Farmleigh Unveiled

Historic House Opened to the Public

FARMLEIGHUNVEILED

FARMLEIGH I RELAND

The major works carried out at the house and grounds during 2000–2001 were the most significant undertaken at Farmleigh since the 1880s when Edward Cecil Guinness, the first Earl of Iveagh, had the house re-modelled and extended. In the intervening decades, the fabric of the building and some of the furnishings had fallen into disrepair while certain areas had become dangerous. Farmleigh is now ready to provide premier accommodation for visiting dignitaries to Ireland and a suitable venue for important international and national meetings.

Farmleigh

taircase

Nobel room

The Office of Public Works took over responsibility for planning and executing the restoration of the house and grounds when the Irish Government bought it in December 1999. The house needed extensive repairs to the exterior walls, roofs and chimneys and re-wiring and re-plumbing inside.

Areas such as the Conservatory were in danger of collapse and some of the ancillary buildings and out-houses were in a state of decay.

The OPW developed a plan for the reinstatement of the buildings and the integration of the whole estate, including the courtyard, farmyard and gardens, to serve its new role. The basement, whose floor had been laid on earth, was dug out to provide access for services. Numerous existing services were updated and additional ones installed including the extension of the central heating system throughout and security and communications systems. A new kitchen was built in what was an internal courtyard and the existing courtyard has been linked to the house to provide ancillary services, such as media facilities, to the main meeting room.

Modern requirements in relation to access, fire prevention and safety dictated many of the changes and improvements, including a new entrance to the estate and roadways. There is disability access to all parts of the house.

There has been minimum intervention on the ground floor, where essential repairs such as rewiring were carried out without damaging the wood panelling which is a feature of many of the rooms.

Textile wall-coverings have been preserved, repaired where necessary and possible, and where repair was not possible, replaced by replicas. Irish sculptures and painting have been introduced throughout the house.

Following refurbishment, the number of bedrooms has increased to fourteen including three suites for visiting dignitaries. Offices, exhibition areas, fitness and health facilities and meeting rooms have been added to the basement while some of the original stables have been restored around the courtyard. A helicopter pad has been installed in what had been known as the ‘donkey field’.

Entrance hall

At last, the extensive restoration finished and Farmleigh was ready for public inspection. The grand opening took place on Saturday 28 July 2001. The Open Day turned out to be one of the most beautiful days of the year and an 8,000 strong crowd flocked to the sun-drenched estate. There were various types of entertainment throughout the day including parachuting, Irish dancing, birds of prey, dog show and a fantastic open air concert performed by the RTÉ Symphony Orchestra. The finale, the 1812 Overture accompanied by a cannon salute, had everyone on their feet, many with emotional tears in their eyes.

Since Farmleigh opened in July it has been in demand from a range of senior statesmen and Government officials. Five delegations have stayed in the house. These were: Mr Zhu Rongji, Chinese Premier; Mr V Adamkus, Lithuanian President; Mr Halldor Blondal, Speaker of the House from Iceland; Mr Zozef Migas, Speaker of the House from the Slovak Republic; and, a delegation from the British-Irish Interparliamentary Body.

Billiard room

In addition, a number of high-level government functions took place in Farmleigh throughout November and December. The following also held meetings in the house; the Latvian Real Estate Agency, the Association of Embassies in Ireland and the Mexican Ambassador.

Guided tours of the house have been organised since the house opened in July in addition to the public open days. To date in excess of 33,000 visitors have enjoyed a rejuvenated Farmleigh In preparing it for another century, the Office of Public Works has rejuvenated Farmleigh by making it suitable for its contemporary functions while maintaining its historical and cultural ambience.

FACILITIES MANAGEMENT, FARMLEIGH