Virginia Teehan, CEO of The Heritage Council launches Kingdom of Skills: traditional building skills demonstrations, conservation talks and children’s craft workshops at Kery’s Muckross Traditional Farms, Friday 26^th September 2025.

Last Friday 26^th September Virginia Teehan launched the Kingdom of Skills exhibition at Muckross Traditional Farms to an engaged and appreciative gathering of skilled traditional building practitioners, conservation professionals, and owners and guardians of traditionally built buildings. Virginia Teehan was welcomed to the county by Kerry County Council's Leas-Chathaoirleach, Marie Moloney and to Muckross Traditional Farms by Manger, Toddy Doyle, and thanked by Victoria McCarthy, Kerry County Council’s Heritage and Conservation Officer, and Irish Georgian Society Executive Director, Donough Cahill.

The Kingdom of Skills exhibition, which was an action of the Irish Georgian Society's Conservation Education Programme, represented the second successful traditional building skills partnership between the Society, Kerry County Council and the Trustees of Muckross House. The exhibition formed part of the Architecture Kerry festival overseen by Kerry County Council’s dynamic Architectural Conservation & Heritage Officer, Victoria McCarthy. Critical to successful delivery of the Kingdom of Skills exhibition was the partnering with the Trustees of Muckross House, who provided the most fitting of venues, Muckross Traditional Farms, where the Society was generously hosted by its manager, Toddy Doyle and his team Willie and Jeanette.

For the two-days of the Kingdom of Skills exhibition, Muckross Traditional Farms become a one-stop destination for old buildings owners in need of accurate, impartial and free advice on their care and repair.

The Society wishes to extend a huge thank you to all the craftspeople who actively demonstrated key traditional building skills needed for the conservation and maintenance of old building:

• Traditional Ironwork, blacksmith Tom Allison
• Stained glass & fanlight conservation: Glynn Palmer, Palmer Conservation
• Stone Caving, Philip Quinn and Ruairi Dennison
• Decorative Plasterwork, George O’Malley Plastering
• Lime, Paddy Byrne of the Traditional Lime Company
• Hemp & Lime, Henry Thompson, the Old Builders Company
• Brick Pointing, Brick & Faience Making, Dave and Aaron of the Nolan Group
• Pole Lathe Turning, Kevin Downing
• Traditional timber spoon carving, Lulu Keogh
• Traditional slate roofing & lead work, Lee Mangen & Larry Madden of Madden & Madden Construction & Jack O’Donnell.
• Thatching, Lukasz Smalec
• Sign Writing, Martin Chute
• Slating, Valentia Slates
• Historic Window Restoration, Gary Beirne

The exhibition was further greatly enhanced by information stands presented by the below organisations:

• Irish Georgian Society
• Kerry County Council (Conservation & Heritage Office)
• Trustees of Muckross House
• Building Limes Forum Ireland
• The Heritage Council
• National Parks & Wildlife Services
• Cottageology
• Dry Stone Wall Association Ireland

Building on the aims of the 2023 Kingdom of Skill collaboration, the 2025 traditional building skills exhibition continued to place an emphasis on generating an awareness of opportunities for training and avenues for careers in the traditional building skills sector. Most notably this was achieved by Kerry College of Further Education mounting two demonstrations showcasing the courses they offer in stone masonry and carving (tutor: Tom Little) and traditional stone wall construction (tutor: Donal Corcoran).

Additionally, the Office of Public Works’ National Monuments’ Muckross depot mounted a demonstration of stonecutting and stonemasonry at the exhibition with OPW District Inspector Maurice FitzGerald emphasising traditional skills apprenticeships opportunities.

This was further complemented by information being provided on The King’s Foundation, The Heritage Council and the Department for Communities’ Historic Environment Division (HED)’s All-Ireland Heritage Skills Programme, which now has a new co-ordinator, Tom Pollard.

Now embarking on its fifth year, the programme provides a yearlong fulltime course aimed at those with experience in craft areas (such as stonemasonry, carpentry and joinery, bricklaying, blacksmithing, plastering, thatching, roofing) wishing to develop their craft with a focus towards heritage and traditional methods. Successful applicants are provided with a generous bursary, and benefit from both practical work placements and study modules in both Ireland and the UK.

Complementary to the training and apprenticeships showcased at the Kingdom of Skills exhibition was the presence of the CIF’s Register of Heritage Contractors where their manager Gillian Ross was on hand throughout the weekend to inform those with requisite traditional building skills of the benefits of joining this accredited register.

In tandem with the demonstrations there were two full days of free hourly talks delivered by conservation experts which celebrated Kerry’s built heritage and provide advice on best practice repair, restoration or retrofitting. We wish to thank all the speakers who gave presentations on the following topics:

• The Importance of Using Lime in Historic Buildings by Tom McGimpsey, committee member of the Building Limes Forum Ireland & Grade I RIAI Conservation Architect.

