Irish Georgian Society Review - 2020 by Irish Georgian Society

2020

Design by Aad

The vision of the Irish Georgian Society is to conserve, protect and foster an interest and a respect for Ireland’s architectural heritage and decorative arts. www.igs.ie

Irish Georgian Society City Assembly House 58 South William Street Dublin 2 Ireland D02 X751

Irish Georgian Society 858 West Armitage Avenue Suite 286 Chicago, IL 60614 USA

T + 353 1 679 8675 E info@igs.ie

T + 1 312 961 3860 E info@irishgeorgiansociety.com

The Irish Georgian Society’s conservation programmes and activities are funded through the generous support of our members and private donors. As the Society has charitable status in Ireland

Irish Georgian Foundation: CHY (6372), the UK (Irish Georgian Trust: Chy. no. 3092084), and in the USA (Irish Georgian Society Inc.), donations are eligible for tax relief.

Front Cover Portrait of Desmond Guinness (1931–2020), graphite and watercolour on paper by Anthony Palliser (b.1949)

The 2020 edition of the Irish Georgian Society Review was supported through a donation by IGS London.

In this issue Features

Regulars

President’s Letter Sir David Davies

Our President reflects on the Society’s activities over the past year

Planning Update Donough Cahill

New publications

Remembering the Hon. Desmond Guinness (1931 – 2020) At the Castle Coalface Audrey Emerson ‘Unrelenting Dedication’ Consuelo O’Connor

Conservation Grants Scheme Ashleigh Murray

At Castletown House Christopher Moore Pioneering Publications Robert O’Byrne

With the assistance of IGS London, a number of conservation projects received grants from the Society in 2020

E vents Round-Up Róisín Lambe

Members’ events, outings, walks and talks over the past year 34

emembering Desmond from the United States R Tom O’Gorman Cherishing the Heritage Frank McDonald

Conservation Education Programme Emmeline Henderson

An overview of the Society’s Conservation Education Programme

Chapter Reports Birr/Midlands Elizabeth Fogarty Cork Kevin Hurley Limerick Ailish Drake IGS London Stuart Blakley IGS Inc. Michael G. Kerrigan

Irish Georgian Society Bookshop

We have beautiful new publications for you to click and collect instore, or we deliver nationally and internationally.

An overview of the activities undertaken by the Architectural Conservation and Planning Committee 9

The London Chapter John R Redmill

Young Irish Georgians Zoë Coleman

Despite the disruption to this year’s activities, the YIGs had the opportunity to meet and participate in some events and tours

Dublin Fragments: The Pearson Collection Peter Pearson

An exhibition of architectural fragments and installations in the City Assembly House presents a dazzling display of Dublin craftsmanship 25

Saving Graces — Conserving Ireland’s Architecture (2000 – 2020) Peter Murray

Peter Murray’s paintings provide a visual record of restoration projects supported by the Society over the past twenty years

The Irish Country House Garden: A Celebration Robert O’Byrne

In May 2021 the IGS will present a groundbreaking exhibition devoted to the history of the Irish country house garden

Editors Zoë Coleman Letitia Pollard Advertising Sales Zoë Coleman

Editorial Committee Donough Cahill Zoë Coleman Rose Mary Craig Letitia Pollard

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President’s letter

IRISH GEORGIAN SOCIETY REVIEW 20

Sir David Davies

It was with great sadness that I learned at the end of August of the death of the Hon. Desmond Guinness who together with Mariga Guinness founded our Society some sixty-two years ago. Desmond had a tremendous impact on the fabric of modern Ireland through tireless championing of its built heritage and the many campaigns he fought. Instrumental in changing attitudes about Ireland’s eighteenth and nineteenth century buildings, without his intervention we would certainly have lost many more structures from that time. Most of all, Desmond will be missed by a host of friends and supporters to whom he was always most hospitable and helpful. We mark his great contribution to Ireland and the Irish Georgian Society in this issue. Despite the many challenges this year, we were fortunate in hosting Dublin Fragments: The Pearson Collection in the Knight of Glin Room. This startling exhibition of architectural fragments and installations displaying Dublin craftsmanship is accompanied by a selection of Peter’s paintings. We also hosted in the City Assembly House, Peter Murray's Saving Graces, an exhibition of watercolours celebrating twenty years of our conservation grants programme so successfully supported by IGS London and IGS Inc. As President I acquired five of these paintings which I have donated to the permanent collection of the IGS. Peter undertook this work following his retirement after many years from the Crawford Art Gallery in Cork, which he ran so successfully, in consideration of his appointment to the IGF board. This year was to have seen the launch in the City Assembly House of an IGS exhibition of specially commissioned paintings of Irish Walled Gardens. Now postponed to 2021, it will hopefully be delivered together with a major exhibition exploring the history of the Irish country house garden;

both exhibitions will be curated by Robert O’Byrne and accompanied by a documentary by filmmaker David Hare and a publication which is being led by Dr Finola O’Kane. These events have been sponsored by IGS Inc board members and supporters. I would particularly like to thank the Northern Trust, and Coley and Susan Burke for their extreme generosity. We can look forward to an interesting and exciting series of events. In County Laois I have been following the deterioration of Millbrook House, a protected structure. Built in the 1880s, this is a fine, five-bay, two-storey red brick house with outbuildings and stables close by. Recent years have brought the removal of lead, smashed windows, collapsed ceilings, and vegetation taking over. To safeguard the building, Laois County Council sought and was recently granted permission by An Bord Pleanála to acquire the house by compulsory purchase order. Let us hope that necessary works will soon be undertaken and a new owner found. The future of Kilmacurragh still remains in doubt a year after the OPW committed itself to bringing this important building back from the brink. It stands in the centre of one of the country’s finest gardens, which thrive under the stewardship of the OPW’s manager Seamus O’Brien. The house itself stands roofless and exposed, undeniably an eyesore for visitors that is not helped by a security fence that wraps forlornly around the site. Time must now be running out for its rescue. The IGS continues to support plans to restore the house in line with discussions held with the OPW, especially with the potential role of training programmes for traditional building skills. A detailed programme of repair and conservation needs to be undertaken immediately lest yet another sad, crumbling ruin will slide into final oblivion. How can this be allowed to happen in a National Botanic

Garden of Ireland? The OPW has done sterling work elsewhere with Doneraile Court reopened last year after standing closed since the 1990s and a major refurbishment of Emo Court including the creation of a gallery area on the first floor. Mary Heffernan and all concerned are to be highly commended for these works. A further good news story is the revival of the school in Headfort House, Co. Meath. For decades Headfort and its great rooms by Robert Adam have been sustained and supported through its use for educational purposes and an alternative sympathetic use might have been hard to find. We wish Jack Blakiston-Houston and his team every success in their endeavours. Also to be welcomed are plans by the Hughes family to revitalise Westport House, Co. Mayo, by developing new gardens and walking routes through the demesne, while providing other activities for tourists and visitors. Of immediate importance are plans for roof and other repairs to halt water damage. Westport House, it seems, has a flourishing future ahead! At this year’s IGS Annual Meeting I welcomed David Griffin as a member of the IGS President’s Circle for his great contribution to the Society and his dedication to the study of Ireland’s architectural heritage. It was also an honour to posthumously recognise Prof Kevin B Nowlan (1921-2013) for a lifetime campaigning for the protection of Dublin’s built heritage and the inestimable service he gave us while serving as IGS Vice President and on its board. I wish to thank those who have recently retired from the boards of the Irish Georgian Society in Ireland, the UK and the USA. In Ireland, I am so grateful to Camilla McAleese for the work she has done over the last six years and I am delighted she will continue to

serve as Vice President of the Society for another year. Amy Hastings has done trojan work in leading our Architectural Conservation & Planning Committee and will be much missed. Though Beth Dater may be retiring from the Irish board after serving two terms, she will continue to serve as Chair of IGS Inc in America and I’m so pleased will also continue to attend meetings in Ireland in that capacity. In IGS London I wish to thank Peter Verity for his dedication over the last three years in serving as a trustee and providing sterling support for events. Finally I wish to thank Lawrie Weed for serving on the board of IGS Inc since 2008 and always

being so supportive of our work and so welcoming at our events and dinners in the springtime and fall. I wish to note the recent death of Grattan de Courcy Wheeler of Drummin, Co. Kildare. Grattan was always so welcoming to visits by the Irish Georgian Society and a stalwart of the Grange Castle Restoration Project in the 1990s. Tim Gwyn Jones, formerly of Ballynatray and of Lough Cutra, also passed away and had in recent years supported our work in restoring the City Assembly House. My condolences to their families and friends.

01 The Robert Adam designed 'Eating Parlor' at Headfort, Co. Meath (Image courtesy of Richard Ireland) 02 Front elevation of Kilmacurragh House, Kilmacurragh, Co. Wicklow (February 2018)

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Planning Update

IRISH GEORGIAN SOCIETY REVIEW 20

Donough Cahill 01

impact on the historic designed landscape of St Ann’s Hill (included in the NIAH Gardens Survey) and would negatively impact on views from the parapets of the nearby Blarney Castle, a national monument and protected structure of national importance. Outcome: Planning permission granted by Cork City Council and subsequently by An Bord Pleanála. Saint Ann's Road, Monacnappa, Blarney, Co. Cork

01 Monalty House, Co. Monaghan 02 Goulding Summerhouse, Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow (Scott Tallon Walker Architects) 03 Blarney Castle, Blarney, Co. Cork 04 Shelbourne Hotel, St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin

Proposal: Construction of a 3 storey primary care centre. Issues: IGS contended that, due to its design, scale and location, the development would have a detrimental impact on the character and setting of Blarney town, an important planned industrial settlement, and an adverse effect on views from the Blarney Castle estate as well as from the castle itself, a protected structure of national importance. Outcome: Planning permission refused by Cork City Council; may be appealed by applicant. COUNTY DUBLIN Dalguise House, Monkstown, Co. Dublin

The Society’s role in monitoring buildings at risk is delivered through its Architectural Conservation & Planning Committee (ACPC) whose members review policy matters, planning applications and related issues across the country. Here, we wish to give special thanks to Amy Hastings who, as chair of the ACPC from 2013 until retiring from the position earlier this year, did an outstanding job in steering the Committee’s work and inspiring all those who worked with her. On behalf of all the members of the ACPC (Primrose Wilson, Susan Roundtree, John Olley, David Armstrong, Michael Wall, Emmeline Henderson, Sunni Goodson and myself), Amy, you have been brilliant!

PLANNING MATTERS

CORK CITY & COUNTY North Custom House Quay and South Custom House Quay, Cork City Proposal: redevelopment of site including demolition of a protected structure and construction of 34-storey ‘Landmark Building’. Issues of concern: the development sites encompasses the Custom House, Revenue Building and Bonded Warehouses, all protected structures in the Cork City Development Plan 2015–21 which considers them as being “particularly emblematic of Cork’s maritime heritage”. The application proposes the demolition of the Revenue Building, a protected structure,

which forms “part of an important complex of buildings…, displays a fine use of building materials traditional to the area, retains timber sash windows and has been well maintained” (NIAH). The proposed construction of a 34-storey ‘Landmark Building’ in its place is contrary to the provisions of the Local Area Pan and the City Development Plan. Outcome: Planning permission granted by Cork City Council; IGS appeal submitted to An Bord Pleanála

Proposal: Construction of 298 no. residential units. Issues of concern: the gardens and grounds of Dalguise House, a protected structure, are spread over eight acres and include lawns and paddocks, stable buildings, a large disused walled garden, and glasshouses/greenhouses. The IGS objected to the irretrievable loss of what may be the largest surviving nineteenth-century garden in south county Dublin and at a minimum called for the preparation of a historic gardens assessment to further assess the impact of the development proposals. Outcome: Permission granted by An Bord Pleanála with little regard given to the conservation concerns raised by IGS and others. Judicial Review under consideration.

