Works are underway in Beaulieu, Co. Louth, to repair the roof of a classical garden pavilion situated at the entrance to one of Ireland’s finest walled gardens. The pavilion comprises a much-altered Doric portico, dating to the Georgian period, that is attached to a later Edwardian south-facing glasshouse. Inside the glasshouse is a large full-height recess formed as a grotto that surrounds an artificial well with rustic stonework characteristic of classical grottoes.

Current repairs are focussed on the roof which will secure the building and allow breathing space to plan for future works to the portico and glazing. The project is being supported through grants from the Irish Georgian Society’s US chapters, the Built Heritage Investment Scheme, and The Heritage Council.

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Picnic Tour of County Meath - Saturday 8 July, 2017

Members started the day with a visit to Larchill Arcadian Gardens which has a beautiful designed landscape with ten follies and a Ferme Orneé which was developed by a haberdasher called Richard Prentice in the late eighteenth century. The group proceeded to Agher Church to see the the painted stained glass window by Thomas Jervais which once adorned the family chapel in Dangan Castle. This window was restored with the assistance of the Irish Georgian Society. Next on the tour, a grotto part of the estate of Summerhill House where the group met a local hermit. Then the group visited Dangan Obelisk, part of the ruined Dangan Castle estate which was own by the Wesley or Wellesley family. The obelisk was restored by Christopher Gray,  R. Daly (owner), Meath County Council and a grant from the Irish Georgian Society. Next, members were treated to a lovely lunch at Higginsbrook House provided by the Gray family. After lunch, the group visted the ruins of Trimblestown Castle and roamed the estates graveyard and chapel which was recently re-roofed by a local group. St. Mary's Abbey was next which is a house built next to the yellow steeple in Trim. Part of the monastery was converted to a house in 1415 by Sir John Talbot and changed owners most notable of which was Esther Johnson, better known as Stella who sold it to Jonathan Swift. It was later used as a school, its most famous scholar was Arthur Wesley, later the Duke of Wellington. 

 

  

 

 

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Scaffolding has been erected in the great octagonal Exhibition Room following the completion of works to soundproof the floor from what will be a commercial space below. This will provide access to the roof-light which requires replacement and will also facilitate works to the ceiling and walls of the room. The first big change is the removal of the enormous 1950s two tiered chandelier with its twelve large glass lightshades. This chandelier is for sale with proceeds going to support conservation. Get in touch if you know of a buyer!

This project is supported by The Gilbert and Ildiko Butler Foundation and the following supporters:

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Following a series of catastrophic fires in protected structures in Cork, the Irish Georgian Society calls for a greater understanding of the importance of and threats to the city's architectural heritage:

Cork, Ireland's most significant trading city for many hundreds of years, has suffered greatly from the destruction of some of her most significant buildings- yesterday St. Kevin's and last year Vernon Mount and Fortwilliam House. Despite the extraordinary wealth of Cork's Georgian and Victorian architectural heritage much research remains to be carried out. When compared with our knowledge of the Fitzwilliam, Gardiner and Aungier estates, who built and commissioned many of Dublin city's squares, streets, terraces and great houses, we know little of Cork. The comparison might also hold true for Limerick, where knowledge of the Pery family's developments has helped to save them from some insensitive development. Cork County Council's recent publication A Guide to the Archaeological and Architectural Heritage Sources (available online) reveals that the number of architectural history sources for Cork city remains meagre, with some notable exceptions provided by Dagmar O'Riain, Frank Keohane, Jeremy Williams, Mary Leland and Colin Rynne among others.

It is the intention of the Irish Georgian Society to actively support research into the architectural history of Cork city so that its architectural heritage may be more valued and thereby more likely to be conserved for future generations. Volume XXI of Irish Architectural and Decorative Studies, The Journal of the Irish Georgian Society will be devoted to the architectural and landscape heritage of Cork city with this aim in mind.

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Book of the Month: July 2017
Houses of Power The Places that Shaped the Tudor World 
by Simon Thurley 

What was it like to live as a royal Tudor? Why were their residences built as they were and what went on inside their walls? Who slept where and with who? Who chose the furnishings? And what were their passions?

The Tudors ruled through the day, throughout the night, in the bath, in bed and in the saddle. Their palaces were genuine power houses - the nerve-centre of military operations, the boardroom for all executive decisions and the core of international politics. Houses of Power is the result of Simon Thurley's thirty years of research, picking through architectural digs, and examining financial accounts, original plans and drawings to reconstruct the great Tudor houses and understand how these monarchs shaped their lives. Far more than simply an architectural history - a study of private life as well as politics, diplomacy and court - it gives an entirely new and remarkable insight into the Tudor world.

For the month of July, you can purchase this book at the special price of €40, with free worldwide postage. Or €30 from our bookshop on South William Street.

Published by Bantam Press (2017)

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Irish Georgian Society's International Tour to Moravia (17 - 22 June 2017)

The 2017 tour to Moravia led by Rose Mary Craig and Harriet Landseer visited a number of country houses and gardens in Czech Republic. The group stayed in the town of Brno while travalling to places of interest such as 1930's Tugendhat Villa, the Empire chateau of Boskovice, the baroque Jaromerice nad Rokytnou, Uhercice and the UNESCO listed Archbishop’s Summer Palace at Kromeriz.

   

  

   

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