Today at the City Assembly House, former Taoiseach John Bruton officially launched the Irish Georgian Society’s summer exhibition Exhibiting Art in Georgian Ireland. Commenting on the re-opening of the building, John Bruton remarked that “The revitalisation of the City Assembly House provides a tangible demonstration of what the Irish Georgian Society is all about – the promotion and protection of our architectural heritage.”

Celebrating the building’s original incarnation as the first purpose-built public gallery in Ireland and Britain, constructed by the Society of Artists in Ireland over 250 years ago. This exhibition re-assembles works by Society of Artists members such as Thomas Roberts, Jonathan Fisher, James Forrester, Robert Carver, Robert Healy and Hugh Douglas Hamilton, including many pieces which were first displayed in the building in the series of exhibitions the Society held there between 1766 and 1780.

President of the Irish Georgian Society Sir David Davies remarked “The completion of the City Assembly House conservation project brings to an end one of the most ambitious initiatives the Irish Georgian Society has undertaken in its sixty-year history. In all €2million was raised from donors and members in the United States, Ireland and the UK, and with the support of Dublin City Council and the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaelteacht.”

With loans secured from national institutions such as the National Gallery of Ireland, the Royal Irish Academy and private collectors, this exhibition reunites over eighty works by exhibiting Society of Artists’ members. An accompanying catalogue evaluates these stimulating years; assessing Ireland’s first introduction to exhibition culture and the significant contribution it made to an increasingly self-confident national school of Irish art. 

Running for six weeks from Saturday 16 June to Sunday 29 July, the public will have free access to the exhibition, with guided tours and exclusive events to mark the completion of the restoration of the City Assembly House. This will be one of 2018’s great cultural events in Ireland, and should not be missed. Events can be booked online at www.igs.ie/events

www.igs.ie / @IrishGeorgian / #CAH1766

Image: Michael Wall, Chairman IGF, John Bruton and Sir David Davies, President of IGS (Photo: Johnny Bambury)