06.10.2020, 18:30 P.M.

This talk is the first in the Irish Country House Architecture nine week on-line lecture series presented by the Irish Georgian Society, in association with the Centre for the Study of Historic Irish Houses and Estates (CSHIHE), University of Maynooth.

17th Century Jacobean Country House; three remarkably early Irish houses (Rathfarnham Castle, Portumna Castle, Jigginstown) by Dr Jane Fenlon, Independent Scholar.

These three very different houses stand out in the history of early modern Irish architecture. Rathfarnham House built for Adam Loftus is remarkable for its Italianate design and its bellicose statement of intent to prevail. The symmetry, sophisticated detail and double-pile plan of Portumna House display an understanding of the most up to date trends in architecture in these islands. In Jigginstown House, Thomas Wentworth in his own words had built a house ‘fit for a king’. All three buildings display knowledge of Italianate ideas, sometimes understood through the filter of contemporary English examples. Consideration of the ambition and scale of all three houses will confirm that on those criteria they surpass any remaining coeval examples in Ireland.

Book for Dr Jane Fenlon's lecture at a cost of 10 euro.

It is also possible to book for all nine on-line lectures at a discounted rate of 80 euro.

Those booking the on-line talks will receive an email containing a password protected link by 6pm on the evening of the lecture. The talks are pre-recorded on Zoom. It is possible to watch the talks for one week from the time of receiving the link.

Acknowledgements

Irish Country House Architecture lectures form part of the IGS's Conservation Education Programme, which is kindly supported by Merrion Properties and Heather and John Picerne.

The Society also wishes to acknowledge the sponsorship of the London Chapter of the Irish Georgian Society and Ecclesiastical Insurance in sponsoring the Irish Country House Architecture lecture series.

Attendance at the lectures is recognised as formal CPD by the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland.