A group braved the weather on Saturday morning where they assembled at Binn's bridge beside the Brendan Behan statue. The tour, led by long time member Peter Clarke, then proceeded to walk the course of the Royal Canal speaking on its development and construction. The construction of the canal was a monumental build with involvement of well known figures of the period including the Conolly's of Castletown and the Leinsters. The group finished the tour at the Blessington Street basin.

               

               

 

               

               

Read more

This year's annual Summer Garden Party was hosted by IGS President, Sir David Davies, who welcomed guests to his beautiful home at Abbey Leix, Co. Laois. Guests enjoyed drinks and canapés while relaxing in the wonderful garden. Also in attendance was the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Heather Humphreys. Thank you to all who attended, a great day was had by all.

Dr. David Fleming and the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Heather Humphreys

Camilla McAleese and Katriona O' Sullivan

D Rennison-Kunz and Renee Lawless 

Kieran, Lucy, and Olivia Quinn 

Lady Rosse and Skip Heinecke 

Letitia Pollard and Kevin Hurley 

William Laffan, Lord Rosse, Ian Lumley, and Kevin Hurley 

Joy O' Kane 

Kate Nagle 

Ruth McManus and Frances 

Sir David Davies and Dr. David Fleming 

Dr. David Fleming, joined by Sir David Davies, treating guests to an impassioned speech

Read more

Our small band of American Irish Georgians had a wonderful visit last week.  In the capable hands of Marianne Gorman, a group that included Beth Dater, the President of the American Board of Directors and fellow board members Tom Cooney, Steve Zick, and Patrick Killian, as well as US Executive Director Michael Kerrigan, we had a wonderful tour.  Our first day was spent visiting the restored Kilmainhaim Gaol in recognition of the centennial of the 1916 Rising. The next day we were led on a tour of several houses on Henrietta Street, the place to live in Dublin in the 1740s.  We were led by the eminent architectural historian, Dr. Eddie McParland, who brought the houses to life for the group.  We were fortunate enough to be invited to Mr. and Mrs. Michael Casey's house at No. 13 Henrietta Street, purchased in 1974 and restored in a most thoughtful way to demonstrate the layers of history since the building's construction.

The Irish Georgian Society American tour group enjoying the lunch and hospitality of Cobalt Café on historic North Great George's Street, before continuing on to nearby Belvedere College to see the recently restored Michael Stapleton interiors. 

Michael Casey and friends at No. 13 Henrietta St

No. 13 Henrietta Street

Dr. Eddie McParland (Trinity College Dublin) holding forth while leading a tour of No. 13 Henrietta St

The next day we were off the the country. Our first stop was Bellamont Forest, a perfect example of a pure Palladian villa in Coote Hill, Co. Cavan.  We were met by a local expert on historic preservation, Mr. Noel Carney, who welcomed us and gave us a tour of the house and grounds. To our great surprise, he also organized a picnic at a neighbouring demense, where we toured the recently restored Dawson Temple that the London Chapter of the IGS has been so instrumental in renovating.  We spent the evening at Castle Leslie in Co. Monaghan before departing the next morning for Armagh in Northern Ireland.

In Armagh, we were met by Primrose Wilson, a member of the Irish Georgian Foundation Board of Directors, and her charming husband, Edward.  They proceeded to give us a tour of Armagh which included the Episcopal Palace, the chapel on the grounds of the demense, the public library commissioned by Archbishop Robert Robinson as well as the Cathedral Church of St. Patrick. Our tour was followed by the most delightful lunch at the Wilson's house in the country where we spent an entertaining and relaxing afternoon and were sad to leave.

Dinner found us in Belfast at The Merchant Hotel, a 19th century bank that has been transformed in to an elegant five star hotel.

Baronscourt Estate

Tour of Baronscourt House with the Duke and Duchess of Abercorn

Lunch with the Duke and Duchess of Abercorn at Baronscourt

The next morning we had a short journey to Mount Stewart where we spent most of the day. We were welcomed by Lady Rose Lauritzen and the head curator Francis Bailey, whom led us on a marvelous tour of the house, which she brought alive with her deep knowledge and sharp wit.  Later, the head gardener, Mr. Neil Porteous, led us on a tour of the extensive gardens, including ones laid out by Lady Edith, Lady Rose's grandmother.  Lady Rose than hosted an elegant luncheon for the group and entertained us in a most hospitable manner.

