27.10.2026, 18:00 P.M.
This is the fifth 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.
Presentation and Preservation of Newbridge House and Malahide Castle, County Dublin by Cathal Dowd Smith, Curator & Collections Manager for Fingal County Council.
Abstract: Having set about curating Malahide Castle fifty years after the sale of its contents, Cathal Dowd Smith is not shy of a mammoth task, balancing high visitor numbers, growing visitor expectations and managing a world class furniture collection, all while trying to restitue the lost original collection. At Newbridge House, curating for seven years collaboratively with the Cobbe family, a different task is required. One of Ireland's most intact country house collections, artwork, furniture, chattels and archives are preserved in their original setting, requiring a different approach. This talk will explore the differences and similarities between the two sites, distinct in their architecture and collections, but jointly rare in an Irish context in being owned and run by a local authority.
Cathal Dowd Smith is the Curator & Collections Manager of Newbridge House and Farm and Malahide Castle and Gardens. Over the past decade he has worked on several building conservation projects, countless object conservation projects, interior redecorations and rehangs. He has also led on exhibitions and interpretation projects. He holds a degree in the History of Art and Architecture and History from Trinity College Dublin. Cathal is Secretary of the Young Irish Georgians, a member of the Castletown Foundation and sits on the Irish National Committee of the Blue Shield.
This one-hour talk takes place in person at 6pm on Tuesday 27th October 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.
(Image: Strokestown House, County Roscommon and Fota House, County Cork. Images courtesy of the Irish Heritage Trust)
