PICTURESQUE DESIGNED LANDSCAPES OF KERRY: Where Art embraces Nature

The Irish Georgian Society was delighted to partner with Kerry County Council and Cairde Choláiste Íde Teo to deliver the seminar, Picturesque Designed Landscapes of Kerry: where art embraces nature.

The seminar took place on Friday 27^th September at Coláiste Íde which is located in the historic Burnham House, originally the seat of the Lords Ventry, outside of Dingle.

An action of the Irish Georgian Society’s Conservation Education Programme overseen by IGS Conservation Manager & Assistant Director, Emmeline Henderson, the seminar formed part of the vibrant Architecture Kerry Festival, which is directed by Kerry County Council’s dynamic Architectural Conservation Officer Victoria McCarthy, who co-convened the seminar.

The daylong seminar celebrated Kerry’s designed landscapes and gardens and explored their history and championed their conservation.

Fascinating presentations were delivered by Aaron Harty, Des Byrne; Dr Vandra Costello, Tom Dillon, Dr David Fleming, Victoria McCarthy, Dr Finola O’Kane and Terence Reeves-Smyth with Donough Cahill and Dr John Knightly chairing, and further contributions from Tony Bergin, President of the Kerry Archaeological and Historical Society, and welcome addresses from Seán Ó Catháin, Cathaoirleach of the Bord na Stiurthoirí and Councillor Breandán Fitzgerald, Cathaoirleach, Kerry County Council.

Augmenting the presentations was a walking tour led by archaeologist Mícheál Ó Coileáin which outlined the significance of the historic gardens of Burham house, with an emphasis on the extraordinary collection of Ogham Stones located within the grounds.

Further enhancing the seminar on the day were two exhibitions: Natalie Deegan, of ARTlab Tralee curated an exhibition with the senior cycle Coláiste Íde art students showcasing the interpretation of their historic built environment; and Mary McCarthy, curated an exhibition, Postcards from the Edge: a pictorial history of Dingle Chorca Dhuibhne Architecture, Land, Sea and People.

The day was well attended with architects, conservationists, gardeners and landscape historians, as well as many enthusiasts present from both Kerry and beyond the county.

The Society wishes to thank all the speakers, in particular those who travelled substantial distances, as well as our hosts, Choláiste Íde (Ireland’s only Irish speaking girls’ boarding school) their Principal, Conall Ó Cruadhlaoich, their board, staff (Aoife and Siobhan) and students for their hospitality: go raibh maith agat.

Lastly, the Society wishes to acknowledge the supporters and funders: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, The Heritage Council, Kerry County Council, and Cairde Choláiste Íde Teo.

The Society trusts that the seminar will assist in generating an enhanced appreciation and understanding of Kerry’s extraordinary heritage of historic gardens and designed landscapes which in turn will translate into their considered management and conservation.

TOP IMAGE (right to left) Emmeline Henderson, IGS Assistant Director and Conservation Manager (co-convenor); Tom Dillon (speaker); Donough Cahill, IGS Executive Director (Chair); Dr Vandra Costello (speaker); Dr David Fleming (speaker); Terence Reeves Smyth (speaker); Victoria McCarthy (speaker and co-convenor); Dr Finola O’Kane (speaker); Des Byrne (speaker); Dr John Knightly (chair); Mary McCarthy (curator); and Mícheál Ó Coileáin (speaker
Image reproduced courtesy of Pauline Dennigan.

Opening Address: Councillor Breandán Fitzgerald, Cathaoirleach, Kerry County Council.

Welcome Address from Seán Ó Catháin, Cathaoirleach of the Bord na Stiurthoirí

Tony Bergin, President of the Kerry Archaeological and Historical Society explaining their annual young historian award established to encourage participants to research and write an essay on a local history topic in a personal, interesting and critical way with a specific focus on some of Kerry's lesser told stories.

Aaron Harty, winner of Young Historian of the Year (Junior Catagory 2023) delivering his talk 'Lassinagh House, The Spa, Tralee'

Des Byrne delivering his talk, NIAH inventory of historic gardens and designed landscapes of County Kerry

Victoria McCarthy deliver her talk 'Room with a View, the Designed Landscape of Coláiste Íde'

Dr David Fleming delivering his talk 'Nurserymen and landscape design in County Kerry'

Tom Dillon delivering his talk Exploring our roots: Heritage Trees of County Kerry

Dr Vandra Costello delivering her talk, 'The tourists’ experience of visiting the lakes and landscapes of Killarney in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries'

Terence Reeves-Smyth delivering his talk 'Big House Pastimes: Three Centuries of Sport in Irish Parks and Gardens'

Audience at Picturesque Designed Landscapes of Kerry: where art embraces nature seminar.

Mícheál Ó Coileáin speaking to the seminar attendees in the historic grounds of Burham House.

Victoria McCarthy explaining the landscape during the tour of the historic gardens of Burham house.

Mícheál Ó Coileáin explaining the significance of the Ogham stones located within the grounds of Burham house gardens.

Postcards from the Edge: a pictorial history of Dingle Chorca Dhuibhne Architecture, Land, Sea and People curated by Mary Raftery.

Picturesque Designed Landscapes of Kerry: where art embraces nature concludes with a picturesque double rainbow bidding us farewell from the Kingdom of Kerry.

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Irish Georgian Society Limerick Chapter

After an absence of almost four years, the Irish Georgian Society’s Limerick Chapter has announced it is resuming its activities, with the launch of its autumn-winter lecture series on the 1st of October with a lecture by Randal Hodkinson on ‘Limerick in old, unseen photographs’. Illustrating the changing streetscapes of the Georgian and medieval parts of the city, this lecture will interest everyone with an interest in Limerick’s history and architecture.

