We are pleased to announce the full programme for the upcoming cross-border ‘Conservation without Frontiers’ Summer School, organised in partnership with Ulster Architectural Heritage. This year's summer school will be taking place from 20-22 June.

The theme of the 2019 Summer School is: Survival and Revival: Living Towns and Villages in Cavan and Fermanagh. This theme will explore the challenges facing Irish towns, and the opportunities for enhancement through sustainable heritage-led regeneration to benefit built heritage, the local economy and wider community.

Download the full programme here.

Book 1 day or weekend (3 day) tickets here.

Those wishing to book in GBP sterling can do so here: https://www.ulsterarchitecturalheritage.org.uk/.../uah.../

Participation is recognised as CPD by the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland.

Early bird rates available until 11 May.

(Images: Portora Conservation Area, Enniskillen; Virginia, Co. Cavan)

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The Irish Georgian Society offices will close on Good Friday for the Easter Weekend, and will reopen from 9.30am on Tuesday 23 April.

The IGS bookshop will be open on Good Friday (19 April) and Saturday 20 April from 10.00am to 6.00pm. It will be closed on Monday 22 April.

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Letter to The Irish Times, Monday 15 April 2019

Sir, – An Bord Pleanála’s decision to grant planning permission for the construction of an 88m-high building in the historic heart Dublin could set a precedent to alter a fundamental characteristic of the city: the generally low to medium-rise height of its buildings.

While the introduction of new planning guidelines on building heights clearly has had some influence on the decision, it does not explain how over the course of one year An Bord Pleanála radically changed its views on the impact a high-rise building would have on the city’s architectural heritage. In deciding on a planning application for the site in 2018, it was of the view that such a building would “seriously detract from the setting and character of the Custom House”, would “adversely affect the River Liffey Conservation Area and the O’Connell Street and Environs Architectural Conservation Area”, and have a “significant and detrimental visual impact on views and vistas in the city”.

However, in granting permission for a very similar building in 2019, the board resolved that the structure “would integrate satisfactorily with the surrounding existing development . . . including the Custom House and . . .views and prospects towards the site along the River Liffey Conservation Area” and “would not have a significant and detrimental impact on any important views and vistas within the city”.

This volte face is of immense concern for future decision-making on the shape of Dublin and does not bode well either for its historic urban character nor its position on Unesco’s Tentative List of World Heritage Sites. – Yours, etc,

DONOUGH CAHILL,
Executive Director,
Irish Georgian Society
Dublin 2

Link: https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/letters/bord-plean%C3%A1la-s-u-turn-on-dublin-skyline-1.3861171

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The exhibition of John Nankivell’s drawings of the Irish country house was one of the highlights in the calendar of the IGS in 2018. A selection of these drawings is once again on show in the City Assembly House with those pictures hanging in the American Room available for purchase. These drawings can also be previewed below.

Through the 1970s and ‘80s, John Nankivell spent many long summers exploring Ireland and drawing all sorts of buildings but with a particular focus on decaying country houses. The resulting drawings are not just very beautiful works of art in their own right, but also invaluable historical and architectural documents, as he sketched houses which have since disappeared or approached even further a state of ruin. As the co-founder of the Irish Georgian Society, Desmond Guinness, wrote many years ago: ‘I have rarely seen such sensitive and accurate architectural drawings’.

This small exhibition of John Nankivell’s works will continue through the spring.

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Ballybonelan Castle, Co. Galway (interior view)--€700

Castle Oliver, Co. Limerick--€900

Castlecor, Co. Longford--€1,200

Castlestrange, Co. Roscommon (framed by wall opening)--€1,200

Dalyston, Co. Galway--€700

Dromore Castle, Co, Limerick--€1,200

Dunmore House, Co. Galway--€900

Dunsandle, Co. Galway--€1,200

Gaybrook, Co. Westmeath--€700

Glengarrif, Co.Cork--€700

Killua Castle, Co. Westmeath (ivy clad)--€900

Kilronan Castle, Co. Roscommon (detail)--€900

Kilronan Castle, Co. Roscommon (general view)--€1,500

Kinturk, Co. Westmeath--€900

Ledestown House, Co. Westmeath--€700

Mount Plunkett, Co. Roscommon (view #1)--€900

Mount Plunkett, Co. Roscommon (view #2)--€900

Moydrum Castle, Co. Westmeath (entrance front)--€700

Moydrum Castle, Co. Westmeath (interior view)--€900

Rathrobin, Co. Offaly (abstract)--€700

Strokestown House, Co. Roscommon--€900

The Deanery, Ardagh, Co. Longford (side elevation)--€700

Trimlestown Castle, Co. Meath--€450

Tudenham, Co. Westmeath (Victorian villa)--€700

Not Pictured: Waterston, Co. Westmeath (dovecote)--€450

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The City Assembly House will be closed for the March Bank Holiday on Monday 18 March, the IGS office will reopen from 9.30am on Tuesday 19 March.

The IGS bookshop will be open on Saturday 16 March from 10.00am to 6.00pm.

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Clockwise from top left: St. Carthage’s Cathedral, Lismore, Co. Waterford, Myrtle Grove, Youghal, Co Cork, and Bantry House, Bantry, Co. Cork

The Irish Georgian Society is inviting applications to its Conservation Grants Programme 2019. The Irish Georgian Society has fundraised a total of €50,000 and grants will be awarded with priority given to protected structures and recorded monuments of significant architectural merit.

The Irish Georgian Society’s Conservation Grants Programme is generously funded by IGS London. Over the last five years, the Society has supported over thirty significant conservation projects from around the country, that have included works to country houses and castles, thatched cottages and historic townhouses, architectural follies, and churches.

Some projects awarded grants in 2018 include: Abbeyleix Old Church, Abbeyleix Demesne, Co. Laois; Saunderscourt Gate Lodges, Co Wexford; Ardrahan Church, Co. Galway; and 18 Ormond Quay, Dublin 1.

Application forms must be submitted by 5pm on Monday 20th March 2019 and can be downloaded here. Decisions on the allocation of grants will be made by early May at which time applicants will be informed.

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