St Ann's Hill, Kilnamucky Tower, Blarney, Co. Cork

DUBLIN CITY

Proposal: New nursing home, 29 no. detached houses and ancillary site works. Issues: application gave insufficient consideration to the development’s

Proposal: 21 storey building on site of previously approved 11 storey building. Issues of concern: proposed high rise structure would have a material, adverse

Apollo House, Hawkins St. Dublin 2

and detrimental effect on the character, setting and integrity of key buildings and architecturally sensitive locations in the city including College Green, Trinity College, the Liffey Quays and the Custom House. On these grounds it was contended that the proposal would be contrary to the relevant development plans and guidelines governing planning on the site and so should have been refused planning permission. Outcome: Permission granted reflecting the continued piecemeal development of high-rise buildings in Dublin city that will inevitably see an erosion of its distinctive character. 15, Usher's Island, Dublin 8 Proposal: Change of use of eighteenthcentury four-storey over basement house of national heritage and cultural importance from a visitor centre to a hostel with spaces for 56 no. beds and a café at basement level. Issues of concern: significant intensification of use would result in wear and tear to the fabric of the building and would be incompatible with its very significant cultural importance as the home to James Joyce’s ‘House of the Dead’. Outcome: Planning permission granted by Dublin City Council; appeal being considered. 39–42 Hill Street and 36a North Great George's Street, Dublin 1 Proposal: Demolition of existing light industrial structures and development of a 7-storey shared living development. Issues of concern: site lies within the curtilage of three protected structures on North Great George’s Street which was developed from the 1769 onwards by the Mount Eccles Estate with some of its finest houses constructed by the noted stuccodore Michael Stapleton and by Charles Thorpe. In its submission the IGS contended that the excessive height of the proposed structure would negatively impact on the character and setting of the protected structures, dwarf the established built form, and detract from the character of the area, and as such would contravene planning policy. Outcome: Permission was granted by An Bord Pleanála with consideration being given at the time of writing to a judicial review.

PLANNING UPDATE

38 Hill Street, Dublin 1 Proposal: Demolition of an existing two-storey structure and construction of six-storey building in its place. Issues of concern: site lies to the rear of No. 38 North Great George’s Street, a protected structure of national interest, that was built in 1785 by Charles Thorpe who lived in the building and went on to become Lord Mayor of Dublin in 1800. It was later occupied by Professor John Pentland Mahaffy, founder of the Georgian Society (1908 to 1913) and tutor of Oscar Wilde. In objecting to this development, the IGS was strongly of the view that the scale and height of this proposed development would have a very significant detrimental impact on the character and setting of No. 38 and should be refused. Outcome: Decision pending. Kildare Street Hotel, Dublin 2 Proposal: Demolition and redevelopment of the Kildare Street Hotel including a terrace of eighteenth-century houses. Issues: Kildare Street lies on the route of the former Coote Lane which was widened and renamed following the commencement of Kildare House in 1745. Much of the street’s stock of Georgian houses was lost in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries leaving the surviving buildings of particular importance. The proposed demolition of the Kildare Street Hotel would have significantly denuded the character of the area and further eroded the Dublin’s eighteenth-century building stock.

IRISH GEORGIAN SOCIETY REVIEW 20

Outcome: Refused by Dublin City Council with 1st party appeal to An Bord Pleanála subsequently withdrawn. Doneraile House, 45 Kildare Street, Dublin 2 Proposal: Change of use of protected structure from educational to office use and associated works. Issues: Doneraile House was completed in 1753 to the designs of John Ensor for the Hon. Hayes St. Leger, later 4th Viscount Doneraile. Christine Casey describes its similarity to earlier houses on Henrietta Street and highlights the stair hall and ground-floor rooms as being of particular note. The Georgian Society Records describe a grand staircase and “much early joinery” in the entrance hall and notes a mantel in the front drawing-room that had been removed to Woodbrook, Bray (1912, Vol. IV, p. 87). The IGS submission related to the proposed insertion of a liftshaft within the building, visual impacts, and works to the roof. Outcome: Permission granted with adequate provisions made for concerns raised by IGS. Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin Issue: unauthorised removal of four bronze statues from the front of the Shelbourne Hotel, a protected structure, which had formed an integral part of its exterior character since the building’s refurbishment in the 1860s by the architect John McCurdy. Manufactured in the Fonderie d’Art du Val d’Osne and installed as torchères, their origin was

researched by the art historian Kyle Leyden of the Courtauld Institute of Art. Outcome: Hotel owners announced intention to reinstate statues following a conservation programme. COUNTY MONAGHAN Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan Proposal: Widening of the N2 roadway (Ardee to Castleblayney) Issues: The Emerging Preferred Route would significantly encroach upon the setting of Monalty House, a five bay three storey protected structure, built c. 1770 and set within a drumlin landscape overlooking parklands. Outcome: Decision pending. COUNTY WICKLOW Bray/Kilmacanogue/Delgany/ Newtownmountkennedy, Co. Wicklow Proposal: N11/M11 road improvement scheme, Co. Wicklow. Issues: proposed routes would have a devastating impact on the following houses and landscapes in north County Wicklow, an area that has been celebrated for centuries for its scenic qualities: Dargle Cottage (protected structure), Kilcroney House (protected structure), Hollybrook House (protected structure), Bellevue Demesne, Tinnapark House (protected structure), and Mount Kennedy House (protected structure). Outcome: Decision pending.

POLICY SUBMISSIONS Programme for Government, 2020 The IGS welcomed the commitment to Ireland’s built heritage in the Programme for Government subject to the necessary resources being made available. Of particular note was the support pledged for conservation grants programmes, the roles of Heritage Officers, and the objective to appoint Conservation Officers in each county. The Society also welcomed the goal of devising an apprenticeship programme for traditional building skills and expanding the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. National Policy on Architecture The IGS submission made recommendations on the following points: (i) resolutions relating to conservation grants adopted at the IGS conference Taken for Granted: Spending to save Ireland's architectural heritage (22 November 2018); (ii) promotion of the Living City Initiative scheme; (iii) policies and actions to safeguard buildings which are most at risk of loss of significance; (iv) adoption of recommendations for additions to the Records of Protected Structures; (v) resourcing Heritage and Conservation Officers; (vi) a national centre for traditional building skills.

OTHER PLANNING AND POLICY SUBMISSIONS: - Cork City Council Heritage Plan 2021–2025 - Hazelwood, Calry, Co Sligo: Proposed construction of new building within the attendant grounds of a protected structure. Outcome: Resolved satisfactorily. - Main Street, Celbridge, Co. Kildare: proposed two storey extension to building adjoining house of national architectural importance. Outcome: Awaiting further information. - N61 Ballymurray to Knockcroghery Road Project, Co. Roscommon: road upgrading project potentially detrimentally affecting former Mote Park demesne and Scregg House, protected structure built c.1765 and past recipient of IGS grant aid. Outcome: Pending. -S ite adjoining 4 Herbert Place, Dublin 2: proposed construction of 5 storey office block. Outcome: Permission refused. - St. Mary's Place North, Dublin 7: Proposed new shared living scheme of 3–5 storeys. Outcome: On appeal to An Bord Pleanála. Donough Cahill Executive Director

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Irish Georgian Society Bookshop

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Conservation Grants Scheme Ashleigh Murray

Pick up a book!

Like many day-to-day things, 2020 changed the way our bookshop operates. We became exclusively an online shop from March to June and were hugely appreciative of the number of customers who used this service. The good news is that we continue to offer this online facility. An enticing amount of publications — postponed during the summer — are now appearing in time for Christmas. We encourage all our loyal customers to continue using ‘click and collect’ online at shop.igs.ie and remind you that we offer worldwide shipping for purchases. Restrictions permitting, our shop at the City Assembly House is open Monday–Friday 10am–5pm, for 'point and purchase' but no browsing! We will also take orders over the phone (01) 679 8675 or by emailing shop@igs.ie. Thank you to everyone who has made a purchase, especially during the more unpredictable months of this year, and for your continued support. Keep safe, keep reading. 01 Rich Specimens of Architectural Beauty, Kevin V. Mulligan, €25.00 (Churchill House Press, 2020) 02 Irish Country Furniture and Furnishings 1700–2000, Claudia Kinmoth, €45.00 (Cork University Press, 2020) 03 Irish Architectural

& Decorative Studies, Volume XXII, €25.00 (IGS, 2020) 04 The Best Address in Town: Henrietta Street, Dublin and Its First Residents, 1720–80, Melanie Hayes, €30.00 (Cork University Press, 2020) 05 Saving Graces: Conserving

Ireland's Historic Architecture, Peter Murray, €10.00 (Irish Georgian Society, 2020)

Aerial view of Saint George's, Brigown, Mitchelstown, Co. Cork (Photo: Dave McCarthy)

The Irish Georgian Society is excited to announce the seventh year of the Conservation Grants Scheme, which helps owners of historic structures to fund necessary works. Since 2014, IGS London has funded this important scheme, with up to €50,000 made available to applicants each year. Maintaining and repairing protected structures can be very expensive as they normally require specialist materials and skills. The variety of issues that face owners of historic buildings can also incur financial pressures; grant aid that helps protect our built heritage is also even more important than ever due to the economic impact that COVID-19 has had on the country. This year’s funding has been distributed among 11 successful projects, which have included mausoleums, country

houses, coastguard cottages, churches, and cathedrals. We are pleased to support a number of non-beneficial structures, which means buildings that are unable to generate an income. In Maudlins burial ground in Naas, Co. Kildare, there are two stone pyramid mausoleums. These are high-quality structures of a quirky design that are very rare and unusual in Ireland. One tomb was built by Walter Hussey Burgh for his wife Elizabeth, while the other may also belong to the same family. Both structures are in poor condition and require the removal of vegetation, repointing and stone repairs, in addition to the repair of their iron entrance doors. We are also supporting Seymours Mausoleum in Ballinasloe, Co. Galway, which was erected in the late-19th century for the Seymour

family who acquired Ballymore Castle and its lands around 1700. This freestanding, cut-and-carved limestone structure displays the wealth of the family and comprises a gabled upper chamber surmounting a crypt with a truncated-pyramid roof. The structure has suffered from lack of maintenance and overgrowth of vegetation. We are, therefore, funding the production of a method statement for repair works. It is vital to set out the most appropriate method of repair before any works are carried out to a historic structure. It is also important to establish the significance of a building to inform the most suitable conservation approach. At Kylemore Abbey, Co. Galway, we are aiding the production of a Conservation Plan for the associated late-19th-century

CONSERVATION GRANTS SCHEME

IRISH GEORGIAN SOCIETY REVIEW 20

church, which will provide a clear framework for its conservation and restoration. Kylemore Castle was originally built in c. 1870 as a private home for the British MP Mitchell Henry (1826–1910), while later in 1920 it was purchased by the Benedictine nuns. The church was erected by Henry as a family mausoleum after the death of his wife in 1874. It is a miniature cathedral in its form and layout, and is one of the finest examples of Gothic Revival in Ireland. We are pleased to support Bessmount Park, one of the most important houses in Co. Monaghan, being the most fascinating HighVictorian Ruskinian Gothic transformation of a modest Georgian house. The house incorporates elaborate additions — such as projecting bays, gargoyles, pyramidal spires, naturalistic carvings, and intricate polychrome brick detailing — and is a rare example of such a high degree of ornamentation in Ireland. Attached to the house is an ecclesiastical-themed music room which requires a comprehensive programme of repair, including the restoration of windows, rainwater

goods and plaster. Grant aid has been awarded for these works in memory of the architect Jeremy Williams (1943–2015) and his work on Victorian architecture in Ireland. Several early-19th-century houses require help this year. Rockmore House is a three-bay house in Athenry, Co. Galway, and this single-storey structure is raised over a basement with a central door reached by a flight of steps (which are under reconstruction). We are aiding the repair of the entrance door, including undertaking paint analysis and reinstating a side light. Killegar in Co. Leitrim is a fine eight-bay, two-storey house with classical detailing, such as a pedimented breakfront, symmetrical fenestration and a Tuscan doorcase. Although it was damaged by fire in 1970, the house remains an examplar of early-19th-century demesne architecture. The house is urgent need of repair, particularly the roof, and the IGS is currently exploring how best we can provide support with our limited funding. Lambay Castle is located on Lambay Island, just off the Dublin coast. The house was originally a late-15th/

early-16th-century fort that was altered by the English architect Edwin Lutyens (1869–1944) in the early-20th century with the addition of the guest wing. Lutyens was also responsible for remodelling a group of 17th-century coastguard cottages on the island. These are single-storey terraced buildings with pitched roofs, rendered walls, and cut-stone chimney stacks. Repair works are required to one of the chimney stacks, including repointing in lime mortar. St George’s Church, Mitchelstown, Co. Cork, originally erected in 1801, was enlarged by the Pain brothers in 1830 and is an integral feature of this early-19th-century planned town. Now in use as an arts and heritage centre, funding relates to the restoration of two street-facing windows. The work to this church building will improve its appearance and enhance its contribution to its associated streetscape. We are delighted to provide additional funding to Ballyarthur and St Carthage’s Cathedral. For the last two years, we have supported the c. 1680 former hunting lodge of Ballyarthur, Ballanagh, Co. Wicklow:

first with the extensive repair of a gable wall, followed by the repair and reinstatement of associated internal decorative plasterwork. This year, the roof of the 19th-century crenellated entrance porch has failed due to water ingress and requires repair and replacement. At St Carthage’s, Lismore, Co. Waterford, a major religious site dating from the early Christian era, we previously supported window repairs. An inspection of the junction between the roof of the nave and the adjoining tower is now required to inform a design solution to prevent further water ingress. As demonstrated above, there is a mixture of issues that face owners of historic buildings and a wide range of building types benefitting from this year’s grants scheme. Although the original intention was to run the scheme for four years, its great importance is very much recognised and London consequently strives to extend it, subject to available funds. This is a very worthy cause and we would, therefore, like to thank all our London members for making this year’s scheme possible.

