10.11.2026, 18:00 P.M.
This is the
seventh talk in the Curating the Irish Country House autumn 2026 talks programme. The talks
programme provides considerations of presentation and preservation of the Irish
country house in the 21st century from public and private perspectives from both
curators and custodians.
Curating Hillsborough: Where History Happens by David Orr ACR, Castle and Collections Manager, Hillsborough Castle and Gardens
Hillsborough Castle is a living historic house — a place where history continues to be made. Hosting internationally significant events while steadily evolving over time, it carries layers of heritage that grow with each new chapter. As both a visitor attraction and an active political and royal residence, it demands a careful balance between preservation, presentation, and practical use. David will explore how he navigates the unique challenges of managing such a dynamic, multi-purpose venue, ensuring that the state rooms remain both authentic to their history and fit for their contemporary roles.
Dr David Orr is the Castle and Collections Manager at Hillsborough Castle, where he is responsible for the care and presentation of the historic property and the nationally significant collections it houses. He leads a dedicated team, overseeing the smooth running and high-quality presentation of the castle for a wide range of events and official occasions. David played a key role in the castle’s transformation ahead of its official opening in 2019, coordinating major room refurbishments, overseeing the safe storage and conservation of collections, and choreographing the installation of new furnishings and artworks. He continues to work closely with external stakeholders, building relationships and sourcing new pieces to enhance the castle’s displays and visitor experience. Outside of his professional role, David has a passion for heritage engineering. He restores and operates steam locomotives and enjoys exploring historic houses with his family.
This one-hour talk takes place in person at 6pm on 10th November 2026 in the City Assembly House, 58 South William Street, Dublin 2, as well as live online.
Subscribers will be able to attend the talk in person at the IGS's City Assembly House or online live through Zoom. Additionally, all talk subscribers will receive a recording of the talk which can be watched for a two-week period after the date of issue. Please note that after the two week period the talk link will expire and cannot be reissued.
There will be a Q&A at the end of the talk. Those watching the talk live online can submit their questions through the Zoom Q&A function.
It is possible to book talks individually (€15 each) or book for the whole course for a discounted rate (€120).
The Society would like to acknowledge the generous support of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage's National Built Heritage Services of the Society's Conservation Education Programme of which Curating the Irish County House talks are an action. Additionally the Society wishes to thank The Heritage Council for their wider support of the Society's work through its Heritage Organisation Support Fund 2026.
(Hillsborough Castle, County Down. Image courtesy of Historic Royal Palaces)