Friday morning we set out for Barons Court, the seat of the Duke and Duchess of Abercorn, who welcomed the group for a tour and elegant luncheon. The house was started in 1779 by the architect George Steuart . Later architects involved in redesigning and completing Barons Court were John Soane and Richard and William Morrison. Those that had not visited before were taken with the house and the David Hicks interiors, which looks as fresh and interesting today as when they were done up. After a lovely luncheon in the spectacular rotunda, we were treated to a brief walk around the gardens and bid our adieu.

~
Lunch with Primrose and Edward Wilson at Marlacoo House, Armagh 

The dining room at Tullynally


Staircase at the Temple of the Winds, Mount Stewart

Beth Dater (New York Chapter) at the Temple of the Winds at Mount Stewart

 

Saturday found us spending the morning at Florence Court, a large 18th-century house and estate located a few miles from Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.  The group had a wonderful tour of the house and grounds  before making a visit to the gift shop and bookstore and a well earned lunch.

We then found ourselves at Castle Coole, a late-18th-century neoclassical great house situated in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. We had a very well informed volunteer guide who showed us around the main rooms of the house, much to our great delight.

Saturday evening we were the guests of the Earl of Erne, John Crichton and his stepmother, Anna at Crom Castle,situated on the shores of the Upper Lough Erne in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.  We were treated to a delightful tour of the house followed by a lovely dinner in the baronial dining room, complete with a roaring fire in the fire place that added to the romance of the evening.

Eliza Pakenham, historian and daughter of Valerie Pakenham of Tullynalley House

Gloria & Robert Turner (Chicago Chapter) disembarking the SS Nomadic steamship

Tom Cooney (Chicago Chapter) and Patrick Killian (Palm Beach Chapter) at Barons Court

 

On our return to Dublin the next day, we had a delightful visit with the Packenhams at Tullynally Castle, which is a country house situated  in County Westmeath, Ireland. The gothic style building has over 120 rooms and has been home to the Pakenham family ( the Earls of Longford) for most of the last 350 years.  We were entertained by Valerie Pakenham and her daughter Eliza and had a charming visit.

And then to Dublin Sunday afternoon and the end of a wonderful tour.

 

Words: Michael Kerrigan, Executive Director, IGS Inc.
Pictures: Michael Kerrigan and Steven Zick

 

View more pictures from the tour on our facebook page!

Read more

Sir, – The planned sale by the Alfred Beit Foundation (ABF) of works by Peter Paul Rubens and Francesco Guardi in a forthcoming sale in Christie’s in London will represent a further diminution of the extraordinary collection of art that, together with Russborough, Sir Alfred and Lady Beit left to the ABF for the benefit of the Irish nation.

The Irish Georgian Society greatly regrets the decision to pursue this sale and maintains a view that a paramount priority of the ABF should be to safeguard the integrity of the Beit legacy as a whole.

The Irish Georgian Society is of the opinion that the ABF missed out on a singular opportunity to build on the widespread public interest in the legacy of the Beits that arose from the planned sale of old masters from their collection in 2015.

Through newspaper columns, radio coverage, social media and other outlets, thousands of people indicated their support for the cancellation of that sale. To its credit, the ABF responded and found alternative solutions which included the acquisition and donation of a number of exceptional artworks to the National Gallery of Ireland by individual benefactors.

The Irish Georgian Society suggests that the ABF recalls the enthusiasm and interest of those members of the general public who last year championed Russborough and its collections. It is this very response that should be nurtured by the arts and heritage sector at a time when its perceived importance by government is being diminished.

Given the scale of the Beits’ generosity and past government initiatives to promote philanthropy in the arts, the Government too should reflect on these views.

A generous engagement with the ABF with the aim of securing the future of the Beits’ legacy would present an opportunity for it to reassure the public of its commitment to the arts and heritage sectors.

Accepting the diminution of the Beit collections through the sale and dispersal or artworks is a sad reflection on the state of the arts in the country today. Such legacies should be celebrated and, in doing so, the country should aspire to attract the generosity of other cultural philanthropists. Doing otherwise might instead make them question the capacity of the country to safeguard any large donations into the future.

