Rotted thatch removed to allow access

Note the earth mortar

Collapsing chimney stack stabilised 

Starting consolidation and rebuilding of wall heads and reconstruction of roof structure using salvaged members & new based on existing salvage material

Fidelma Mullane, conservation consultant (thatch) examine thatch materials

Split laths & súgan rope ties

Broken stone lintel

Completion of trusses & purlins

Sample laid out to discuss detail with thatcher Brian Lafferty

Split timbers fitted; scraws laid as thatching progresses

Thatcher Brian Lafferty

Metal rods & wires are used for the underlayer as a substitute for hazel pins which are no longer available locally; otherwise the technique is exactly as practised locally for generations

Fidelma Mullane reviews details with Brian; John Doherty lays scraws and a batten to support the thatcher’s ladder in advance of laying a coarse coat of thatch

The interior wall was rebuilt in 1950’s when the byre was converted

About the project
Built c. 1780 and reputedly occupied by generations of the same family since that time until 2007, the Thatched Cottage, Lenankeel, Co. Donegal is of significant importance for its early date and also as it relates to a surviving group of vernacular structures that form part of a clachan settlement, though this is the last of the houses to retain its thatched roof.  In surveying the house some years ago, the NIAH noted the need for a full record of the structure including its surviving interior features and its rope and stone peg thatch, which it was feared could very soon disappear.  Though in poor condition, it is very encouraging that the current owner has taking on the admirable task of restoring this gem of a building. In 2015, IGS grant aided a Conservation Report by Dedalus Architecture to prioritise a programme of works for the conservation of the house and to secure its outbuildings.

Next steps
The next step for the project is to make the roofed house habitable and to complete the building envelope repairs.

Family photos of the cottage can be seen on the Buildings of Ireland website, where it was featured as Building of the Month for September 2015. Click here to read the article.

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Wednesday 15th February 2017. From 6.00pm.

We are partnering with the Irish Architecture Foundation to invite Young Irish Georgian members on an exclusive tour of the City Assembly House, the Society's current restoration project.

The City Assembly House on South William Street dates from 1766, and hosts Europe’s oldest public art gallery. Over the past five years the Irish Georgian Society has undertaken an ambitious restoration program to bring this forgotten Georgian gem back to public attention. 
 
The next phase in the City Assembly House project will see the restoration of the octagonal Exhibition Room which was built in 1766 for the display of works by major Irish artists of the time. 
 
Join us on this tour as Donough Cahill, Executive Director of the Irish Georgian Society, reveals the fascinating history of the City Assembly House and the Society’s plan for the future of the building. This is one of the final opportunities to see the interior of the Exhibition Room, before the completion of its restoration!

This tour is free of charge and open to all Young Irish Georgians (do feel free to bring a guest). Book tickets here.

Tickets must be booked in advance. Show your ticket at the door (phone or printout).

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It is the Georgian period of construction that gives Limerick its unique historic character, which sets it apart from other towns and cities in Ireland. In 1834 Inglis, a travel writer compared Limerick to Dublin and Cork, writing ‘the new town of Limerick is, unquestionably, superior to anything out of Dublin. It’s principal street, although less picturesque than the chief streets of Cork, would generally be reckoned a finer street.’

It is this spectacular street that was the subject of John Moran’s call for a new and exciting vision for Limerick’s central spine. (Limerick Leader 28th January, 2017).

What is it that attracts us to certain cities in Europe and around the world? As an architect and historian, of course I am excited about cities that have beautiful historic architecture, public squares, walk-able, people-friendly streets. But what is more attractive is the culture and energy of these streets, people eating, meeting, talking, shopping, laughing, playing, diverse communities in ‘liveable’ cities. And that is not to say that we don’t have vibrant public spaces in Limerick. You only have to go along to the milk market on a Saturday morning to see people doing those self same things, a vibrant happy community.