01 The music room of Bessmount Park after restoration, grant aid was awarded for works in memory of the architect Jeremy Williams (1943–2015) and his work on Victorian architecture in Ireland 02 Killegar, Co. Leitrim (Photo: Robert O'Byrne) 03 04 Kylemore Church, Kylemore Abbey, Co. Galway, one of the finest examples of Gothic Revival in Ireland (Photo: Ross Galbraith) 05 Seymours Mausoleum, Ballymore Lower, Co. Galway (after works) 06 St. Carthage's Cathedral, Lismore, Co. Waterford 07 Ballyarthur, Co. Wicklow. IGS funding will support repairs to the roof of the 19th-century entrance porch. 08 Maudlins Pyramids, Naas, Co. Kildare (during works)

Ashleigh Murray IGS Conservation Grants Committee Trustee, IGS London

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Remembering the Hon. Desmond Guinness (1931–2020) At the Castle Coalface Audrey Emerson Desmond Guinness at Lexlip Castle (Portrait by Amelia Stein)

Frank Sinatra (who I never met) was always known as Mr Blue Eyes, but my first introduction to Mr Irish Blue Eyes was in 1973 when I was looking for a job and heard that Desmond Guinness was seeking a secretary. So I found myself invited over to Leixlip Castle to meet him one evening and without much ado he asked when could I start. I explained that I was just about to go on a trip to Kenya with my mother and brother so I wouldn’t be available immediately. When I started about a month later, Desmond handed me the final draft of the manuscript for “Lost Demesnes” by the Knight of Glin and Edward Malins to re-type (on an electric typewriter) as he was about to go off on a lecture tour in America and he thought this might keep me busy for the duration — how right he was! There were no computers in those days and the finished copy had to be perfect. He went to the United States once or twice a year and was in constant demand to undertake lecture tours there, in England and elsewhere, promoting the Irish Georgian Society which he had co-founded with his wife Mariga in 1958. These were fundraising tours and were very important as such. One never knew what would happen next when working for Desmond. There were endless visitors from all over the place including a lot of tour groups, mostly Americans, who always exclaimed on how green the grass was in Ireland! During the summer we might host three lunches or dinners a week in the Castle. Desmond was incredibly polite and friendly to everybody and always made them feel at home in Leixlip even if he did gently glide from one group to another leaving each engrossed in their conversation!

He was generous too and once sent me off on a holiday when asked by a French couple (Bernard & Nicole de Claviere) who were renting an apartment at Castletown and had asked Desmond if he knew anyone who might like to accompany Nicole in their car back to France, he said “Audrey needs a holiday, I’m sure she’d love to go” — so I did. Some 47 years later I was still going to Leixlip up to the time of his death in August to do a variety of administrative duties! Over that long period of time I found it very easy to work with Desmond and he was very supportive of any initiatives I might propose: The Delany and Dixon tablemats were a prime example and are still being eagerly bought. He enthusiastically threw himself into projects and often got involved at the initial stage — I remember him overnighting in Co. Tipperary as he led a group of young volunteers to work on the Shanahan Mausoleum. In latter years I felt a great sadness going to the Castle as Desmond’s memory was fading as he slipped away from all of us. Desmond Guinness gave his life to conservation and the current level of appreciation of Georgian architecture in Ireland is due entirely to his pioneering spirit. Audrey Emerson worked from 1973 at Leixlip Castle with Desmond Guinness and the Irish Georgian Society.

REMEMBERING THE HON. DESMOND GUINNESS (1931–2020)

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Desmond Guinness & Consuelo O'Connor, at a 2005 reception hosted by the Department of Foreign Affairs in Iveagh House, St. Stephen's Green, commemorating his Europa Nostra Cultural Heritage Medal for "50 years of unrelenting voluntary efforts in favour of Ireland's architectural heritage"

Jacqueline Kennedy and Desmond Guinness at Castletown House in 1967 (Photo by David Davison)

Unrelenting dedication Consuelo O'Connor

At Castletown House Christopher Moore

In 1993 I was nominated by An Taisce to serve as the Irish Council member of Europa Nostra, the pan-European federation for cultural heritage, and I served in this role for more than twenty years. Europa Nostra is known for running the European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage/Europa Nostra Awards which promote best practices related to heritage conservation, management, research and education. Desmond Guinness and I served as Trustees of the Alfred Beit Foundation at Russborough for 34 years. Having known of his excellent work in the area of conservation, I decided in 2004 to nominate him for an Award in the category ‘Dedicated Service to Heritage Conservation’ which is awarded to individuals or groups. I secured three letters of support for this nomination from An Taoiseach of the day, Bertie Ahern, Bonnie Burnham of the World Monuments Fund (WMF) and Lord Rosse. My nomination of Desmond was up against a total of 214 applications across Europe in four categories. These applications were assessed over a few months by independent experts and then evaluated by the Heritage

Awards Juries. Desmond won one of these prestigious prizes and in so doing became the first Irish individual to win this European Award. The citation by the Jury read as follows: “For fifty years of unrelenting voluntary efforts and spectacular achievements in favour of Ireland's architectural heritage”. He received his Medal from H.M. Queen Sofía of Spain at the prestigious European Heritage Awards Ceremony in June 2005 at the Palacio Real de El Pardo in Madrid. Later that year, an Irish celebration took place at a reception in Iveagh House hosted by the Department of Foreign Affairs. We were delighted that Desmond was finally recognised on a European level for all of his achievements over fifty years. One of Desmond’s first significant projects was when he took on the saving of Tailors' Hall, Back Lane, Dublin 8 after it was nearly lost through dereliction in the 1960s. This work inspired the An Taisce Tailors’ Hall Fundraisers to come together in 1966. Under the Chairmanship of Stella Dunphy, the Committee raised funds for the restoration of the building until 1990. Back in 1984, it had been agreed that

An Taisce would take on responsibility for the Hall and so it became the organisation’s headquarters. It remains so until the present day. An Taisce continued Desmond’s early work in conserving it over the years. This work was also recognised by Europa Nostra when Tailor's Hall won a conservation Award in 1989. Consuelo O'Connor Board Member, The Alfred Beit Foundation

For those of us too young to remember the Guinnesses in their prime I refer you to a 1970 ITV programme interview by Alan Whicker, it is riveting — sharp, witty, edgy even indiscreet but their charisma, impatience and beauty explain why they achieved so much against the odds. Desmond in particular is revealing and the complexity of his character is laid bare — particularly his shyness combined with that burning desire to secure Irish 18th century buildings. The programme covers the then threat to Doneraile Court — Desmond is interviewed with the St Legers just as they were about to leave: dressed impeccably he picks his way through the overgrown Pleasure Garden, past the decrepitude of the house: — referring to its ‘arrogant disrepair’ — and in his inimitable way he proclaims ‘it can be saved...it must be saved’: and so in time it was. My initial meetings with both Desmond and Mariga were not auspicious as I met them in the midst of their divorce proceedings in the early 1980s. On my first weekend as curator of Castletown in the autumn of 1983, with the house full of visitors — Mariga arrived plus entourage and a pair of secateurs and started to

snip at the wires from which the Richard Castle drawings of Leinster House hung. It took all my courage to dissuade her and she was not pleased. Equally my first meeting with Desmond was some weeks later at a board meeting of the Castletown Foundation in the Knight’s Waterloo Road house. Desmond announced to his fellow directors that he would have to sell the original contents of Castletown which he had purchased in 1966 and had been on loan since the house opened in 1967. This decision was greeted with shock and dismay — Castletown barely survived on its monthly overdraft and the acquisition of the contents then seemed an insuperable challenge. Desmond resigned as Chairman and although the contents were ultimately and miraculously secured — not least with a very large donation from his father Lord Moyne — there was great hurt on both sides. In latter years there was rapprochement but it was clearly a matter of great sadness that Desmond had to relinquish the day to day involvement in the house he loved so much. Desmond and Mariga’s approaches to Castletown were I think different but their zeal, energy and passion were

similar and were palpable — as a child I remember the sense of crusade everywhere apparent when taken to see the 1970 and 1971 shell picture and Irish delft exhibitions. As a 22 year old inexperienced curator I vividly recall the atmosphere and smell of Castletown — a melange of smoke, a little damp and old objects which, combined, induced a frisson of excitement — which I firmly associated with the Guinness style. Although Mariga had not been involved for some years and Desmond had been mainly living in London — there was still evidence of their flair, touches of exoticism and that ubiquitous sense of the 18th century revived that underpinned early Georgian Society activities. More than anything there was a great sense of loyalty particularly to Desmond amongst those who had worked with them in preceding years at Castletown. However fifteen years after it had opened, the house had become somewhat sad and tatty and we cleared and cleaned — earning Mariga’s epithet — ‘Mr Moore has killed the whole house’. In time, she softened, arriving memorably one evening with a basket full of Leixlip peaches, a cooked chicken sitting in their midst — vital provisions with which to feed the volunteers. Desmond equally when he moved back to Leixlip was always loyal to the house and included us in the wonderful lunches held for visiting American groups and more significantly made sure that the IGS continued its financial support for the various ongoing restoration projects. Mariga lies beneath the Conolly Folly; we must now think of a memorial for Desmond to be placed in Castletown; its saving was perhaps his greatest conservation passion and achievement. Christopher Moore Former curator, Castletown House and latterly of the Castletown Foundation

REMEMBERING THE HON. DESMOND GUINNESS (1931â&#x20AC;&#x201C;2020)

IRISH GEORGIAN SOCIETY REVIEW 20

01 Desmond Guinness & Michelina Stacpoole at the IGS Ruby Anniversary dinner 1998 (Photo: Colm Henry) 02 Desmond Guinness and the Knight of Glin, IGS Ruby Anniversary dinner, 1998 03 Desmond Guinness with JP Donleavy at the Castletown Irish Georgian Society annual cricket match, 1980s 04 Desmond Guinness and family at a reception in Iveagh House, Stephen's Green, Dublin to celebrate the Europa Nostra Cultural Heritage Medal, 2005 05 Desmond Guinness & friend, New York Gala Dinner, 1998 06 Jasmine & Desmond Guinness, IGS New York Gala Dinner, 1998 07 John Fontaine (Chair, Kress Foundation), Desmond Guinness, Dr Marilyn Perry (President, Kress Foundation), c. 1995 08 Desmond Guinness, Lord Dunraven and the Knight of Glin at the IGS Ruby Anniversary dinner, 1998

REMEMBERING THE HON. DESMOND GUINNESS (1931–2020)

IRISH GEORGIAN SOCIETY REVIEW 20

Pioneering Publications — from Essays to Collaborations Robert O’Byrne When the Irish Georgian Society was established in 1958, one of Desmond Guinness’s first initiatives was the production of a regular bulletin. The name is misleading since ‘bulletin’ suggests a newsletter. The publication did provide society members with regular updates on its activities but, from the start, it also offered a great deal of scholarly information on Ireland’s architectural heritage. It filled a lacuna. At the start of the 20th century, the earlier Irish Georgian Society had produced five volumes on the country’s historic buildings, but since then little of note had appeared: Maurice Craig’s account of Dublin during the long 18th century was published in 1952, Country Life occasionally examined a particular Irish country house, and from the late 1940s the Jesuit priest and photographer Francis Browne had produced articles for the Irish Tatler and Sketch on the same subject. But much remained to be explored; the very first bulletin carried an essay on the country’s courthouses by Maurice Craig. This set a pattern for what followed thereafter, whereby all aspects of the nation’s architectural heritage, and the context in which buildings had been created, was explored in greater depth than ever before. Desmond Guinness’s own contributions, aside from commissioning and editing work from other authors, was initially limited to editorial clarion calls and reports on the Society's latest forays but, for the July–September 1960 issue of the bulletin, he wrote an essay on Irish rococo plasterwork, a subject on which little if any research had been undertaken. Similar pieces followed, including a collaboration in 1963 with Desmond FitzGerald, Knight of Glin proposing that the Conolly Folly — a monument which the society was then in the process of restoring — had been designed by Richard Castle. The Knight, a regular contributor to the bulletin since 1959, was soon followed by other scholars such as Anne Crookshank, Michael Wynne and Alistair Rowan. Their texts were mingled with those by enthusiasts or owners of relevant properties, the likes of Molly Keane, Mark Bence-Jones, and Sir Alfred Beit. Desmond Guinness was not an academic, he had no formal training in architectural or art history. However, he possessed

a good eye, sound judgement and the ability to learn fast; such qualities served as reliable supports in his work both as a writer and commissioning editor. His stamina during those early years of the organisation was astounding. From the mid-1960s onwards, in addition to running the organisation in Ireland, he spent increasing amounts of time in the United States, proselytising on behalf of the Irish Georgian Society and raising funds for its activities. He would give public lectures, invariably to enraptured audiences, and was therefore obliged to become fluent on the subject of Ireland’s historic buildings. This required further research and led to additional understanding of the subject. It was only a matter of time before he was invited to write a book, the first, Portrait of Dublin, appearing in 1967. Many others followed, perhaps the most influential being Irish Houses and Castles (1971) co-authored with William Ryan. The work proved wildly popular (the first American edition sold out within a month) and did much to raise the profile of Irish country houses, and lead to greater understanding of their distinctive character. More books followed, including two collaborations in the 1990s with photographer Jacqueline O’Brien. Beyond the shores of Ireland, he also collaborated, with William Ryan and Julius Trousdale Sadler Jr, on a number of books looking at American architecture. Today, study of Ireland’s architectural heritage is widespread and taught in many universities and colleges. Books and articles on the subject are frequently published in both popular and scholastic outlets, lectures and talks widely given and eagerly received, unlike when Desmond Guinness embarked on his lifelong mission to save Ireland’s historic buildings from destruction. Through his pioneering work, he demonstrated there was a substantial interest in and appetite for deeper investigation of Ireland’s architectural heritage. His work in this field is remembered by the IGS through the Desmond Guinness Scholarship, awarded annually since 1996; but his influence on scholarship is much wider than that. Looking at acknowledgements and bibliographies in publications over the past half-century, it is astonishing how often his name is cited. Without Desmond Guinness, not only would

Remembering Desmond from America Tom O’Gorman fewer of Ireland’s historic buildings remain today, but analysis and understanding of them, would be much less developed than is now the case. Robert O'Byrne is a writer and lecturer specialising in the fine and decorative arts.

