about his times spent with Desmond at Leixlip Castle and other Irish historic houses.
Donough Cahill, Executive Director, Irish Georgian Society chairing the afternoon session where he took the opportunity to thank all members of the Irish Georgian Society for their continuing support of the society which Desmond founded in 1958, while encouraging those not yet members to join today!
Dr Ciarán Reilly, Asst. Director, Centre for the Study of Historic Irish Houses & Estates, Maynooth University delivering his paper, ‘The Demesne Walls are Coming Down’ Figuratively Speaking: Opening Up the Country House, 1958-1978'.
Marion Cashman, former IGS board member and editor of The Irish Georgian Society: A Celebration (2008), sharing her paper, Memories of Desmond Guinness: 50 Years Campaigning for the Conservation of Ireland’s Architectural Heritage, which provided a wonderful account that spanned her first encounters with Desmond and the Society volunteering at Castletown in the 1970s through to her and her husband Adrian Masterson's work in commissioning the film, 'Saving Our Heritage, The Irish Georgian Society' which included in depth interviews with Desmond.
Robert O’Byrne, former IGS Vice-President and author of The Irish Georgian Society: A Celebration (2008) sharing his paper, Desmond Guinness in America.
Patrick Guinness, son of Desmond Guinness, former President of the Irish Georgian Society making the concluding remarks and thanking all gathered for their participation.
Robert O'Byrne, convenor of Celebrating Desmond Guinness addressing the audience of family, friends and supporters gathered in Dublin Castle
Desmond Guinness Scholarship 2023 Open for Applications
17.10.2023
Posted by IGS
The Hon. Desmond Guinness (1931-2020)
The Desmond Guinness Scholarship is awarded annually by the Irish Georgian Society to an applicant or applicants engaged in research on the visual arts and material culture of Ireland including the work of Irish architects, artists and craftsmen at home and abroad, 1600-1940. Preference will be given to work based on original documentary research. The Scholarship is intended for students who are currently enrolled for a postgraduate research degree either at MA/MPhil or PhD level.
The Scholarship does not have to be awarded in any one year, and the decision of the assessors, appointed by the Irish Georgian Society, is final. The total value of the scholarship fund available for distribution is in the region of €2,000. The award will be made before the end of December 2023.
Deadline for applications is 12 noon on Thursday 23rd November 2023.
No additional information or any other accompanying material will be accepted.
All questions must be answered and incomplete applications will not be considered.
Late applications will not be accepted.
The Scholarship will not cover tuition fees.
The following criteria will be taken into consideration when assessing the applications:
a) Originality and merit of the proposal
b) Candidates’ academic strengths
c) Potential of the project to contribute to scholarship
d) Budget & value for money
A confidential reference supporting the applicant (with subject heading 'Desmond Guinness Scholarship 2023 Reference) should be sent via email to emmeline.henderson@igs.ie. This emailed reference must be received directly from the reference provider's own email address (not the applicant's) and arrive by the closing date.
St George's Arts & Heritage Centre, Mitchelstown, Co. Cork
The IGS gathered in Saint George’s Arts & Heritage Centre in Mitchelstown, Co. Cork on 11th October to celebrate the projects supported through its Conservation Grant Programme in 2022 and 2023. Primrose Wilson, IGS Vice-President, thanked IGS London for its essential support in funding the programme and congratulated them in marking the 10th anniversary of its launch. She also reflected on the generosity of the late Homan Potterton through whom the Society has been able to assist conservation projects in counties Meath and Westmeath, and commended IGS members in the US for their continued support of conservation projects in Ireland. She also strongly endorsed the work of the YIGs in raising funds for conservation projects through their events.
GRANTS 2023
IGS London
Fiddown Church, Piltown, Co. Kilkenny (building report) €3,500 Temple Mills House, Co. Kildare (repairs to cast iron pedestrian bridge) €3,500 St George’s Art & Heritage Centre, Co. Cork (repairs to Gothic window) €4,000 Coollatin House, Shillelagh, Co. Wicklow (roof repairs in west wing) €4,000 Altidore Castle, Kilpedder, Co. Wicklow (repairs to external lime render) €4,000 Ballintemple House, Garvagh, Co Londonderry (repairs to front door) €700 Myrtle Grove, Youghal, Co. Cork (window repairs) €3,000 St Stephen’s Church, Mount Street Crescent, Dublin (railing repairs) €5,000 Civic Trust House, Pope’s Quay, Cork (window repairs) €5,000 Gatelodge, Temple House, Ballymote, Co. Sligo (window repairs) €2,250
Homan Potterton
7 Arch Bridge, Trim, Co. Meath (repairs to walls) €2,000 Malone Mausoleum, Co. Westmeath (external repairs) €4,000 Larchill Arcadian Gardens, Co. Meath (repairs to gazebo folly) €1,000 Mount Dalton, Mullingar, Co Westmeath (general conservation works) €3,000
IGS Inc (US)
Hindu Gothic Gateway, Dromana, Co. Waterford (building report) €3,200 Roundwood House, Mountrath, Co Laois (structural repairs) €7,500
YIGs
St Pauls Church, Cahir, Co. Tipperary (window repairs) Sum to be determined
GRANTS 2022
IGS London
Clonalis House, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon (window repairs) €4,000 Beaulieu House: Drogheda, Co Louth (dendrochronological survey) €1,340 Kilrush House, Freshford, Co Kilkenny (repairs to roof lantern) €4,000 St Philip’s Parochial Hall, Dartry, Dublin 6 (general repairs) €2,500 7 Arch Bridge, Trim, Co Meath (restoration of the buttresses) €3,000 Jamesbrook Hall, Midleton, Co. Cork (repair of porch windows) €1,000 Kildrought House, Celbridge, Co Kildare (window repairs) €3,000 Myrtle Grove, Youghal, Co Cork (window repairs) €2,000 Saint George’s Arts & Heritage Centre (repairs to chancel window) €3,000 Bantry House, Bantry, Co. Cork (repairs to balustrades) €4,000 34 Main Street, Chapelizod, Dublin 20 (general repairs) €2,500 Russborough House, Co. Wicklow (drawing room decorative scheme) €1,000 Headfort House, Kells, Co. Meath (window repairs) €4,000
Homan Potterton Grants
St Mary’s Church, Navan, Co. Meath (repairs to clock and bells) €3,000 Tullynally Castle, Co Westmeath (repairs to cast iron gates) €5,000 Malone Mausoleum, Co. Westmeath (conservation report) €2,000
