On Tuesday 27th June, IGS Executive Director, Donough Cahill welcomed Malcolm Noonan, TD, Minister of State for Heritage to the City Assembly House, where Minister Noonan delivered the opening address at the Irish Georgian Society and National Inventory of Architectural Heritage, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage’s Appreciating and Minding our Vernacular Architecture study day.

The study day formed an action of the Irish Georgian Society’s Conservation Education Programme which is supported by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and overseen by the IGS’s Assistant Director & Conservation Manager, Emmeline Henderson.

The study day was co-convened by the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage Architectural Conservation Advisors Dr Barry O’Reilly and Sarah Jane Halpin.

The full capacity in person audience and the many who joined online comprised both owners and occupiers of vernacular buildings, as well as heritage professionals and practitioners responsible for their maintenance and care: with formal Continuing Professional Development received from the Construction Industry Federation, Engineers Ireland, the Register of Heritage Contractors and the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland.

The Society would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the speakers: Tony Donoghue, independent film maker & furniture conservator; Sarah Jane Halpin, NIAH, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage; Dr Moses Jenkins, Historic Environment Scotland; Dr Fidelma Mullane, vernacular consultant; Rachel McKenna, Architectural Conservation Officer, Offaly County Council; Duncan McLaren, Dedalus Architects; Richard McLoughlin, Lotts Architecture & Urbanism; Anna Meenan, The Heritage Council; Dr Bairbre Ní Fhloinn, School of Irish, Celtic Studies and Folklore, UCD; Tom Pollard, conservation stonemason; and Dr Barry O’Reilly (keynote speaker), NIAH, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage for their considerable generosity in sharing their passion and expert knowledge of the many facets of Ireland’s vernacular architecture.

The study day was also greatly enhanced by the Chairs (Helena Bergin, Architectural Conservation Officer, Fingal Co. Council; Dr Joe Gallagher, Heritage Officer, Donegal Co. Council; & Rose Ryall, Architectural Conservation Officer, Waterford Co. Council) all of whom in their capacity as Architectural Conservation Officers and Heritage Officers have been to the fore in promoting vernacular architecture and traditional building skills at a county level.

The speakers’ presentations provided new research and fresh insights into the history and conservation of Ireland’s built vernacular heritage.

Additionally invaluable advice on the materials and methods used to build, repair and retrofit these vernacular structures was gained; and information on the many policies, initiatives and funding in place, at both central and local government level was provided.

It was also most interesting to gain an appreciation of the issues relating to understanding our vernacular architecture in the context of our intangible heritage and better understand the significance of their interiors and traditional furniture found in these buildings.

The Society wishes to thank all those involved in lending their support to making the vernacular architecture study day such a success. We trust that it represents a meaningful contribution towards raising recognition of this important and unique aspect of Ireland’s built heritage; and promoting its conservation and preservation.

Lastly, and importantly, the Irish Georgian Society would like to acknowledge The Heritage Council for their support of all the Society’s activities received through its Heritage Capacity Fund 2023.

If you missed the study day then it is possible to subscribe to watch the recording, which will be available to view until the 27^th July. https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/recording-of-vernacular-architecture-study-day-tickets-668190916017?aff=oddtdtcreator

The full programme with speakers’ abstracts and biography can be downloaded here.

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2022 IGS conservation grant pledges clockwise from top left: Dromdiah House, Co. Cork; Larchill Arcadian Gardens, Co. Kildare; St Eugene's Church, Co. Tyrone; Temple House, Co. Sligo; and Termon House, Co. Donegal.

The Irish Georgian Society is inviting applications for its Conservation Grants Programme 2023 with submissions accepted until Monday 20st February. A total of €45,000 will be available which will comprise €35,000 from IGS London and €10,000 through the Homan Potterton Conservation Grant.

Structures of architectural interest from across the country are eligible for funding from IGS London while the Homan Potterton Conservation Grant is available only to Georgian buildings of architectural merit anywhere in the counties of Meath or Westmeath.