01 Irish Houses and Castles 1971 02 Great Irish Houses and Castles 1992

No-one could engage a room full of A-list Americans better than Desmond Guinness. Despite his mythic pedigree and nonchalance of rustic Irish nobility, his genuine aristocratic bearing was tame and user friendly. His soft elegance was immediate and overflowing with a natural charm. Not unlike his dearest aunt, Debo, the late Duchess of Devonshire, the youngest Mitford girl, his mother’s sister. My affection for Desmond had no end, not unlike some lunches at Leixlip Castle. Often, Americans would appear there, hosted to hilarity in the dining room with organic Irish salad and vegetables from the garden and crowdpleasing cheese soufflé from the cookery of the great Eileen Byrne. Sprinkle in some of the plentiful vintage French wines Rosie O’Neill always carried along with her to such lunches and you have the recipe for smiling contentment in dear Desmond. An Irish winter might be beating against the vintage windows, but roaring fires and warm table talk always chased away any chill. Americans inevitably discovered a hidden, unique slice of Ireland, surprised to discover how very near the 18th century actually was to them. So you never minded reciting a few lines of Irish verse as the custard dishes were cleared. Or conjuring up a yarn to leave the lunch guests in stitches. Around the table Americans always received a healthy dose of Desmond’s sparkling Mitford blue eyes, always the icing on the cake. In Chicago, Desmond’s arrivals for Irish Georgian events over the decades were treated as state visits; an evening with the princely founder, always magical. At the Casino, the city’s most refined and understated deco style club, few worth their salt passed up the chance to nibble on buttery cheese straws with their cocktails before listening to the sparkle of Desmond’s wit and wander through the hair-raising story of Irish architectural preservation. The “swelligant” Irish were charmed and beguiled as he raised the predicaments of Europe’s most refined designs, threatened by the madness and carelessness of cultural blindness. As the vichyssoise was served, Desmond would say the words that let the scales fall from once blind eyes. And the patrimony of his homeland moved closer, one great house at a time, to safety and

conservation. Desmond’s was a charm offensive as bold as the first Normandy landing in Ireland, in 1169 A.D. Americans were enriched by Desmond because he invited their support in preserving beauty and high Irish art. We were awed by his commitment and intelligence in mapping out a significant plan for saving the grandeur of Ireland’s treasured past. I once rang Desmond from Dublin asking to rent one of the cottages on the Leixlip demesne for a week or ten days. “No,” he said, to my utter surprise. “But you can come and stay at the castle for as long as you like.” I did. And had the time of my life. One evening the castle filled up with friends making their way back to England by ferry. They stopped for the night. Eileen prepared a worthy meal, served in the kitchen by the warmth of the AGA cooker. Roast beef, soufflé and roast potatoes. Bowls of red currants from the garden with cream followed to finish. I needed to summon the best of the Yank in me for the company. A woman whose mother had been a lady-in-waiting at Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation sat beside me. She had two titles. A well equipped woman. With lots of questions. She asked me if I had been at school with Desmond. He’s actually many years my senior. He shook with laughter, bobbing his head and said, “Oh no. Tom was a few years behind me.” We all laughed. Pure Desmond. Helping everyone save face. Early one morning, my phone rang in Dublin. A soft voice said, “Sorry, it’s Desmond.” I said, “No problem, I was going to ring you later about our lunch.” “Lunch?” the voice said. “When?” “Well today,” I said. “Oh no,” he said. “I never penciled it in. But I am free.” “Good,” I said. “L’Ecrivan at noon. With Rose.” “Wonderful,” he said. “See you then.” I went back to sleep. When I arrived at the restaurant I saw the Knight of Glin, patiently waiting. I said, “Desmond, I’m so glad you rang this morning. I would have hated to miss you.” “But,” he said, “I never rang.” Then the door opened and Desmond Guinness came in, all apologies for having called me so early. Too polite to say he never received the invite. We all roared at the Irish Georgian dilemma of knowing too many Desmonds. Rose was most amused. Desmond Guinness changed the way many generous Americans see Ireland

and its historic talent for domestic design. Irish buildings, constructed by the Irish. Shaped from the skills of Irish workers. Plasterers. Glassmakers. Carpenters. Stone masons. Wood carvers. Metal workers. Irish trades fashioned for Irish buildings living still. From Castletown House to Doneraile Court, from Henrietta Street to North Great Georges Street, and the City Assembly House, the fortunes and prognosis for Irish architectural rescue is better than ever. Desmond’s charms and skills opened many doors and minds in America. Generations of Irish American hearts cracked open to discover a fresh pride in being Irish. Refining deeper sensitivities for Europe’s finest historical architectural design. Tá anam amháin nach bhfuil chomh brionglóideach anseo ar talamh, gan Desmond. (Without him, there is one less dreaming soul here on earth.) Tom O’Gorman lives in Chicago and is a longtime IGS member. He is also an artist and writer.

REMEMBERING THE HON. DESMOND GUINNESS (1931–2020)

IRISH GEORGIAN SOCIETY REVIEW 20

Cherish the Heritage Frank McDonald The needless demolition in 1957 of two fine eighteenth-century houses on Dublin’s now bleak Kildare Place by a State agency — the Office of Public Works, shamefully — spurred Desmond Guinness and his first wife Mariga to reestablish the Irish Georgian Society six months later and then lead a campaign to preserve as much as possible of the architecture of that period, even in the teeth of rank ignorance of its value. A still unidentified Government minister was quoted as saying of the Kildare Place houses: “I was glad to see them go. They stand for everything I hate”. Such visceral antipathy to Georgian Dublin was rooted in a warped view that it was all part of the legacy of the ‘800 years of oppression’, ironically, reinforced by titled and landed gentry on the Society's inaugural committee. As I wrote in The Destruction of Dublin (1985), it gave the impression that the IGS was dominated by “the remnants of the ascendancy seeking to preserve what was widely seen as the heritage of the ascendancy.” In reality, Desmond and Mariga Guinness were more than willing to work with people from all backgrounds to avert the loss of Georgian-period buildings through neglect or wanton destruction. They collaborated with Uinseann MacEoin, a Tyrone-born republican, architect and fearless journalist who had been interned in The Curragh for IRA membership, to save the early 18th century Tailors’ Hall, on Back Lane. MacEoin highlighted its associations with the United Irishmen of 1798, including Wolfe Tone and Napper Tandy; Desmond and Mariga saw it as a remarkable building that must be preserved. The campaign to save Tailors’ Hall was won, and it is now safely in the hands of An Taisce. St Catherine’s Church on Thomas Street was saved by a similar combination of interests; apart from its architectural significance, it bore witness to the execution of Robert Emmet. But after being turned into an arts centre, it reverted to neardereliction and, in the memorable words of Desmond Guinness, “had be saved… again!”. It became a church once again. But several of the battles waged by the IGS were lost — notably the destruction of 16 Georgian houses in Fitzwilliam Street Lower, in the mid-1960s to make

Desmond Guinness and the London Chapter John Redmill way for Stephenson & Gibney’s new headquarters for the ESB, which in turn met the same fate in 2019, to be replaced by a much larger office complex with a “Neo-Georgian” façade treatment on its street frontage. The struggle to protect 18th century houses at the corners of Hume Street and St Stephen’s Green, valiantly occupied by ‘militant students and conservationists in 1969, is remembered for then minister Kevin Boland’s diatribe in the Dáil about how “belted earls and their ladies and left-wing intellectuals” were behind this “open act of piracy”, also referring to “the Guinness aristocracy who pull the strings to which the Georgians dance”. What’s forgotten is that nobody at all had objected to the Green Property group’s original planning application to demolish the houses for a pair of modernist office blocks and that the compromise of replacing the original buildings with Georgian pastiche office blocks was far from satisfactory. Swathes of Harcourt Street and Leeson Street Lower succumbed to a similar solution. Mountjoy Square — the most perfectly-proportioned in Dublin — had sunk into deep decay, prompting Desmond and Mariga to purchase one of its threatened houses while Uinseann MacEoin bought several others. These survived, but No.50 — which Mariga had furnished and decorated — stood forlorn, shored up on both sides, and was ultimately acquired by PMPA, which pulled it down in 1983 with a JCB and hawser line. Virtually the entire south side, and much of its west side, were eventually rebuilt in Georgian-replica style, with small apartments by Zoe Developments Ltd lurking behind the imposing façades. Intact once again, it has a substantial number of residents — unlike Merrion and Fitzwilliam squares — and the local Mountjoy Square Society works closely with Dublin City Council to improve its park and environs. The most painful loss was Frescati House, in Blackrock, dating from 1739; the childhood home of Lord Edward FitzGerald, one of the 1798 leaders. Bought in 1970 by Roches Stores, which wanted to build a shopping centre on the seven-acre site beside a new by-pass, it was left to go to rack and ruin, to the consternation of conservationists. The Frescati Preservation Society was set up,

with Desmond Guinness as its first chair. For more than a decade, they waged a heroic struggle to save the house, going right up to the Supreme Court, but it all ended in failure. Frescati was first looted for everything of any value, then stripped of its long wings — with official permission — reduced over time to a shell and finally finished off early one morning in November 1983. But this sad case at least underlined the need for legislation to protect Ireland’s architectural heritage. It was a long time coming, enacted only in 1999, but Desmond Guinness played a sterling role in making it happen. Georgian-era buildings, once so reviled, are now in large measure cherished as part of our heritage, made in Ireland by Irish bricklayers, hodcarriers, joiners and stuccadores. For that alone, we owe a debt to those who championed the conservation cause over the years, not least Desmond and Mariga. Frank McDonald Former environment editor of The Irish Times