The IGS Limerick Chapter was established in 1996 by the late Desmond FitzGerald, 29th Knight of Glin, who with others hoped to highlight the importance of Limerick’s Georgian heritage, then as now threatened by inappropriate development. The Chapter hosts an annual Knight of Glin Lecture to celebrate his achievements in Limerick and beyond, details of which will be announced in the coming months.

Randal Hodkinson’s lecture will take place at 8 pm in the historic LYMPA building on 97 O’Connell Street, Limerick. Entry is €5 at the door and is open to all.

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The completion of the first phase of restoration works to the Sirius Arts Centre in Cobh, Co. Cork was marked on 20th June by a gathering of IGS members from the United Stares and across Ireland. These works were undertaken through the great generosity of American supporters of the IGS and saw the reinstatement of a magnificent roof lantern in the central gallery space and the reconstruction of two chimney stacks that had been removed some decades ago.

Those who travelled from the US included John M. Sullivan, Jr. (chair), Nonie Sullivan, Elizabeth Dater Jennings, Steve Zick, David Mooney, Avery and Allison Bourke, Annette Lester, Michael Kerrigan, James Ronan, Sheila O'Malley, Christinia McInerney among others.

Sir David Davies, IGS President, congratulated all involved notably the donors, and also Tom McCarthy and Glen Barry who led the project over the last year. Others attending included IGF Chair, Michael Wall, Simon Coveney TD, IGS Cork Chapter Chair, Kevin Hurley, and IGS Executive Director, Donough Cahill.

An article on the event published in the Irish Examiner is available here:

Photos: Darragh Kane & DC

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We would like to welcome IGS members to take part in our Members' Survey.

As a membership based organisation we value our members and as such every few years invite them to participate in a survey which asks a variety of questions on different aspects of the Society. These surveys are important as they allow us to engage with members, listen to their feedback, and improve our offerings where possible.

If you are a member and require a hard copy of the survey please email info@igs.ie

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IGS Summer Party, Shankill Castle, Co. Kilkenny, Sat 29th June 2024

This year's summer garden party was very enjoyable, despite the heavy rain for most of the day. In the lovely surrounds of Shankill Castle, into which we were very kindly welcomed by our hosts Geoffrey and Elizabeth Cope, we luxuriated in their art collection, most of the paintings being by Elizabeth, of herself, her friends and family. The rooms were spacious, filled with antique comfortable furniture. Later when the rain tailed off, we could venture into their extensive grounds. A good day was had by the brave souls who ventured to Kilkenny.

We would like to thank our wonderful hosts Geoffrey and Elizabeth Cope, our Events Committee Members for helping on the day, and all who attended.

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Irish Georgian Society's Chairperson Michael Wall presents Dr Priscilla Sonnier with the inaugural John Maiben Gilmartin Award at the Society's summer drinks party at Shankill Castle, Kilkenny on Saturday 29th June 2024. (Photo courtesy of Scott Hayes)

The Irish Georgian Society's John Maiben Gilmartin Award 2024 was presented to Dr Sonnier. The sum of €4,125 will assist Dr Sonnier in travelling to the Yale Centre of British Art, New Haven and the John Rylands Library, University of Manchester. This funding from the John Maiben Gilmartin Award will provide her with the opportunity to consult and transcribe numerous eighteenth-century Irish manuscripts, rare works on paper and artworks from their special collections. The research undertaken at these institutions also will support a forthcoming talk to the Society, in addition to material for future publications that present new perspectives into gendered patronage and ‘improvement’, and the socio-cultural evolution of Irish portraiture during the Ascendancy period.

The materials viewed at archives and collections at Yale and Manchester strongly contributes to prior research completed during Priscilla’s PhD (University College Dublin, 2023), and particularly supports a comparative case study of instructional drawing manuals and their nuanced contributions to the social geography of ‘patriotism’ in late-eighteenth-century Ireland. These manuals, which were published in Dublin and sold in local print shops for contemporary hobbyists to learn from, feature a broad range of subject matter with examples of portraiture, architecture and the natural world by Irish artists associated with the Dublin Society Schools. This case study, which addresses the distinct visual and cultural significance of ‘improvement as practice’ in drawing manuals that were specifically created for the Irish print market, will be presented for consideration in an upcoming volume of Irish Architectural and Decorative Studies.

The Society wishes Dr Sonnier well with her next phase of research. We also would like to take the opportunity to thank our JM Gilmartin assessor panel comprises: Dr Fintan Cullen, Professor Emeritus, School of Culture, Languages and Area Studies, University of Nottingham; Dr Conor Lucey, Associate Professor, School of Art History and Cultural Policy, University College Dublin; and Dr Finola O’Kane, Professor, School of Architecture, Planning & Environmental Policy, University College Dublin.

ABOUT THE JOHN MAIBEN GILMARTIN AWARD

The John Maiben Gilmartin Award, named for and endowed by the noted art historian, is a new prize granted annually by the Irish Georgian Society to support research in the history of Irish art, architecture and designed landscape, and of culture and society in Ireland of the long eighteenth century (broadly defined).

This award is open to post-doctoral researchers and early career scholars – that is, individuals who have been awarded their PhD degree within the previous seven years. Funds may be used to cover travel and accommodation costs for the purposes of research abroad or may be used to offset fees associated with academic publication, including for image rights and reproduction. All enquiries regarding applying for the award should be directed to Emmeline Hederson, IGS Assistant Director & Conservation Manager.

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