The protection of one of Ireland’s greatest cultural inheritances should encourage a partnership approach that could not only provide a means of support for Russborough in the long term but also facilitate future acts of philanthropy. – Yours, etc,

Sir DAVID DAVIES,

President,

Irish Georgian Society,

South William Street,

Dublin 2.

Original letter

Read more

Scaffolding went up last week at the CIty Assembly House to allow for the repair and re-pointing of brick and stone work which were marred by the use of cement in the 1950s.

Generously supported by the Jerome L Greene Foundation as the principal funder of the project, and by the Ireland Funds and Dublin City Council, the works are being undertaken and sponsored by Nolans Group Stone Brick Restoration.

Read more

On Sunday 22nd May, the Limerick Chapter of the Irish Georgian Society visited two heritage buildings in Galway. The first was St Clerans near Craughwell, and the second was Lough Cutra Castle, near Gort. The field trip was booked out in advance, with many people very interested in seeing and learning more about these two important historic properties. Both are private residences. St Cleran’s is not open to the public, but has a wonderful website with lots of images and information here (http://www.stclerans.com/). Lough Cutra Castle (http://www.loughcutra.com/) itself can be booked for events, and can accommodate self-catering and holiday rentals in the old courtyard houses. 

For future events, tours, and talks run by the Limerick Chapter, you can sign up to the Irish Georgian Society mailing list newsletter or keep an eye on the events page here.

First known as Issercleran, St Cleran’s was built in around 1784 by the Burke family, who were relocating from a nearby ancestral towerhouse. Just twenty years or so later, it was remodelled and extended by the Cork-born architect Richard Morrison (1767-1849). Morrison had trained with James Gandon, and as well as his work at St Cleran’s, had completed projects at St Patrick’s Hospital in Dublin, at Carton House in Kildare, and at Borris House in Carlow. One famous son of the house, Robert O’Hara Burke (1821 - 1861), was the leader of an expedition through Australia which sought to find a route from south to north. A plaque dedicated to him is fastened to the front wall of the house today (see image above). The house and land stayed in possession of the Burke family until the 1950s, when it was sold. Its various owners over the last fifty years have included the film director John Huston and the television host Merv Griffin, who turned it into a hotel in the late 1990s. It was purchased by its current owners, Enda and Ian Quinn, in 2012. Since 2012 they have carried out significant restorations, including the seventeenth-century Sarsfield Bridge, and the two weirs on the Saintclerans river.

Thanks are due to Enda and Ian, who provided us with a wonderful welcome to St Cleran’s. Ian’s enthusiasm for the history of the property meant that our tour was full of interesting nuggets of information. Their generosity in providing us with delicious soup to ward off the chills on what was quite a rainy morning was very much appreciated too!

Around ten years after St Cleran’s was built near Craughwell, Lough Cutra Castle was begun near Gort. Charles Vereker (later Viscount Gort) asked John Nash (1752 - 1835) to build him something similar to the home that Nash had built for himself on the Isle of Wight. This was (the now demolished) East Cowes Castle, a Gothic style country house that featured towers, turrets, and battlements. John Nash was the leading architect of his time, with George IV as his patron, and for whom he extended Buckingham Palace. Nash’s designs at Lough Cutra were supervised by his pupils, the Pain brothers. It was the Lough Cutra project which brought them to Ireland in 1811 (James) and 1816 (George); after this work was completed they stayed and established influential architectural practices in Limerick and Cork. During the nineteenth century, the castle was sold to General Sir William Gough, who extended and remodelled it. It was repurchased by the Vereker family briefly in the 1960s, before being sold again to the present owner. Since then, a programme of restoration has seen improvements to the roofs in particular, as well as to the castle interiors, and to some of the outbuildings. Today the castle is full of life, with holidaying families, weddings, concerts, and even triathlons.

The Chapter would like to thank our hosts there, who welcomed us so warmly, and provided us with a fascinating tour of the castle interiors, the gardens, lakeside, and courtyards.

Written by Rose Anne White (Limerick Chapter)

Read more