Catapulted into the IGS’s London Chapter in 1974 by becoming a member of its Committee without yet being a member of the society, I met Desmond Guinness and soon recognised his kindness and warmth. The IGS London was in its infancy, but had started organising events, of which little information survives, for its 190 UK members. We benefitted from Desmond using his enthusiasm and charm on contacts, and taking part when possible. He certainly attended the first ‘dressing-up’ event that the Chapter, under Nick Thompson, organised — the 1977 Georgian party at the Royal Society of Medicine’s Chandos House, Queen Anne Street, designed by Robert Adam around 1770. In 1980, Desmond and Penny moved to the Cotswolds in England, and in 1982 organised a weekend tour including a visit to Daylesford House, then owned by Baron Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza. This was the start of a very significant time for us, although records of events and other activities are rather sketchy. Never a committee member himself, Desmond inspired our members and opened doors that were otherwise closed. He also encouraged his wide circle of glamorous friends to support events and join in the fun by working his magic to charm potential and already charmed hosts and members. Desmond and Penny moved to London near the Kings Road, a key location being near to both the Chelsea Arts Club, of which he was a member, and the Irish Club in Eaton Square where the London lectures were held. Parties in the Arts Club welcomed new members, and Nick Thompson recalls him as ‘an ornament to the Chapter,

as well as an inspiration… in its Golden Age’. Friends were inveigled into opening their doors to the Chapter — one Persian-Irish couple owned a house in Mallord Street, its previous owners had been Augustus John and then Gracie Fields. Thanks to Desmond, a wonderfully exotic evening was spent lolling on ottomans and eating Persian delicacies, accompanied by the music of The Chieftains. David Mlinaric, a very close friend, was another who caved-in to visitations. Desmond persuaded his father, Lord Moyne, to allow the Chapter to visit Biddesden in Hampshire, [an unforgettable tour by torch-light] and to be received by his aunt ‘Debo’, the Duchess of Devonshire, at Chatsworth. His friendship with John Paul Getty Jr resulted in playing the Georgian Group twice at cricket according to the 1744 rules on his private cricket ground at Wormsley [near High Wycombe], Desmond provided replica 18th century bats and organised the IGS team — sadly beaten soundly — while members enjoyed a stunning picnic lunch! We also visited Getty’s private house in Cheyne Walk where Rossetti had once lived. The extraordinarily wealthy Edward James was another great friend and he often lived at Leixlip in the years before his death in 1984. We visited both of James’s houses — West Dean itself [where Desmond gave a brilliant talk about his friend], and Monkton, a house on the estate designed for his mother in 1902 by Lutyens and that James had surreal-ised in the 1930s. Chapter lectures during those years attracted large numbers of London members and other devotees. Desmond said modestly that he had only one

lecture, with several titles. He spoke brilliantly on Castletown and the work of the Society, and once about the White House, having managed to commandeer the US Embassy as the venue, complete with drinks! The London Chapter gave a number of fund-raising parties, often in costume. Desmond always loved such events. Fascinated by Carlos de Bestegui’s famous Bal Oriental of 1951 at the Palazzo Labia in Venice, he gave a lecture about it to the Chapter, with members of his family [including grand-daughter Jasmine] dressed in the harlequin costumes worn by the acrobats who’d entertained Bestequi’s guests. He supported the Ruby Ball of 1998 for the IGS’s 40th anniversary, and the Emerald and Gold Ball for its 50th in 2008. Many of Desmond’s wealthy and famous friends attended in 2008 through their loyalty to him and, by association, the work of the Society. The Chapter has always adhered to Desmond’s serious agenda: to educate, and to support conservation projects in Ireland. Castletown, Ledwithstown, and Headfort are three of many beneficiaries. His work and example will continue to inspire London as it supports the Society’s work by providing its Conservation Grants Scheme with €330,000 since 2014 to help fund about 70 projects. John R Redmill Patron, IGS London With enormous thanks to Nicolas Thompson, Peter Verity & Robert Jennings.

Desmond Guinness and friends at Chandos House, London in 1977

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Young Irish Georgians: Year in Review

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Peter Pearson

Zoë Coleman 01

The YIGs' (as we are affectionately known) final event of 2019 was a relaxed affair with a ‘Seasonal Social’ in Smithfield. On a crisp winter Sunday afternoon our group visited 81 North King Street, the home and practice of architect James Kelly, who generously gave us a tour of his house, placing it in the context of the surrounding built heritage on North King Street and the historic development of Dublin city. Afterward we warmed up in Walsh's of Stoneybatter over some drinks and banter! For our first event of 2020, a group of YIGs visited Leinster House for an evening tour on 17 February. After a period of extensive restoration and conservation work the building had recently reopened, and our group had an exclusive opportunity to see the recently restored Georgian interiors of the Richard Cassels (1690 – 1751) designed building. When it was first built in 1745 – 48 by James FitzGerald, Earl of Kildare, it was located on the unfashionable and isolated south side of the city, far from the main locations of aristocratic residences, namely Rutland Square (now Parnell Square) and Mountjoy Square. This special tour was facilitated for us by

Dublin Fragments: The Pearson Collection

YIG member Paul Stephens. Before the COVID-19 pandemic became a stark reality for us all, a group of YIGs luckily gathered for what was to be our last event for some time, on 3 March, with artist Peter Pearson leading an informal curator's tour of 'Dublin Fragments: The Pearson Collection' exhibition, of which you can read more about in this issue. Peter introduced the YIGs to his collection, and highlighted artefacts from the 101 objects gathered together purposely for this special exhibition. There was plenty of time afterward for us to ask Peter questions about particular objects in his collection, and many of the group were very curious as to the why and how of Peter’s collecting. I’ve been coordinating Young Irish Georgian tours on a voluntary basis for the past four years, and I was honoured to be invited to a reception on 4 March at the Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI) commemorating the Royal visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to Ireland. Those attending the reception at MoLI included political party leaders and elected representatives from across the political spectrum;

younger representatives of the creative sector in Ireland; a group of younger civil servants from across several Government Departments; representatives of civil society; and of organisations building reconciliation and mutual understanding in communities across Northern Ireland. As ever, all Young Irish Georgians events are open to IGS members under 40 years of age. Get in touch with zoe.coleman@igs.ie if you would like to be added to our mailing list. We hope to host some virtual events in the coming months. Zoë Coleman Programmes and Communications Coordinator 01 Zoë meeting the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in Newman House (Museum of Literature Ireland), March 2020 02 Young Irish Georgians on North King Street for our annual Seasonal Social, December 2019

01 Adam, Phil, Peter and Jerome Pearson at the launch of Dublin Fragments in the City Assembly House 02 Dublin Fragments exhibition hang in the City Assembly House

The exhibition of architectural fragments and installations at the former City Assembly House shows an unusual and dazzling display of historic Dublin craftsmanship, mostly rescued by the author from demolished buildings in the last decades of the 20th century. Beautiful in their own right, they also have an historic importance as each object came from a specific place, with its own provenance. For several reasons it should, hopefully, be no longer possible to salvage or assemble such a collection today; most significant buildings are now protected, while site safety would preclude casual access during demolition of an old house. On the walls of the octagonal gallery, known as the Knight of Glin Exhibition Room (built between 1765– 66 to display the Society of Artists in Ireland's work) is a wide range of artefacts, decorative ironwork and plasterwork, but seen here out of context. Their removal from their natural settings accentuates the intrinsic beauty and heightens our focus on the craftsmanship. Examine the delicacy of Georgian fanlights of which no two seem alike either in size

or design; the decorative detail and classical charm of plasterwork which adorned the ceilings of great houses; the elegant refinement of timber pilasters, architraves and staircase details; and the enduring beauty of cast and wrought iron. These were all elements which make up built Dublin — mementos of a time long past and of the people who built and lived there. Much has been written about all that was swept away — whole streets razed like Dominick or Eccles Street, mostly between 1960 and 1990 and there are many fascinating photographs of what has been lost. Much attention is given, understandably, to the more noted streets and buildings, but even the lesser quarters, deemed insignificant, had features of interest — old stone door-cases, ironwork lamps and railings and shop-fronts. Efforts to save Temple Bar from demolition in 1984 were an attempt to protect the character of a more modest but richly historic part of the city. Also on display are gems from important Dublin buildings — an iron cramp from the Custom House which caused so much damage to its fine stonework; a plasterwork acorn

DUBLIN FRAGMENTS: THE PEARSON COLLECTION

rescued from the Four Courts before the 1920 fire; plasterwork from City Hall; there is even a decorative toilet from Dublin Castle! When does an accumulation of a few items become a collection? Where there are several examples of the same type of artefact — railing heads, perhaps — you have the basis of a collection. The rapid pace of demolitions in Dublin city and county the 1980s made it possible to acquire such objects, but they did not simply fall out of the sky! Initially an attempt was made through the Planning process to prevent destruction, which often being unsuccessful, led to the hour of demolition — if one was lucky enough to know when that might happen. In general, nobody wanted to save anything and developers were keen to clear sites as quickly as possible. Some larger elements were recycled — slates from two houses went for the re-roofing of Drimnagh Castle; joists, floorboards, doors and mouldings were always useful. Rescuing ironwork balconies or plasterwork required time, tools and help from obliging friends with transport. Much was moved on the back of motorbikes, while cars

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were borrowed for larger items. Plasterwork had to be detached, using a hatchet while precariously balanced on makeshift scaffolding of old wardrobes and joists. Black filth of demolition, dust in the eyes, splinters and sharp nails were all routine hazards, not to mention the toll of lifting of very heavy stones and timbers! Lastly, space was needed to store everything — usually in basements or outside sheds. This collection — fragments from a wide range of Dublin’s built heritage — can be seen perhaps as magpie addiction or regarded as a sort of archaeology of the 18th and 19th centuries, except these items never got the chance to be buried. On another level, like some archaeological artefacts, these exhibits are artistic pieces in their own right. They illustrate aspects of particular buildings and the construction of our city in general while also reflecting its social history. An ornamental ceramic bell-pull, iron foot-scraper or coal-hole cover can tell us much about living conditions in the 19th century.

Peter Pearson is an artist, writer and collector attracted to the physical heritage of his native Dublin. His paintings reflect a lifelong interest in documenting and protecting the architectural and natural heritage of Ireland.

Saving Graces Exhibition

Peter Murray

01 IGS Chairman Michael Wall officially launching the exhibition 02, 03 Dublin Fragments exhibition hang in the City Assembly House

Ledwithstown House, Ledwithstown, Co. Longford

In 1974, when doing my Leaving Certificate art exam, I chose to depict the destruction of Dublin’s Georgian architectural heritage. Since early childhood, art had been the love of my life, and I was better at drawing and painting, than at Maths, Irish, Spanish, or any of the other subjects taught at my school, St. Paul’s College in Raheny. The theme was circulated in advance, and I chose to represent an endangered house on Mountjoy Square, propped up by great timber beams — raking shores — to prevent it collapsing. Leading up to the exam, I researched Georgian brickwork, railings and windows, and completed a number of trial paintings and sketches. The exam went well; the invigilators passing my desk commented favourably on the detailed rendering. The results however were a blow. I got a C, and was greatly dismayed. But C it was, and C it remains. Looking back, I wonder was my examiner one of those who regarded — as did many in Ireland at that time — Georgian architecture as an archaic and unwanted relic of British imperial rule? Almost half a century has elapsed and much

water has flowed under O’Connell Bridge since my deflation, but I am happy to have taken up pencil and watercolour brush, and produced a series of depictions of Irish buildings that add to a growing appreciation of our fine architectural heritage. “Saving Graces” is far from being the first display of my work. In 1984, an exhibition of pen and ink drawings, at the Alliance Francaise in Dublin, was opened by James White of the National Gallery. In it were views of endangered Irish buildings, old mills, lock-keepers’ cottages on the Grand Canal, and some from abroad — including Place des Vosges. Since then, time permitting, I have continued to paint, participating in gallery shows and group exhibitions. Stepping down from curatorial duties, after some three decades, has proved a boon, allowing discarded threads to be picked up again. After years of giving tours of other artists’ shows, the request from the IGS to give Malcolm Noonan, Minister for State at the Department of Heritage and Culture, a tour of my own work at the City Assembly House, was startling. In the event, Minister Noonan, also an artist, spoke well at the opening and,

masked and distanced, the evening was a great success. My watercolours — now on view in the O’Connell Room of the City Assembly House, COVID-19 restrictions permitting — depict historic buildings whose restoration over the past two decades has been assisted by the Irish Georgian Society. Ranging from houses to garden follies, churches, and even bridges, these wonderful structures are integral to an understanding of Irish history. Over the years — beginning with Castletown House, Riverstown House, Doneraile Court and Tailors’ Hall — the IGS has supported many restoration projects. The majority are large country houses, remarkable for their architectural quality but representing also complex social, cultural and political ideas. Designed to convey an impression of stability, status and authority, they sometimes, inadvertently, reveal an unexpected nervousness and insecurity. The title, “Saving Graces”, allows viewers to appreciate this graceful architecture, as well as the skill of joiners, stonemasons and others, while not necessarily espousing the often unhappy aspects of land ownership

SAVING GRACES EXHIBITION

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The Irish Country House Garden: A Celebration Robert O’Byrne

Garnish Island, Bantry Bay, Co. Cork (Photo: Robert O’Byrne)

and management that led to the break-up of large estates and the decline of the great house in the early 20th-century. Although magnificent to behold, an ease of living is not always achievable in Irish country houses. Ascending through several storeys, they can be inconvenient for the able-bodied, and insurmountable to the elderly. But while staircases can be a challenge, the views from the bedroom windows are invariably rewarding. With the departure of servants, kitchens and pantries, traditionally in the basement, are now more conveniently found at ground floor level. Stable wings are renovated as guest accommodation. As one generation succeeds the next, many of these houses become museums, full of paintings, artifacts, photographs and archives; recording families, the local countryside and social events. Those buildings that have survived, and are cared for,

have proven time and again to be of value to society and communities; whether as heritage houses and hotels, or event centres. Even when restored by private owners, a country house can generate considerable employment in a range of areas, from horticulture, bee-keeping and landscaping, and encourages restoration and conservation skills, that are increasingly in demand for both private and public projects. Peter Murray is an artist and art historian and former Director of the Crawford Art Gallery, Cork (retired 2017).

