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)

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We are very saddened to hear of the passing of Myrtle Allen, a long-time supporter of the Irish Georgian Society. Myrtle was an early advocate of the Society’s work and served for many years as Patron of our Cork chapter. Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this sad time.

Rest in Peace.

An article about her lifetime achievements has featured in the Irish Times.

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LUNCHTIME LECTURES
Engage in thought-provoking discussion with leading historians and experts while seated in the Knight of Glin Exhibition Room every Tuesday over the course of the exhibition. Lectures are free to attend and are seated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Tuesday 19 June - Private landscapes: the demesne paintings of Thomas Roberts

Tuesday 26 June - William Burton Conyngham: Patron of the Arts in Georgian Ireland

Tuesday 10 July - Pioneering artists and builders: the Society of Artists and their downfall

Tuesday 17 July - Exhibiting the Irish Nude from the Society of Artists to Rosc

Tuesday 24 July - The contribution of foreign artists to the cultural and commercial life of eighteenth-century Dublin

MUSICAL CONCERTS
Thursday 21 June, 6.00pm
In a rare chance to see two harpsichords side by side, Yonit Kosovske and Rachel Factor present a programme of repertoire both written for and transcribed for two harpsichords. Featuring works by such 18th century composers as Silvius Leopold Weiss, Vivaldi, Bach and more.

Booking required. Duration: 70 minutes. 

€18 IGS members / €22 non-members. Book online.

Saturday 7 July, 6.00pm
A selection of works for voice, recorder and basso continuo (harpsichord and cello) by eighteenth-century composers, many of whom had a connection with Dublin, including Handel, Geminiani, and Pepusch. The concert features cantatas and instrumental pieces, performed with a keen awareness of historical performance.

Booking required. Duration: 70 minutes. 

€18 IGS members / €22 non-members. Book online.

FAMILY & ADULT WORKSHOPS

Children's workshop: Georgian play and puppetry
Drop into the City Assembly House for a hands-on workshop with Edel Cox. This family session will be a fun and creative exploration of the unique exhibition 'Exhiting Art in Georgian Ireland', including insights into Georgian life and culture. Children will learn how to make their own puppet to take home, inspired by the games of the Georgian era!

Booking required. Duration: 80 minutes.

Saturday 30 June, 11.00am - Book online.
Saturday 21 July, 11.00am - Book online.

Children's drawing workshop with illustrator Chris Judge
Award-winning illustrator Chris Judge will lead this children's drawing workshop in the City Assembly House. Inspired by the paintings in the exhibition, children will draw their own colourful masterpiece, which will be framed for them to take home. Parents are welcome to join in!

Suitable for children aged 3 and up. Booking required. Duration: 120 minutes (drop in and out).

Saturday 7 July, 11.00am - Book online.

Thursday 5 July, 6.30pm - Adult life drawing class with James Hanley RHA
Join renowned artist James Hanley after hours in the City Assembly House fior a live nude lift drawing class. Learn from a contemporary master in the intimate surroundings of the Knight of Glin Exhibition Room. Visit our exhibition beforehand and be inspired by the techniques and materials used by the Society of Artists.

Chairs and easels will be provided but bring your materials of choice (pencil, charcoal or pastel, no paint or liquids are permitted). This class is suitable for all levels and abilities.

Booking required. Duration: 120 minutes. Book online.

FILM SCREENINGS
These will take place at the Irish Film Institute, 6 Eustace Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2

Throughout July - Archive at Lunchtime focus on Georgian Ireland
Every lunchtime throughout the month of July the Irish Film Institute will screen short documentary films from their archive, free of charge. These short films will focus on Georgian architecture in Ireland, with a particular focus on Georgian Dublin. Simply collect your free tickets from the Irish Film Institute Box Office. For more information on these shorts please visit www.ifi.ie – a full programme will be confirmed at the end of June.

The Big House in Ireland - Film Screening and Panel Discussion: The Last September
Wednesday 4 July, 6.30pm
Danielstown is the country home of Sir Richard Naylor and his wife, Lady Myra around the time of the Irish struggle for independence. Behind the façade of setpiece dinners, tennis parties and armycamp dances, however, all know that their essentially feudal way of life is coming to an end. Lady Myra’s niece, Lois, who is being courted by a captain in the British army, is lured by the menacingly playful and violent young man who has taken up residence at the bottom of the garden. What unfolds is a portrait of the demise of a way of life and a young woman’s coming of age in a dangerous time.

Filmed in Dowth Hall, Co. Meath, The Last September (1999) is a drama based on the 1929 novel of the same name by Elizabeth Bowen. This special screening, organised in partnership with the Irish Film Institute, will be followed by a panel discussion with photographer James Fennell (Burtown House), Fionnuala Ardee (Kilruddery House) and location manager Colm Nolan (Love and Friendship, Penny Dreadful), focusing on the ‘Big House’ in Ireland, the use of the Irish country house in cinema, and the attraction of Ireland as a film location.

€8.50 / €11. Book through www.ifi.ie 

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Volume XX of Irish Architectural and Decorative Studies will be in stock shortly. A new set of 4 journal boxes has been issued to coincide with this milestone. Made by Duffy’s Bookbinders here in Dublin, these beautiful boxes are the perfect way to store and display your journals. Costing only €100 for the set of 4 and benefiting the IGS scholarship fund, available exclusively from the IGS bookshop.

Prices
€35 each + PP
€ 60 for 2 boxes + PP
€100 for set of 4 + PP

Purchase instore or online from www.igs.ie/shop

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The City Assembly House and bookshop will be closed on Thursday 24th May for building works. There will be no access to the building on this date. The building and bookshop will re-open on Friday 25th May from 10.00am to 6.00pm. The IGS office will be business as usual, 9.30am to 5.00pm.

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DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama returns to its first home in the City Assembly House in South William Street, to perform in the beautiful newly restored Knight Of Glin Exhibition Room at the Irish Georgian Society. On 15^th October 1890, the Dublin Municipal School of Music opened its doors at the Assembly Rooms in William Street.  Today, DIT Conservatory provides high quality, performance-based arts education encompassing a vibrant Junior Conservatory, third-level degree programmes and the Research Foundation for Music in Ireland. 

Monday 30^th April, 6pm
Georgian String Quartet
Inana Garis (violin 1), Anna Mc Kenna (violin 2), Dionne Timms (viola), Peadar Ó Loinsigh (cello)
Performing Dvořák’s String Quartet No.12 ‘American’ and Haydn’s String Quartet, Op.33 No.2 ‘The Joke’ 

Monday 14^th May, 6pm
DIT Harps perform classical and Irish traditional music in solo and ensemble contexts.

Monday 21^st May, 6pm
Cue Saxophone Quartet
Ryan Hargadon (soprano), Robert Finegan (alto), Sean Kenny (tenor) and Stephen O’Brien (baritone)
The Cue Saxophone Quartet perform a unique and exciting selection of pieces from 20^th and 21^st centuries, including works by Jean Françaix, Jun Nagao and Joby Talbot. 

These concerts are free to the public to attend.

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