Since 2014 the Irish Georgian Society’s Conservation Grants Programme has been funded by IGS London during which time support has been given to over fifty conservation projects. These have included country houses, thatched cottages, townhouses, architectural follies, and churches with grants awarded for repairs to roofs, windows and rainwater goods, support for conservation plans and building appraisals, and for other essential conservation works.

In 2022 the Society pledged grants for the following projects:

IGS London grants

• Clonalis House, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon: €4,000
• Beaulieu House: Drogheda, Co Louth: €1,340
• Kilrush House, Freshford, Co Kilkenny: €4,000
• St Philip’s Parochial Hall, Temple Road, Dartry, Dublin 6: €2,500
• 7 Arch Bridge, Trim, Co Meath: €3,000
• Jamesbrook Hall, Midleton, Co. Cork: €1,000
• Kildrought House, Celbridge, Co Kildare: €3,000
• Myrtle Grove, Youghal, Co Cork: €2,000
• Saint George’s Arts & Heritage Centre, Mitchelstown, Co. Cork: €3,000
• Bantry House, Bantry, Co. Cork: €4,000
• 34 Main Street, Chapelizod, Dublin 20: €2,500
• Russborough House, Blessington, Co. Wicklow: €1,000
• Headfort House, Kells, Co. Meath: €4,000

Homan Potterton Conservation Grants 2022

• St Mary’s Church, Navan, Co. Meath: €3,000
• Tullynally Castle, Castlepollard, Co Westmeath: €5,000
• Malone Mausoleum: Kilbixy, Co. Westmeath: €2,000

Applications for the 2023 grants programme must be submitted by 5pm on Monday 20th February with forms available to download here.

For articles on previous grants recipients, please click  here.

Decisions on the allocation of grants will be made by mid April at which time applicants will be informed.

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The Irish Georgian Society is delighted to announce that the Desmond Guinness Scholarship 2022 has been awarded to Dee Ring, while a commendation has been given to Deborah White.

Dr Conor Lucey presenting Dee Ring with the Desmond Guinness Scholarship 2022

DEE RING: DESMOND GUINNESS SCHOLARSHIP 2022

Dee Ring is a PhD Research Student at TU Dublin, Grangegorman, who is undertaking a PhD thesis on the documentation of Ireland’s visual graphic heritage of vernacular shopfront lettering with Kilkenny shopfronts as a case study. Dee Ring’s thesis is being supervised by Dr Mary Ann Bolger and Dr Niamh Ann Kelly.

Dee will use the Desmond Guinness Scholarship to help defray the costs of two study trips to the UK. The first will be to the city of Stirling, Scotland to study recent signage initiatives for Stirling's historic shopfronts rolled out by the Stirling Heritage Trust

While in Stirling, Dee will also examine the methodologies employed in recent shopfront audits conducted for Stirling City Council by Dr Lindsay Lennie, Stirling Heritage Trust Manager, and historic shopfront conservation specialist.

The second study trip will be to Birmingham City University to test Dr Geraldine Marshall's METL system for capturing and cataloguing environmental lettering. The process will involve examining existing images to learn and experience the system first-hand with the creator. Additionally, this research exercise will assist in informing and validating the classification system and methodology devised for the Kilkenny Traditional Shopfront Signage Project 2021 pilot survey, which Dee was commissioned to undertake by Kilkenny County Council with the support of Creative Ireland.

DEBORAH WHITE: COMMENDATION & GRANT 2022

The Desmond Guinness Scholarship committee also recognised Deborah White’s application with a commendation and a grant. Deborah White is a PhD student at the Ulster University, whose thesis is providing an examination of hand-woven linen damask production and design in Ireland. Deborah’s research is being conducted under the supervision of Professor Karen Fleming.

The Desmond Guinness Scholarship committee have awarded a grant toward the technical investigation and analysis of a linen damask tablecloth point paper design (mise-en-carte) sold by Henry McCleary of Waringstown at Mountrath Street, Dublin in 1740.