01 Close-up of No. 38 North Great George's Street, Dublin 1 02 Deputy Malcolm Noonan, Minister of State at the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht with Peter Murray in the City Assembly House for the launch of 'Saving Graces', 17 September 2020

In May 2021 the Irish Georgian Society will present a ground-breaking exhibition devoted to the history of the Irish country house garden from the 17th to the 20th centuries. Curated by the society’s former Vice President, Robert O’Byrne, the exhibition will be an exploration, a recreation and a celebration of this important, but insufficiently understood, subject. While the changing landscape of the Irish countryside has been extensively examined in recent decades, the evolution of gardens attached to country houses remains under-investigated. Providing a unique opportunity to understand the evolution of Irish country house gardens across the centuries, the forthcoming exhibition will open c.1600 with sites around castles and fortified houses such as those at Lismore, Co. Waterford and Portumna, Co. Galway, and end with two great island gardens created just

before the First World War: Garnish, Co. Kerry and Lambay, Co. Dublin. Between these two periods, the evolving nature of the Irish country house garden will be explored. What makes our gardens different from those found in other countries? What plants were favoured during which eras? Who were the most significant plantsmen and women? What role did owners play in laying out a garden? Who were the most important gardeners? What new species were introduced to Ireland, especially in the 19th century? The exhibition will feature paintings, engravings and photographs — from the time the medium was first developed in the mid-19th century to the present day — as well as film and other appropriate media to make the experience exciting, engaging and informative. To coincide with this event, a book on the same subject has been commissioned, edited by

Professor Finola O’Kane Crimmins and with contributions from leading experts in the field. In addition, a one-hour television documentary looking at the history of the Irish country house garden will be shown, and a conference is also planned while the exhibition is running. Generously sponsored by a number of the Irish Georgian Society’s supporters, this programme is certain to be of enormous interest to garden groups and societies, both in Ireland and abroad. The Irish Georgian Society has already begun promoting the exhibition, encouraging individuals and organisations not only to plan visits to the exhibition but also to join tours around the country to see for themselves some of the key sites featured in the show.

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Conservation Education Programme

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Emmeline Henderson

Elevation of Castle Coole, by James Wyatt, 1790 (Private Collection)

Supported annually by Merrion Property Group and Heather and John Picerne, during the past year the programme delivered two architectural heritage lecture series (one at the CAH and the other online), a study day, a conservation course for homeowners, a series of live online children’s craft workshops and a set of traditional building skills videos. Adapting to the challenges of COVID-19 also presented opportunities allowing for new audiences to be reached. Victorian Dublin Revealed lecture series, Autumn 2019 A capacity audience attended at the City Assembly House, for Victorian Dublin Revealed: a celebration of the city’s 19th-century architectural legacy, delivered in partnership with Dublin City Council’s Heritage Office. Over nine weeks, speakers explored Dublin’s 19th-century built heritage and different building typologies. Domestic, ecclesiastical, funereal, commercial, philanthropic, cultural and infrastructural architecture were appraised for their architectural significance while being placed in their socio-economic and political context by excellent lecturers: Michael Barry (Dublin Victorian Railway Termini); Professor Christine

Casey (Craftsmanship and Building for Display: TCD’s Museum Building); Gretta Doyle (Cities of the Dead: Dublin's Victorian Cemeteries); Dr Susan Galavan (Dublin’s Bourgeois Homes: Building the Victorian suburbs, 1850–1901); Dr Samantha Martin-McAuliffe (Dublin’s 19th Century Market Buildings); Dr Michael O’Neil (Victorian Bank Architecture); Colum O’Riordan (Victorian Values: philanthropic housing in Dublin and the Dublin Artisans’ Dwelling Company); Peter Pearson (Decorative Dublin and its Victorian Details) and Dr Alistair Rowan (The Victorian Church in Dublin). Castle Coole Study Day, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh Tuesday 12th November 2019 In partnership with the Earl of Belmore and the National Trust Northern Ireland, IGS celebrated the rich architectural heritage, decorative interiors and designed landscape of Ireland’s finest 18th-century neo-Classical house, Castle Coole, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh. Home to the Lowry Corry family since the late 17th-century, Castle Coole is where Lord Belmore and his family still reside. A Queen Anne

mansion built by John Curle replaced the earlier defensive building which in turn was replaced by a house of unparalleled architectural grandeur. Built to designs by James Wyatt for Armar Lowry-Corry, the 1st Earl of Belmore, Castle Coole is recognised as Wyatt’s Irish masterpiece. The National Trust acquired Castle Coole in 1951, and is responsible for managing the house along with the adjoining parkland and for providing public access. Held in Castle Coole’s superlative entrance hall, the day commenced with a welcome address from the Earl of Belmore. Keynote speaker was Dr John Martin Robinson, the acknowledged authority on James Wyatt while distinguished speakers include: Frances Bailey; William Laffan; Dr Patricia McCarthy; Dr Edward McParland; Terence Reeves Smyth; Dr William Roulston; David Skinner; and Christopher Monkhouse, who graciously travelled from the USA to deliver a fascinating talk on the Wyatt designed Castle Coole entrance hall chairs. Victoria Browne, Donough Cahill and Primrose Wilson ably chaired the study day while the National Trust team provided house tours. We are grateful to the Earl of Belmore for his support of this

extraordinarily rich and informative study day, and to IGS committee member William Laffan who convened the study day. We also wish to thank our sponsors Ecclesiastical Insurance and Consarc Conservation Architects, and the National Trust NI team in particular, Frances Bailey, Jim Chestnutt and Laura Murray. Conserving your Dublin Period House Spring 2020

Thatcher Liam Broderick features in the 'A Kingdom of Skill' videos produced by the IGS and Kerry County Council for Heritage Week 2020 (Pictured at work on a cottage on The Mall, Mitchelstown, Co. Cork for the Irish Landmark Trust)

February brought our annual Conserving your Dublin Period House course in conjunction with Dublin City Council, but in response to the government's COVID-19 guidance talks moved online after the third lecture. Initially a challenge, this brought the benefit that those based outside of Dublin were easily able to participate. We are most indebted to our longstanding historic building experts for their continued support of the conservation course, and for their agility in adapting to the online format, which involved not inconsiderable IT upskilling. Sincerest thanks to the lecture team: Charles Duggan, Heritage Officer, Mary McDonald, Architectural Conservation Officer, and Carl Raftery, Assistant Conservation Officer, Dublin City Council; Jacqui Donnelly, Senior

Architect and Dr Nessa Roche, Senior Architectural Advisor, Department of Culture, Heritage and Gaeltacht; Ali Davey, Historic Environment Scotland; Peter Clarke, formerly TUD; Lisa Edden, Director, Cora Consulting Engineers, Grainne Shaffrey, Director, Shaffrey Architects; Frank Keohane, historic building consultant, Susan Roundtree, formerly Senior Architect, DCC; and Andrew Smith, stuccodore. Cruinniú na nÓg Online Children’s Traditional Conservation & Craft Skills Workshops, June 2020 On Saturday 13 June 2020, the IGS partnered with the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to host a series of free online children's traditional craft and conservation workshops. Delivered live through Zoom children were able to have a virtual tour of the workshops of four master craftspeople and see the tools, materials and techniques used. Firstly, Liam McCorkell of Glasshaus Studio in Co. Meath explained how stained glass is made. Next to the Belfast studio of Ruth Bothwell of Decowell where children were shown how to gild and achieve historic paint effects. Thereafter, Philip Quinn of Stonemad in Co. Tipperary mounted

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Events Round-Up Róisín Lambe

Castle Coole Study Day Speakers and Chairs (left to right): Dr Patricia McCarthy, Dr John Martin Robinson; Terence Reeve-Smyth, Primrose Wilson, Christopher Monkhouse; Lady Belmore, Lord Belmore, David Skinner, Emmeline Henderson, Donough Cahill, Frances Bailey, Dr William Roulston.

an impressive demonstration of how to crack stone the traditional way with fire, water, plugs and feathers, as well as showing the children how he slacks lime in his yard. Finally, Sven Habermann gave the children a whirlwind tour of the Aladdin’s cave that is his studio in Connemara. Viewers met the oldest artefact Sven is restoring, Cecil a seven thousand year old giant deer with broken antlers. The children also learnt how 18th century doors from Carton House that Sven was restoring achieved their shiny shellac surface from the secretion of a bug that feeds off plum trees in South Asia. Thanks to Liam, Ruth, Philip and Sven for sharing their time, creativity, craft and conservation expertise — perhaps we may have inspired one of the young workshop participants to consider a future career in conservation. The Society also wishes to thank Arran Henderson, Dublin Decoded for devising a fun, free interactive lunchtime Zoom talk for children on the origins and inspiration of Dublin’s Georgian architecture as part of the Society and Department’s Cruinniú na nÓg 2020 offering.

Celebrating Dublin’s Heritage Buildings with Dublin City Council To mark National Heritage Week 2020 in August, DCC Heritage Officer, Charles Duggan invited the IGS to partner on a series of twelve free on-line talks celebrating Dublin’s built heritage. Broad in their subject matter, themes included domestic life in the Victorian house, 20th century concrete architecture, Georgian speculative development, industrial archaeology, Masonic philanthropic endeavour, street furniture and Tractarian church architecture. These online lectures were viewed by over 2,500 people and IGS thanks the lecturers: David Averill; Dr Susan Galavan; Dr Brendan Grimes; Rebecca Hayes; Niamh Kiernan; Professor Owen Lewis; Mary Liz McCarthy; Dr Eve McCaulay; Seamus O'Maitiu; Shane O’Toole; Peter Pearson; and Dr Alistair Rowan. A Kingdom of Skill Traditional Building Skills Video Demonstrations with Kerry County Council As part of National Heritage Week 2020, the Irish Georgian Society was delighted to partner

with Kerry County Council’s Architectural Conservation Officer, Victoria McCarthy on the Kingdom of Skill video project. Five traditional building skills craftspeople: blacksmith (Thomas Allison); sash window conservator (Rafal Warszawski); stained glass conservator (Glynn Palmer); thatcher (Liam Broderick); and lime practitioner (Hugh Dorrian) were invited to make their own short video about their work in conserving Kerry’s built heritage, as well highlight how that work is supported by conservation grants from both The Heritage Council and the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. These videos are freely available to view on Kerry County Council's YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/IGSKerryCoCo Emmeline Henderson, Conservation Manager and Deputy Director

Pat Murray and Michael Maughan on the Day Tour to Carlow and Kildare, September 2019 (Courtesy of Dog That Hunts Photography)

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In September 2019, Pat Murray led a sun-filled day tour of County Kildare and Carlow to Moone Abbey, Hardymount House and Huntington Castle. Moone Abbey House (whose 18th century house hides a 6th century monastic site) is a charming detached five-bay three-storey building, with particularly interesting three-bay two-storey curved flanking linking screen walls and twobay two-storey terminating pavilion blocks having Dutch-style gables. Next was a visit to Hardymount House where the group was treated to a beautiful lunch in the 1820s Regency house with its lovely gardens. Finally, Huntington Castle, steeped in history with so many interesting Durdin Robertson family stories. The first structure was built in 1625 and was the ancient seat of the Esmonde family who are ancestors of the current owners. Also in September, the Society hosted a Patrons and Benefactors lunch at Collon House, built in 1740s, which has been beautifully restored by present owners Michael McMahon and John BentleyDunne. Lunch was followed by a tour of Collon Church, with Dr John Rountree, which was a recipient of an IGS grant. In October, the Standish Barry lecture at the City Assembly House gave us the opportunity to welcome Jacqui Ansell, a Senior Lecturer at Christie’s Education whose lecture titled ‘To Rome, then Home: Batoni and his Irish Sitters (Fashioning Identities in the Grand Tour Portrait)’ was a fascinating look into the Irish sitters who were amongst the first Grand Tourists to seek out Batoni’s services. She explored the choices that sitters made in terms of dress, deportment and accessories. Some members travelled to Naples, a trip fashioned to trace the residences used by the royal couple Ferdinand I and Maria-Carolina of the Two Sicilies, visiting Capodimonte and the Castelnuovo, as well as Villa Floridiana, an elegant Neoclassical structure. Highlights included the two residences belonging to the family of the Prime Minister Sir John Acton, the Villa

