AN EXCEPT FROM THE SPRING NEWSLETTER VOL. 2 2010

The colonnade at Russborough House, Co. Wicklow features on the cover of the Newsletter Vol. 2 Spring 2010.

The newsletter contains a number of interesting articles with excerpts from some following:

President’s Letter: Desmond Fitzgerald, Knight of Glin

The effects of the global economic downturn and the effect on the society is addressed in the President’s Letter, Desmond Fitzgerald, Knight of Glin states ‘The coming year will be trying for the Society as the full effects of the crunch will be felt and many aspects of our organisation will be affected. Sadly we have had to let AOIFE KAVANAGH, our Projects Administrator, go which will be a great loss as she has been key to the Society in many areas but particularly in the development of our website and of our new newsletter. We will certainly find ourselves worse off with her absence and are endeavouring to secure funding to consolidate the Society’s other activities. Any help at all in this would be hugely welcome, so please get in touch with our office in Dublin if you can be off assistance'.


News from Russborough: William Laffan

WMF Watch List recognises threat to Co. Wicklow Demesne.
Often described as ‘the most beautiful house in Ireland’, Russborough, in the care of the Alfred Beit Foundation, is emerging as a model of how an Irish demesne can adapt to reinvent itself. Over the last few years a wide variety of events and activities has brought the estate to life. However, the fragile state of its parkland has been a concern to the Beit Foundation, which has successful campaigned to have Russborough listed on the World Monuments Fund (WMF) Watch List.


IGS Architectural Conservation Award: Robert O’Byrne

The Irish Georgian Society is delighted to announce the introduction of a significant new awards scheme for architects involved in the conservation of the country’s historic buildings. Intended to promote greater appreciation of Ireland’s built heritage, the awards, the award’s first winners will be announced at a ceremony in late September. There will be two award categories, one for a conservation project and one for a non-CAD (computer aided design) drawing relating to a historic building. Applications for the awards must be received by the Society on or before July 31st next.
Further details and information on applications can be found on the Society’s website.


The Importance of Maintenance: Emmeline Henderson

A Stitch in Time saves Nine: The Importance of Maintenance
As the adages go ‘a stitch in time saves nine’ and ‘prevention is better than cure’. The same holds true for our historic houses, where regular inspection, maintenance and repair can safeguard their condition. Failure to identify problems early can produce major faults which may not be only very costly to rectify but may potentially cause the irreplaceable loss of our buildings’ historic fabric. So what should one consider when conducting maintenance inspection works?


Architectural Moments in the History of Limerick City: Judith Hill

If you live in Limerick, the city is big enough, busy enough, complex enough to fill your horizon to the extents that it is a shock how quickly, rising above it in an airplane, it resolves into a definable shape, a finite settlement in the landscape. It is a small city, but it has the diversity and functions and, despite its size, the scale of a city.


Planning Issues: Donough Cahill

Donaghcomper, Celbridge, Co. Kildare

In Celbridge, permission has been granted by Kildare County Council for new roads and service works in Donaghcomper demesne; development proposals that are in addition to those currently being considered by An Bord Pleanála. These new infrastructural works are intended to facilitate the future development of Celbridge town to include new commercial and residential buildings. Whilst the society will be appealing the decision, should the large scale development works go ahead in the future, they would have a devastating impact on the character of Castletown, Celbridge town and on vistas from Kildrought House which has been restored to such an exemplary standard in recent years.


Events Round Up: Aoife Kavanagh

A review of events organised by Dublin and the various chapters including our own Cork Chapter featuring the West Cork trip, Collins Barracks and Ennismore House, and the Christmas Party.