UK
Leaving a Legacy in the UK
Leave a legacy and help safeguard Ireland’s architectural heritage
A charitable cause, a national role
The Irish Georgian Society is Ireland’s architectural heritage society. Its purpose is to encourage the appreciation and conservation of Ireland’s architecture and decorative arts. Since its foundation over half a century ago, the Society has become something of an ‘unofficial’ national institution. Its membership of nearly 2,500 spans Ireland, the UK and the US and, through its supporters, the Society has saved important buildings like Castletown, Doneraile Court and the Damer House, and has helped vital conservation works in architectural gems around the country such as Headfort, Kilshannig and Barmeath Castle. Today the Irish Georgian Society is restoring Dublin’s City Assembly House as a place to celebrate Ireland’s cultural heritage and as a home for the Society in Dublin’s historic core.
The Irish Georgian Society also promotes traditional building skills, operates seminars on conservation related topics, campaigns for the preservation of our built heritage, annually publishes our journal Irish Architectural & Decorative Studies and provides an active membership programme.
The Irish Georgian Society is run by an Irish registered charity, the Irish Georgian Foundation, and has no financial endowment. It operates through the voluntary effort of its board and committees and a small, highly‐qualified professional staff. Legacies left by our supporters are of essential help and are put to good use in enabling us achieve our goals.
A legacy to the Irish Georgian Foundation is tax‐free in Ireland, since a bequest to a charity is not liable to inheritance tax. Allowing the Foundation some discretion over how your legacy is allocated will ensure it supports the Society’s long‐term needs. However, if you want your legacy to support a particular activity, it can be specified.
Arranging a legacy
While it’s quite simple to leave a legacy in your will, we recommend you consult a solicitor when you are drawing up a will for the first time, or changing your will. We will be pleased to help your solicitor if required.
There are two kinds of legacy you can leave in your will. In both cases, the bequest is to the Irish Georgian Trust, the UK charity (no. 1061349) of the Irish Georgian Society.
Residuary bequest: after you have made specific provision for family and friends in your will, you can leave the remainder of your estate (or a share of the remainder) to the Irish Georgian Trust. This suggested wording can be used in your will:
“I give to the Irish Georgian Trust, UK charity no. 1061349 [all the residue of my estate] OR [a Xth share of the residue of my estate]. It is my wish that this bequest will be used to support the general purposes of the Irish Georgian Foundation, the Irish charity ref. no. CHY 6372 of the Irish Georgian Society.
OR
It is my wish that this bequest will used to support [the specific project or other specific purpose]. I direct that the receipt of the Treasurer or other proper officer for the time being of the said Trust shall be sufficient discharge to my executors".
Pecuniary bequest: a pecuniary bequest is leaving a fixed sum of money, or specific possession (such as property, land or shares) to the Irish Georgian Trust. This suggested wording can be used in your will:
“I give the sum of [€ XXX] OR I bequeath [the specific possession] to the Irish Georgian Trust, UK charity no. 1061349. It is my wish that this bequest will be used to support the general purposes of the Irish Georgian Foundation (Irish charity ref. no. CHY 6372) operating as the Irish Georgian Society.
OR
It is my wish that this bequest will used to support [the specific project or other specific purpose]. I direct that the receipt of the Treasurer or other proper officer for the time being of the said Trust shall be sufficient discharge to my executors".
Adding a codicil: if you have already made a will, you can add a codicil to include additional bequests.
Giving to the future
Each person leaving a legacy to a charity is making an investment in the future of a worthwhile cause, and the continuation of its good work. Legacies support the on-going financial security of most charities, including the Irish Georgian Society. Bequests to the Society are acknowledged in the appropriate manner, and there are naming opportunities for supporters who fund major projects.
If you have arranged a legacy to the Irish Georgian Society in your will, or you are thinking of doing so, we would be grateful if you can inform us.
Thank you for thinking of including the Irish Georgian Society in your will.
Donough Cahill, Executive Director, Irish Georgian Society. dcahill@igs.ie +353 (0)1 679 8675