This mise-en-carte is believed to be the earliest extant example of this kind of point paper design in Ireland, and Deborah anticipates that her research will help illuminate our understanding of linen damask design in eighteenth century Ireland, a trade then in its nascency, and now recognised by historians of material culture to be of international significance.

The Irish Georgian Society would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who applied for the scholarship in 2022.

The Society would also like to extend our gratitude to the Desmond Guinness Scholarship assessors (Professor Christine Casey, TCD; Associate Professor Alison FitzGerald, Maynooth University; Dr David Fleming, UL; Professor Kathleen James-Chakraborty, UCD; Associate Professor Conor Lucey, UCD; Dr Anna Moran, NCAD; and Primrose Wilson, OBE) for their generosity in sharing their academic expertise and investing their time in evaluating the applications.

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Georgian Homes: material culture of the domestic interior in 18th century Ireland.

The Irish Georgian Society is delighted to present our Conservation Education Programme autumn 2022 lecture series. These thematic talks will explore the material culture of the Irish Georgian house, in both town and country, focusing on interior decoration, furniture and fine art.

Commencing on Tuesday 11th October, the talks will run for nine consecutive Tuesday evenings.

The keynote introductory talk, Great Irish Households: understanding their inventories will be delivered by John Adamson, editor, producer and indexer of the new publication, Great Irish Households: Inventories from the Long Eighteenth Century.

Other distinguished speakers include: Dr Aidan O'Boyle (art collections); Dr Alison FitzGerald (silver); James Peill (furniture); Sarah Foster (shopping); Annabel Westman (textiles); Dr Patricia McCarthy (wine cellars); and Dr Mark Purcell (books and libraries). The concluding lecture in the series will be delivered by Dr Conor Lucey, who will provide insights into his forthcoming publication, House and Home in Georgian Ireland.

Enjoy the lectures in person at the IGS's City Assembly House or virtually through Zoom. *It is now possible to book for in-person CAH tickets on an individual basis.

To book visit our events page where talks can be booked individually or at a discounted whole course rate.

Download the full lecture programme here.

Photos of speakers (top left clockwise): John Adamson; Dr Alison FitzGerald; Dr Patricia McCarthy; Mark Purcell; Sarah Foster; Dr Conor Lucey; James Peill; Dr Aidan O'Boyle; and Annabel Westman.

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The Irish Georgian Society launched the 2022 Architectural Conservation and Original Drawing Awards sponsored by John Paul Construction in the Spring, receiving a total of 20 applications across the two categories. The Awards are open to Irish architects and architectural practices, building surveyors, contractors, engineers, and other professionals involved in the conservation of historic buildings on the island of Ireland.

Click here to learn more about the awards.

The judging panel consisting of Livia Hurley (Chair), Karen Latimer, Simon Lincoln, Frank McDonald, and Kevin V Mulligan, met in May to reduce the 16 applications for the Architectural Conservation Project category to a shortlist of nine projects. The panel gained Andrew Tierney as additional panelist for the shortlist tour which they completed at the end of August.

Please join us as we announce the winner of the 2022 Architectural Conservation and Original Drawing Awards at a reception hosted at the City Assembly House on Thursday 20 October at 6:30pm.

Congratulations to the shortlisted projects:

Alistair Coey - Gunpowder Store in Donaghadee

Howley Hayes - Carlingford Castle in Carlingford & 9 Merrion Square in Dublin

Fingal County Council - Casino Railway Museum in Malahide

Lotts Architecture - Riverstown House in Kildangan

FMP Architects - Honan Chapel UCC in Cork City

ACP Architectural Conservation Professionals - Dunraven Fountain in Adare

O'Neill Architecture - ONA Farmhouse in Nenagh

Office of Public Works - Gate of Justice at Dublin Castle

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The IGS is delighted to announce that it will once again have a stand at the Irish Antiques Fair in the RDS from 23rd – 25th September 2022. An invitation to attend can be downloaded from the following link and entitles the bearer plus one guest free entry to the event: Timeless 2022 invitation

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