Pignatelli and Palazzo Cellamare and a visit to Herculaneum and the National Archaeological Museum, the largest Roman architectural museum. In November 2019, Pat Murray organised his annual jaunt around the city with the South City Tour visiting two private residential houses in Merrion Square and an enjoyable lunch in Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud. The second Mary Bryan Memorial Lecture brought Robin Mandal’s insight in ‘navigating the heritage of Lough Rynn’. Covering a story of 15 years of collaboration in bringing new uses to this historic demesne, it was interesting for members to have the view of a conservation architect on themes of economics, regulations and convention with Lough Rynn’s cast of characters, the play itself and the epilogue. 2019 concluded with a Christmas Party at the atmospheric and characterful 12 Henrietta St, home to Ian Lumley, which was lit by candlelight providing a truly festive feeling. Refreshments were served to members, who enjoyed the raffle and the announcement of the Desmond Guinness Scholarship and Prize recipients, Cora McDonagh, to support her PhD research at Maynooth University on ‘Irish Country House art collections: Exhibitions, Estate Expenditure and Civic Bequests 1814–1914’ while Dr Kathryn Milligan's study on ‘Exhibiting, viewing and selling art in Dublin, 1845–1849’ was also acknowledged, and she was awarded the Desmond Guinness Prize. The Scholarship and Prize were presented by Dr Conor Lucey. The new year began with a lecture on ‘Some Old Ulster Houses and their Chatelaines’ by Daniel Calley in advance of the his Country House Tour due to be held in May. Daniel provided an insight into women such as Circe (Edith) Londonderry at Mount Stewart and Anne Catherine, Countess of Antrim in her own right, at Glenarm Castle. Following this, Paul Connolly also gave a lecture on the

Landed Estates of Roscommon based on his recent book on the subject. It was poignant to see the families and houses of a county which once had some of the finest houses in the country, many no longer standing, such as Rockingham, Mote and Frenchpark. Paul talked about other surviving notable houses like King House, Clonalis, Castlecoote and Strokestown Park. In February we had a very interesting lecture on Central Leinster by Andrew Tierney, author of the Yale published fifth Buildings of Ireland guide. Andrew delivered a whistle-stop tour of the historically rich and nuanced territory covering early monasticism, Palladianism with the mansions of Kildare and the romantic castles of Offaly within ancient forests, and how Neoclassicism flourished with grand houses by James Wyatt at Abbey Leix, by James Gordon at Emo, and by the Morrisons at Ballyfin.

The second lecture in February also focused on the Midlands with a lecture on Capard House with historian Dr. Ciaran Reilly whose recent book on that house covers its fascinating social and political history and illuminating stories of the colourful characters associated with the estate. Available from bookshop. Little did we know, this was to be the last members event in the City Assembly House for some time due to COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions. The scheduled lectures ‘Magnificence amidst the misery: Queen Victoria visits Ireland at the end of the Great Famine 1849’ with Paula Lalor, 'The Fortunes and Possessions of the Great Houses of Louth in the 18th Century’ with George Williams and ‘Monksgrange: a trefoil of house, landscape and garden’ with Jeremy Hill had to be postponed until further notice. Measures introduced also meant alterations to the Grangegorman and Blackpitts Walking Tour with Dublin Decoded’s Arran Henderson, the North city Docklands tour with Joseph Lynch, and the suspension of the Day Tour to Co, Wexford, the weekend Country House Tour to Antrim and Down as well as our

two international tours including the scheduled second trip to Naples and the planned trip to Romania with Harriet Landseer. While everyone’s well-being and safety was paramount for the Irish Georgian Society, it was extremely disappointing to pause members’ events. Not just for the social engagement but also because these events are a vital fundraising support to the ongoing work of the Irish Georgian Society. The IGS would like to thank our members for their patience and generosity over

the past few months. We are exploring technological ways to deliver postponed walking tours and lectures and look forward to organising events albeit at a distance in the coming months. Róisín Lambe Membership and Events Coordinator

01 Tour group at Collins Barracks, September 2020 (Photo: Róisín Lambe). 02 Gemma Maughan and Rita Murray on the Day Tour to Carlow and Kildare, September 2019 (Courtesy of Dog That Hunts Photography) 03 Duckett's Grove House, Co. Carlow (Courtesy of Dog That Hunts Photography) 04 Dr Conor Lucey, Cora McDonagh (Maynooth), Dr Kathryn Milligan and IGS Chairman Michael Wall at the presentation of the 2019 Desmond Guinness Scholarship.

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Chapter Reports Elizabeth Fogarty, Ailish Drake, Kevin Hurley, Stuart Blakley & Michael G. Kerrigan

With Chapters in Birr, Limerick and Cork in Ireland, and overseas in London, New York, Chicago, and Boston, members can enjoy talks and events in Ireland and abroad as the various reports for happenings over the last twelve months show.

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Birr/Midlands Chapter Elizabeth Fogarty The past year has been unkind to us all. Lives have been disrupted, plans abandoned. We are in suspended animation. The Birr/Midlands Chapter continued with its monthly meetings, from September 2019, abruptly shuddering to a halt from March 2020. Given that 75% of our committee is in the vulnerable age group there have been no events since then. A planned guided visit to nearby Clonfert, by East Galway historian Christy Cunniffe, had been planned for 14 September. Unfortunately this had to be cancelled due to the funeral of our fellow committee member, Theo Dillon. Bad autumnal weather and restrictions meant this outing has now been postponed indefinitely. In November our 26th annual meeting took place during which 2 new committee members were elected: Alison, Lady Rosse and Adrienne Symes, while the Birr/Midlands Chapter held its Christmas Party at Birr Castle, as usual graciously hosted by Lord and Lady Rosse. This was one of the most successful Christmas parties ever and attracted 70 guests, not only from the Birr/Midlands area but also from other locations including London, Dublin and Kilkenny. We were entertained by local tenor, John Molloy, with a medley of suitable festive songs and entertaining ditties whilst Clodagh Reilly played the cello.

The new committee met on 9 March and began discussing our annual programme of excursions. By 27 March, the country was locked down and all plans came to a standstill. In July, a review of the 2009 Public Realm Plan for the town was requested by Offaly County Council, the results of which will help shape the projects for Fáilte Ireland’s new ‘Destination Town’ initiative under which Birr has been allocated funding. The Chapter, being one of the stakeholders consulted in 2009, was more than happy to assess progress since then, point out areas which should have received more attention over the decade and suggest actions that need to be taken in future in order to preserve the heritage status of the town. Future meetings and events remain uncertain. The Committee decided some time ago that the annual Christmas Party would take place on the first Friday of December every year. At the time of writing no plans are underway for this event in 2020. Finally, the news of the death of Desmond Guinness, in August, was met with great sadness. The Committee sent condolences to Penny Guinness and also to Sir David Davies, President of IGS. Elizabeth Fogarty Chapter Secretary

Lady Alison Rosse of Birr Castle with one of her paintings, during the “Through the Artist’s Eye at Birr Castle Demesne” exhibition, October 2020

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Cork Chapter Kevin Hurley Little did we realise that 14 September 2019 would be the first and last country house coach trip for some time. Our host Michael Lyons explained the history of Loughton House in Co Tipperary and guided the members through the house and gardens, owned by the Pepper, Bloomfield and Trench families. Enlarged to the design of James Pain circa 1835, it includes a fine cantilevered staircase. The current owners purchased the property in 2016 and have embarked on a conservation programme and garden restoration. We enjoyed a delightful lunch in Steeples restaurant before visiting Shanbally House that originally formed part of the Lissaniskey estate. It was purchased by Noel Duggan in 2013 to form the centre of a homeopathy enterprise. The house is undergoing extensive restoration and the walled garden is now a centre of excellence for herbal medicine. Members enjoyed a tour of the house and grounds. An innovative project worthy of praise and revisiting. Our Christmas event on Saturday 23 November 2019 was centred on the Crawford Art Gallery where Julian Walton delivered a fascinating lecture on Curraghmore House and some recent developments, including the publication of a lavishly illustrated guidebook. Entertained and enthralled, members enjoyed lunch in the sumptuous festive surroundings of Hayfield Manor. On a cold, but fine, day on 29 February 2020 members of the Cork Chapter gathered for a visit to St. Angela's College, St. Patrick's Hill in Cork city. The secondary school dates back to 1887 when

the Ursuline Sisters first opened a school on the site. The demand for education was such that the school expanded over the years, purchasing adjoining properties including Richmond House, once owned by Jeremiah Murphy of Murphy's Brewery. In 2015 this cluster of buildings on a very steep site was redesigned and redeveloped by Dublin architects O'Donnell + Tuomey, who in 2016 received a RIBA Award of International Excellence for their outstanding project. Cork Chapter members were warmly welcomed to the school by the Principal, Mr. Pat Curran, who provided an engaging and informative tour of the school. Members walked to Isaac's Restaurant on nearby MacCurtain Street for lunch and sociable conversation. The visit to St. Angela's College was to have been the first in a series of events planned by the Cork Chapter for 2020. Alas, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in all our events being cancelled. We wish all our members and friends well during these uncertain and challenging times and hope to meet again soon. As ever, I would like to extend my thanks to the Cork Chapter committee: Dr. Alicia St. Leger, Catherine FitzMaurice, Edmund Corrigan (Patron), Geraldine O’Riordan and Marianne Harris. Kevin Hurley Cork Chapter Chair

01, 02 Cork Chapter members visiting St. Angela's College, St. Patrick’s Hill, Cork (O’Donnell + Tuomey Architectural Experience), 29 February 2020 03 Limerick Chapter Superblock Diagram (Courtesy of Ailish Drake)

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Limerick Chapter Ailish Drake The impact of transport-led decisions on historic Georgian Limerick The Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Transport Strategy was launched in September 2020. This is a document which has been quite some time in the making. Drafted last year and sitting on a shelf while COVID-19 turned the world upside down, the Strategy is at last being presented to the Limerick public. Already the strategy has had a significant impact on key projects and decisions for the city, not least the O’Connell Street Redevelopment, which was granted planning permission this time last year. The proposal for a twoway bus corridor on O’Connell Street was presented by the local authority executive in May 2019. This hugely impactful plan for the street was being presented three months before any stakeholder consultation on LSMATS, long before any Limerick citizens had a chance to feed into the plans. Newtown Pery, Limerick, is arguably the finest example of a Georgian town centre in Ireland, if not Europe. Samuel Lewis in 1837 described Newtown Pery, ‘The streets which are spacious intersect with each other at right angles and are occupied by elegant houses, splendid and well-stocked shops and merchants' stores.’ Described by Henry Inglis in 1843 as ‘unquestionably superior to anything out of Dublin’, O’Connell Street he added, ‘although less picturesque than the chief streets of Cork, would generally be reckoned a finer street.’ A principal street of such extraordinary importance within the architectural and cultural heritage of Limerick, should play a key role in the revitalisation of Limerick’s city centre. Much of Limerick’s decline can be attributed to the through-traffic & one-way street systems, which were introduced in the 1990s with the classification of O’Connell Street as a national route, the N20. This transportled decision resulted in trucks, buses and cars driving through the historic town centre, our principal street, on their way

to someplace else, without stopping, without shopping and without spending any time or money in the city centre. We made the mistake of allowing the movement of heavy vehicles through our historic streets to dictate the city centre atmosphere, which as traffic increased became hostile, polluted, noisy and unsafe. We should not make this mistake again. LSMATS must offer us an opportunity to right this wrong. The current proposal contained in LSMATS to force a transport corridor through our principal historic street, O’Connell Street, will be detrimental to the recovery of the city centre. The illustrations contained within the document show huge double-decker buses sharing the road with paint-on unsegregated cycle lanes. The negative impact of double-decker bus corridors can be seen on Dublin’s O’Connell Street and on Patrick Street, Cork, both of which underwent costly revitalisation projects in the last 20 years. Not only are they hostile to pedestrians and cyclists, they also produce noise, vibration, fumes and have a negative visual impact on the architectural heritage of the streets. These are streets to drive through, not streets to inhabit. So what is the alternative? Limerick has the advantage of being a grid city, which means transport routes can be moved along the grid to more appropriate streets. The city centre is ideally suited to walking. Colbert Station should be the transport hub. The idea of the superblock for Limerick, derived from the Barcelona superblock, could be explored to redirect public transport in an orbital route of the Georgian Core. This would make space in the centre for public space, green areas, places to sit, meet and connect. It would not ban cars — but it would prioritise cars accessing the city centre, and re-route those just passing through. A public realm and movement plan should be designed for the historic city centre to enhance the distinctiveness and character of the streets and public spaces and supports walkability and active

transport modes. This would include, removal of overhead wiring, restoration of historic features, kerbs, footpaths, ironwork but also create a pattern book for pavement materials, seating, planting, trees and street lighting. This could be developed through meaningful consultation at local level, voted on by elected representatives and adopted into the transport strategy. In turn this could feed into the Development Plan. The question remains, who is making the decisions about the city we want to live in? If it is not Limerick citizens, not our local representatives and not even our local authority executive, is it the National Transport Authority? We need to reverse this dynamic. We, Limerick’s citizens, deserve the chance to decide what kind of city we want.