• Maintaining Traditional Skills & Traditional Buildings by Tríona Byrne, Architecture Officer, The Heritage Council.

• Energy Efficiency in Traditional Buildings: Planning Implications and Grant Aid by Carl Raftery, Architectural Conservation Advisor, National Built Heritage Service, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

• Killarney National Park: culture, heritage & biodiversity skillsets by Eammon Meskell, Divisional Manger, National Parks and Wildlife Service.

• Stemming the Tide: understanding the architectural conservation work of the Irish Georgian Society by Donough Cahill, Executive Director, Irish Georgian Society.

• Nature Within Walls: Reconnecting the Built Environment with the Living World by Eleanor Turner, Biodiversity Officer, Kerry County Council.

• Muckross and the Heritage Council’s Museums Standards Programme Ireland by Dr Patricia O’Hare, Research and Education Officer, Trustees of Muckross House (Killarney) CLG.

• Valentia Slate: understanding the history, characteristics and use of Valentia slate in historic buildings by Dr Aidan Forde, Director, Valentia Slate.

• Recognising Apotropaic (protective) Symbols on our Irish Architecture & Artefacts: work in progress by Dr Claudia Kinmonth, MRIA, FSA, MA(RCA) furniture & art historian.

• An Exploration of Kerry’s Designed Landscapes by Victoria McCarthy, Heritage Officer and Architectural Conservation Officer, Kerry County Council.

• Historic Windows of Kerry: their significance, history & conservation by Dr Nessa Roche, Senior Architectural Advisor, National Built Heritage Service, Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage.

• Understanding and Minding Kerry’s Vernacular Buildings by Dr Barry O’Reilly, Architectural Conservation Advisor, NIAH, National Built Heritage Service, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

• Irish Thatched Houses: Kerry’s regional styles & materials with case studies of their conservation by Karol O’Mahony, Grade II RIAI Conservation Architect.

Attendance at the talks was kindly recognised as Continuing Professional Development by the CIF, the Register of Heritage Contractors, Engineers Ireland and the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland.

Augmenting the two days of traditional building skills demonstrations and built heritage and conservation talks were children’s traditional craft workshop which were generously supported by Creative Ireland. Over the two days six fully attended craft workshops were delivered on stained glass (Glynn Palmer of Palmer Conservation), stone carving (Philip Quinn), brick making (Nolan Conservation Group) and willow basket weaving Diane Southerly of Saille Baskets, and Martin O’Flynn.

Augmenting the Kingdom of Skills was a series of free conservation clinics where advice for conservation-led upgrading of structures in any of the county’s urban and rural designated Architectural Conservation Areas. These conservation clinics which were delivered in the Old School House on Muckross Traditional Farms, and were organised by Kerry County Council proved very popular and were greatly appreciated by the traditionally built building owners.

In addition to wishing to thank all those who lent their expertise by demonstrating, manning information stands, delivering traditional building skills and conservation talks, clinics and craft workshops, the Society wishes to thank our partners and funders, Kerry County Council and the Trustees of Muckross House CLG, as well as acknowledged the vital support of grant aid received from The Heritage Council, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage’s National Built Heritage Service, and Creative Ireland.

Top image: Virginia Teehan, CEO of The Heritage Council pole lathe turning with (right to left: Donough Cahill, Executive Director, the Irish Georgian Society, Victoria McCarthy, Heritage and Architectural Conservation Officer, Kerry County Council, Lulu Keogh, green wood turner, Emmeline Henderson, Assistant Director & Conservation Manager, Irish Georgian Society, and Marie Moloney, Leas-Chathaoirleach, Kerry County Council at the launch of the Kingdom of Skills 2025, Muckross Traditional Farms. Photos by Valerie O'Sullivan.

Image above and below: young Kingdom of Skills traditional craft workshop participants. Photos by Valerie O'Sullivan.

Image above: Traditional timber spoon carver Lulu Keogh with Heather Humphries. Photo by Valerie O'Sullivan.

Image above: young Kingdom of Skills traditional craft workshop participant with stone carver Philip Quinn. Photo by Valerie O'Sullivan.

Image above: National Parks & Wildlife Services stand at the Kingdom of Skills. Photo by Valerie O'Sullivan.

Image above: Stuccodore George O'Malley at his decorative plasterwork stand at the Kingdom of Skills. Photo by Valerie O'Sullivan.

Image above: Visitor to the Kingdom of Skill's OPW carpentry stand trying out their hand carved chair. Photo by Valerie O'Sullivan.

Image above: Donough Cahill, Executive Director of the Irish Georgian Society saying words of welcome at the Kingdom of Skills 2025 launch.

Image below: Dr Patricia O’Hare, Research and Education Officer, Trustees of Muckross House (Killarney) CLG delivering her talk, Muckross and the Heritage Council’s Museums Standards Programme Ireland.