We now have a wonderful opportunity to extend this vibrancy and liveability to Newtown Pery, via our living spine ‘O’Connell Street’. Let’s remember the Crescent on a fine July evening last summer, when the Limerick 2020 street party attracted huge crowds for a food, culture and performance. The Crescent is a natural civic space in Limerick’s historic city centre. It forms a termination to O’Connell Street and could act as an anchor for revitalising this part of the city. At present, this fantastic space cannot be appreciated, as you need all your attention to avoid the traffic. The Crescent commands a superb view down O’Connell Street, which could only be enjoyed if the space was traffic free.

The Crescent has all the key ingredients of a great multifunctional public space, where communities can get together, to live, work, meet each other and celebrate. The space could have outdoor cafes or restaurants, be sometimes quiet and at other times have music or performances. It could be a greener place where children play, people sit and watch the world go by and others have extended conversations. The multi-use of the buildings on and around the Crescent and extending to Newtown Pery, would attract a broad demographic of people, with a variety of offices, shops, cafes, apartments and houses.

You can walk from one end of O’Connell Street to the other with ease. With a focus on pedestrian priority, great public spaces, beautiful streets with trees, restored historic features and attractive lighting, Newtown Pery would be an extraordinary urban centre. Limerick could become a most desirable and sought after place to work and to live, both socially and ecologically healthy. Wouldn’t it be fantastic for the Crescent to be made into a beautiful public space for the citizens of Limerick?

Ailish Drake is director at Drake Hourigan Architects and Chair of the Limerick Chapter of the Irish Georgian Society. 

Article from Limerick Leader, 4th February 2017

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"[A] wonderful account of the remarkable history of Nun's Cross... The treasures of this beautiful church are now recorded for all time." - Sir David Davies, President, Irish Georgian Society

The 19th century story of Nun's Cross church is a remarkable one. The tale of how a small parish church benefitted from the artistic and decorative attention of a some remarkable artists and craftsmen due to the largesse of influential and enlightened patrons. Perhaps the bigger story is that of the determined and devoted work of a local historical society and the remarkable conservation they have undertaken. This book documents the history of the church and the story of that conservation. It is a very fine record of their achievement and a template for other groups and societies in the future. I strongly recommend a visit to this remarkable church, truly a hidden Irish gem.

If you are aware of any other restoration or conservation projects going on in your area and want us to promote a book or pamphlet on the work, please let us know by email or phone.

The bulk of proceeds from the sale of this book will go directly to the Nun's Cross conservation fund and we are happy to offer it to you at the very reasonable price of €30.00.

Available to purchase instore or online (€30.00)

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Clockwise from top left: Beaulieu House, Co. Louth, Lion's Gate, Mote Park, Co. Roscommon, Stradbally Hall, Co. Laois, Thomas Jervais window, Agher Church, Co. Meath 

The Irish Georgian Society is inviting applications to our 2017 Conservation Grants Programme. Now in its fourth year, the grants programme provides financial support for works to structures of significant architectural merit. A total of €50,000 is available and grants will be awarded with priority given to protected structures and recorded monuments of significant architectural merit. Structures of all periods are eligible but priority will be given to older buildings on the basis of rarity and potential fragility relating to age. 

The Irish Georgian Society’s Conservation Grants Programme is funded by its London Chapter through funds raised from its activities and members’ generous bequests. The programme aims to provide financial assistance for conservation works to structures of significant architectural merit. Over the last three years, the Society has supported over thirty significant conservation projects from around the country, that have included works to country houses and castles, thatched cottages and historic townhouses, architectural follies, and churches. Notable amongst these have been the conservation of an important eighteenth century stained glass window in Agher Church, Co. Meath; the repair of a Coade Stone lion and monumental gateway at Mote Park, Co. Roscommon; and essential repairs to rainwater goods at Beaulieu, Co. Louth, a house of national architectural importance.