Ailish Drake Architect (Drake Hourigan Architects) and Limerick Chapter Chair

01, 02 Goldsmiths’ Hall Tour, November 2019 03 Tour Guide and Young Irish Georgian Rachel Owens leading the Enlightenment Gallery Tour at the British Museum, October 2019 04 Glenarm Castle walled garden, designed by Catherine FitzGerald, February 2020 (Photo: Stuart Blakley)

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IRISH GEORGIAN SOCIETY REVIEW 20

Irish Georgian Society London Stuart Blakely IGS London’s season kicked off with the first of two Young Irish Georgians (YIG) fundraising parties: “Cocktails, Candlelight and Candelabra”. Attendee YIG David Lowe observes, “Shane Jocelyn was the consummate host in his South Kensington residence. Guest speaker Millie Baring of Lambay Island was very entertaining. She talked about Lambay Castle — and her herd of wallabies!” Another YIG, Byron Fry, opened his doors for “Speed Dating But Not As We Know It” at his residence in Parsons Green. Guests’ knowledge of antiques was tested by guessing the dates of various objects. Art Historian YIG Rachel Owens led a tour of The British Museum’s Enlightenment Gallery, built between 1823 and 1827 to house the library of George III. The tour explored the gallery’s collection under themes of the natural world, archaeology, ancient scripts, religion and ritual, trade and discovery, and art and civilisation. Goldsmiths’ Hall is only open for public tours four days a year. IGS London Chairman John Barber secured a privileged visit to this early 19th century building designed by Philip Hardwick. John calls it a “total jewel of Neo-Classical architecture”. He confirms, “We met the Master and Clerk of the Company. Afterwards we had a splendid lunch in Ironmongers’ Hall, another of the 12 Great Livery Companies of the City of London.” It was built to a Neo-Tudor design by Sydney Tatchell in the 1920s. Esme Fay, a Director of the Events Committee, organised a visit to two historic highlights of Farringdon. The Charterhouse is a collection of 17th century buildings which are now almshouses and a museum. “Our tour guide was superb!” Esme recalls. Her next building was St John’s Gate, a remnant of the area’s monastic past. She adds, “The Fox and Anchor pub was our third historic highlight. We lunched in this 18th century former coffeehouse.” Our 15th annual pre-Christmas Club dinner was in the Carlton Club, St James’s. Member Nick Sheaff

explains, “The clubhouse of 1826 to 1827 is a neo-Palladian building with Grecian detailing. Its architect was Thomas Hopper, the remarkable stylistic chameleon who designed the celebrated 1807 Gothic conservatory for the Prince of Wales at Carlton House, and later became the leading exponent of the neo-Norman castle style at Gosford and Penrhyn.” Organiser Tim Bacon welcomed guest speaker Will Palin, Director of Conservation at Old Royal Naval College Greenwich. A fundraising auction ended the spirited evening. Tim relates, “These evenings are a great way for Members to gather together once a year in London’s finest clubs and to hear a fascinating range of speakers.” Our last event of 2020 — not that we knew that at the time — was a lecture I helped arrange with Peter and Anne Verity. Donald Insall Associates kindly provided the lecture theatre. Our knowledgeable lecturer was Lord Dunluce. Glenarm Castle in Co. Antrim is the home of Viscount and Viscountess Dunluce and their family. The Viscount provided amusing anecdotes about Glenarm’s history and insight into his experiences since taking over this “extremely remote estate on the rugged coast hemmed in by The Glens” in 1992. One of our dedicated Members, Norrie Buxton, a much-loved regular attender, sadly passed away last November. This March, just days before our St Patrick’s Party, news broke about a new worldwide virus. The Events Committee debated for some time whether to go ahead with our party. Reluctantly, we cancelled it. London went into pandemic lockdown the day before St Patrick’s Day. Stuart Blakley Committee Member

05 01 Beth Dater and Sir David Davies at the 2019 New York Gala Dinner 02 Tom Tormey after being presented with his Society of Artists medal at the Chicago Gala Dinner, 5 October 2019 03 Maribeth Heeran and John Walcher, New York Gala Dinner 04 Richard St. George, Michael Kerrigan, Marti Sullivan, Tom Cooney and Robert O’Byrne at the exhibition reception for Cost of Revolution: The Life and Death of an Irish Soldier at the Museum of the American Revolution, September 2019 05 Harriet Crom, Coley and Susan Burke and Robert O'Byrne at the New York Gala dinner, 2019

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IRISH GEORGIAN SOCIETY REVIEW 20

Irish Georgian Society Inc. Michael G. Kerrigan Looking back to September of 2019 seems like a lifetime ago considering how the world has changed so abruptly. However, we had a very busy Fall season in the United States and here are some of the highlights. Through the good graces of Board members Beth Dater and Tom Tormey, the Irish Georgian Society was one of the sponsors of an exhibition at The Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia. Cost of Revolution, the Life and Death of an Irish Soldier tells the untold story of Irish soldier and artist Richard St. George, whose personal trauma and untimely death provide a window into the entangled histories of the American Revolution of 1776 and the Irish Revolution of 1798. We were well represented at the Preview Opening at the Museum on 26 September with IGS Inc Board members Beth Dater, Marti Sullivan and Austin Sullivan, Tom Cooney, Tom and Denise Tormey and Michael Kerrigan in attendance. From Ireland, IGS Chair Michael Wall and his husband Simon attended, as did Donough Cahill and Robert O’Byrne. We have museum CEO Scott Stephenson and curator Matthew Skic to thank for being so welcoming. The next day, Board member Tom Tormey hosted a luncheon for 45 people at the Union League Club of Philadelphia, always an essential stop on Desmond Guinness’s American tours. We hope to schedule more programming in Philadelphia, a city that has always been supportive of the Society. The following week found us in New York City for the annual New York Dinner held at the University Club on October 1st where Sir David Davies was on hand to welcome guests and update members on 2020 plans. The guest of honor was Catherine FitzGerald, whose talk about Irish Gardens launched our Irish Garden campaign with two major exhibitions planned. We owe a debt of thanks for Board member Susan Burke who arranged to have her good friend, Stephen Lash, the outgoing chairman of Christies, to be the auctioneer for the

Irish Great Houses and Castles auction that evening. Through his valiant efforts and the generosity of American supporters of the Society, the auction was a great success. Stephen Lash also conducted a paddle raise for the Desmond Guinness Scholarship Fund which was very well subscribed. Thursday of the same week found us in Boston at The Somerset Club on Beacon Hill for a cocktail reception and lecture by Catherine FitzGerald on Irish Gardens, attended by over 70 people. An elegant dinner for 50 followed. It is encouraging to see such a welcome response from our Boston Chapter members and we thank club member, David Burnham, and long time Society supporter Raffi Berberian for allowing us to have the event in such an elegant space. We all then flew out to Chicago for the annual Chicago Dinner held at The Racquet Club. The sold-out dinner was held in honour of board member Thomas A. Tormey and his family for their unwavering support of the Irish Georgian Society over more than half a century. Tom Tormey was awarded the Society of Artists’ medal by Sir David Davies in recognition of these efforts, he is one of a handful of Americans to receive this honour. We were privileged to participate in the 56th Annual Delaware Antiques Show in Wilmington, Delaware in early November, which benefits educational programming at the Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library. Winterthur invited guests of the Irish Georgian Society to be included with The Henry Francis Du Pont Collectors’ Circle in special events and tours held over a long weekend. Winterthur placed a special focus on Irish Georgian furniture and design for this show. Mr. Robert O’Byrne, a former Vice President of the Irish Georgian Society, delivered the Keynote Lecture at the Antiques Show on Friday morning titled The Irishness of the Irish Country House: A Private Tour. Plans were to be in Palm Beach for

St. Patrick’s Day in March of 2020 and we had organized a series of lectures, receptions and dinners for the week, but as it became clear the entire country was headed towards lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all were cancelled. John and Heather Picerne were to host a Cocktail Reception at The Brazilian Court Hotel upon the publication of Capard: An Irish Country House & Estate by Ciarán Reilly with Guest Speaker, Mr. Robert O’Byrne. Another casualty was the luncheon and lecture, also at The Brazilian Court Hotel on March 18th with Mr. Seamus O’Brien, Head Gardener, National Botanic Gardens, Kilmacurragh, Co. Wicklow on his book In the Footsteps of Joseph Dalton Hooker. However, we do plan to be with you, in person, in 2021 and in the meantime will continue to bring you lectures and videos via Zoom to help brighten your days.

Michael G. Kerrigan Executive Director, IGS Inc

01 Michael Kerrigan at the New York Gala Dinner 02 Harriett Erne, John Sullivan and Catherine FitzGerald at the New York Gala Dinner 03 Sir David, Tom and Denise Tormey, Michael Kerrigan at the Chicago Gala Dinner 04 Robert O’Byrne and Catherine FitzGerald launching the Irish Gardens exhibition campaign

Mark Hewlett, a Senior Advisor at Castleacre Insurance, Examines the Pleasures and Pitfalls of Owning Historic Property

Mark Hewlett started his career with a Lloyd’s underwriting agency but has spent more than 30 years working in insurance and risk management and has a wealth of knowledge regarding period property insurance in Ireland. He advises a range of notable private clients, helping to protect some of the country’s most beautiful heritage houses, castles and country estates. Mark is familiar with the drawbacks and attractions of living in a period house. He and his wife, Emma, took on the Georgian Rectory, Kilmokea, in Campile, County Wexford, 23 years ago, carefully restoring it to its majestic origins. What advice would you give to someone buying a period property? The romance of period property can cast a spell. There are a wealth of beautiful buildings to fall in love with in Ireland, but you do need to have your eyes open. All old buildings have been passed from one generation to another with alterations over the decades. There are usually a few unwelcome surprises particularly if you take on a building that has been neglected — you would be very lucky not to encounter poor workmanship, vermin damage, damp, or general wear and tear. Traditional building materials are expensive, so you need to have the right budget in place — for example, if you compare the cost of hand riven slate tiles against machine tiles, there is a substantial difference. Similarly, if you

need to employ craftspeople, such as a stonemason or lime plaster specialist, it will be more costly and you will need to allow extra time for completion. What are the main issues for protected structures? The record of Protected Structures is designed to ensure the special character of historic buildings is protected for future generations. There are naturally restrictions on what you, the owner, can and can’t do and these apply to the exterior, interior and even the curtilage of a building. Most people who want to live in a period property want to preserve its character and you can seek advice from organisations, such as the Irish Georgian Society, regarding suitable architects and builders. Like for like repairs can be carried out without permission but if you want to make alterations you will need to apply to your local council and liaise with your heritage officer. Most councils will understand that a building needs to be lived in to preserve it so 21st-century compromises have to be made but occasionally you come across a ‘brick wall’ and you will not be able to make the changes you want. Carrying out work without permission can result in fines and you may have to undo the work. In our view it is worth developing a good working relationship with your heritage officer, ask their advice and carry them along with your project.

What should you consider when you are insuring an historic building? People often underestimate rebuild costs — the costs of repairing and reinstating the fabric of an old building are much higher than a standard building. The problem of underinsurance becomes an issue when you make a claim. If you have underestimated the re-build value then the insurer will reduce the settlement by the same proportion and that means you won’t be able to cover all costs. We advise a professional re-build valuation from a surveyor/valuer who understands historic buildings — then your insurer has the right value from the outset — some insurers will automatically provide their own. Year on year building costs tend to rise but your insurer will take this into account and adjust the level of your cover accordingly. Preventing a claim is usually the best option and in an old property, it is a good idea to have your wiring checked and replaced if necessary. Sweep your chimneys out at least once a year and check your smoke alarms regularly — alarms in the attic space are useful. Water leaks can be very damaging so ensure your pipes are lagged and that a reasonable temperature is maintained throughout the winter months Remember insurance does not cover the cost of claims that arise because of poor maintenance. Regular visual checks around your property are vital, particularly before the autumn/winter seasons. For further advice you can contact Mark Hewlett on 086 022 7799.

IGS Cork Established in 2003, the Cork Chapter promotes an interest in the rich architectural heritage and decorative arts in the Cork and Munster region.

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Leave a Legacy to conserve Ireland’s architectural heritage The Irish Georgian Society is Ireland’s architectural heritage society. Our purpose is to encourage the appreciation and conservation of Ireland’s architecture and decorative arts. Any legacy gift the Society receives, no matter how large or small, makes a significant contribution to our ongoing work. If you would like further information on leaving a legacy to the Irish Georgian Society please contact: Donough Cahill, Executive Director +353 (0)1 679 8675 dcahill@igs.ie Colonnades at Castletown, Co. Kildare (Image: Vermillion Design)

An eclectic range of books covering— Architecture, Decorative Arts, Social History, Scholarly Reports, Biography and Art. Maps, Prints, Photographs and Gifts. Available at the City Assembly House Instore or Online at shop.igs.ie

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