Image above: Henry Thompson of the Old Builders Company, accompanied by Mindy.

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With the first phase of works in restoring the former clubhouse of the Royal Cork Yacht Club completed in 2024 (read more here), the Society is continuing its collaboration with the Sirius Arts Centre in revitalising this maritime gem and reinstating key architectural features that have been lost over time. This year, through the support of the Society’s US members, the project is focussing on roof works to the annex structures, the reinstatement of a chimney stack and barrel roof lights to the east wing, the reinstatement of doors to the loggia which faces out to Cork harbour, crack repairs and painting exterior walls and windows.

Conservation architect Gareth O'Callaghan (JCA Architects) discusses the materials that may have been used in constructing the barrel roof lights ion the east wing.

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The board of the Irish Georgian Foundation wishes to express its deepest thanks to Michael Wall on his retirement as Chair, a position he has held since 2018. His outstanding leadership during this time guided the Irish Georgian Society through its completion of the City Assembly House, a successful navigation of the challenges of Covid, and the adoption of the Sirius Arts Centre as a restoration project. Under his guidance, the Society has not only strengthened its advocacy and conservation work but has also grown in reach and relevance, ensuring the continued safeguarding of our unique heritage for future generations. Michael will remain very much involved with the Society and continue to support its valuable work.

With Michael’s departure from the board, the Irish Georgian Foundation is delighted to announce the appointment of his successor, Jacqueline Hall. Jacqueline has been an active member of the IGF board since 2023 and also sits on the IGF Governance Committee and the Sirius Arts Centre Governance Working Group. She is founder and principal of Partners in Communication, and is a lay Member of the Board of St. Patrick’s Cathedral. She has previously served on the Board of Governors and Guardians of the National Gallery of Ireland, and as President of the Public Relations Institute of Ireland. She is a graduate from UCD (BA (Hons.) History & History of Art) and holds further qualifications from TUD (Marketing Management), UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School (Grad Dip in Corporate Governance), The Honourable Society of King’s Inns (Advanced Dip in Data Protection Law/GDPR), and TCD (Grad Dip in Conflict & Dispute Resolution). The board very much looks forward to working with Jacqueline in the coming years as the IGS continues its important role as a champion of Ireland’s architectural and decorative arts heritage.

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We were delighted to welcome a large crowd of attendees for the launch of our new summer exhibition The Patrick Earley Collection: Eighteenth and Nineteenth-Century Views of Dublin and Wicklow on the afternoon of Thursday the 10th of July.

Guests gathered in the Daniel O'Connell and Knight of Glin rooms in the City Assembly for an introductory speech by Michael Wall, followed by a speech by Mary Heffernan of the OPW to formally launch the exhibition. Attendees on the day included collector Patrick Earley and his family.

The exhibition is open 10am to 5pm Tuesday-Friday, and 12pm-5pm Saturday until the 27th of September in the Daniel O'Connell room. Admission is Free. For more information on the exhibition click here.

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Last Saturday afternoon, the 28th of June, IGS members and friends enjoyed our annual Summer party. This year's event took place at Killua Castle in Westmeath. The castle has connections to both Sir Walter Raleigh and Lawrence of Arabia and has been completely restored by the Krause family after lying in ruin for almost one hundred years.

Despite the overcast weather, guests enjoyed drinks & canapes on the lawn followed by the ever popular annual summer party raffle. The highlight of the afternoon was a tour of the castle's magnificent interior.

We would like to thank the IGS Events Committee, all who attended, and owners Allen and Lorena Sangines-Krause for being such accommodating and gracious hosts.

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The Patrick Earley Collection: Eighteenth and Nineteenth-Century Views of Dublin and Wicklow
11th July - 27th August, The Daniel O'Connell room, City Assembly House, Dublin 2

Over the course of fifty years Patrick Earley assembled an outstanding collection of Irish topographical art, focusing on portrayals of Dublin and Wicklow over the period 1770 to 1870. The collection has recently been acquired by the State and a selection will be exhibited in the historic Daniel O'Connell room at the City Assembly House. The exhibition will feature early nineteenth-century views of Powerscourt Waterfall and Grafton Street, of Georgian College Green and Victorian Bray. Among the artists represented will be William Sadler, John Henry Campbell and Patrick Vincent Duffy.

This Irish Georgian Society exhibition is delivered in partnership with the Office of Public Works and with the support of Northern Trust, the National Built Heritage Service, and the Heritage Council.

Opening Hours: Tuesdays-Fridays 10am to 5pm, and Saturdays 12pm to 5pm
Admission is FREE

*Please note the Daniel O'Connell room is only accessible by stairs*

Image: Sackville Street and Carlisle Bridge, 1813, by William Sadler (c. 1782-1839). Photo courtesy OPW.

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