Application forms must be submitted by 5.00pm on Friday 24th February 2017 and can be downloaded here. Decisions on the allocation of grants will be made by June at which time applicants will be informed. 

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Dear Sir or Madam,

The Irish Georgian Society welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Dublin City Parks Strategy Consultation Draft. The Society is a membership organisation, which encourages and promotes the conservation of distinguished examples of architecture and the allied arts of all periods in Ireland. These aims are achieved through our education programmes, by supporting and undertaking conservation works, publishing original research, planning participation and fundraising. The Irish Georgian Society is a strong advocate on the subject of the protection of historic landscapes and has held a number of educational events on historic gardens and landscapes, the most relevant to this consultation being the seminar entitled “Dublin’s Victorian and Edwardian Parks” held in conjunction with the Irish Landscape Institute in February 2013.

The Society supports Dublin City Council in its stated objective of “advancing the conservation and restoration of Dublin’s historic designed landscapes” and welcomes the strong conservation focus of the Dublin City Parks Strategy Consultation Draft. The Society further welcomes the emphasis placed by Dublin City Council in the Draft Strategy on the Florence Charter on Historic Gardens, which “defines historic gardens as architectural compositions and recommends their preservation as living monuments”.

The Society is, however, concerned about the mismatch in approach between different parks and, in particular, those parks of architectural heritage value. The Society is concerned that anything other than an integrated approach to the management of the historic parks will lead to the loss of features of architectural significance. In other words, it is respectfully submitted that, unless a survey of features of architectural heritage importance is carried out and a conservation management plan is prepared for all historic parks, some parks or some key features in some parks are likely to slip through the cracks. Errors in the Draft Strategy indicate that this is already happening. Specifically, in describing Herbert Park, the Draft Strategy states “The current park contains original historical features such as the pergola…”. Dublin City Council demolished the pergola and removed surrounding flower beds in 2011. This pergola and herbaceous beds were a fine example of Edwardian garden design in the Robinsonian style and of historical, cultural, horticultural and social interest. The pergola was opened to the public in 1913 and described at the time as “one of the finest examples of its kind in existence”. The demolition of the pergola and the removal of the herbaceous beds, in addition to being a matter of great regret to park users, indicates a lack of understanding of the importance of individual features within a historic garden to the integrity of the designed landscape as an architectural composition. Having regard to the importance of the pergola (as recognised in the Draft Strategy), the Society respectfully urges Dublin City Council to include an objective for the reinstatement of the pergola and herbaceous beds. The Draft Strategy does not propose the preparation of a conservation management plan for Herbert Park, but sets out that it is an objective of the Local Authority “to study its historic landscape and conservation value with a view to appropriately balance historic conservation and contemporary recreational demand”. 

The Draft Strategy indicates that Dublin City Council will pursue a much stronger, conservation-centred approach in respect of the other flagship historic parks within the Council’s control. For example, the key management objectives for St Patrick’s Park include an objective to “maintain its historical design layout and its landscape as a setting for the adjacent Cathedral”, while the Council intends “to study [the] historic landscape and conservation value with the objective of retaining the historic estate character” of St Anne’s Park. In the absence of any survey, inventory or conservation management plan for Herbert Park, the basis upon which Dublin City Council would choose such a markedly different strategy for Herbert Park than the other historic parks is unclear. Practically speaking, any objectives for the conservation of Dublin’s parks as assets of heritage value is rendered meaningless in the absence of the preparation of an historic landscape assessment and an inventory of features of architectural heritage importance undertaken by a suitably qualified professional for each historic park. It is of critical importance that this work be undertaken for all flagship historic parks. Without this information, well-intentioned decisions will continue to be made as part of the day-to-day management of historic parks, which result in the loss of historic fabric and features and undermine the overall integrity of historic gardens, as has repeatedly already happened in the case of Herbert Park. Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can be of any further assistance.

Yours faithfully,

Donough Cahill
Executive Director
Irish Georgian Society

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