Ireland is famous for its countryside and its unique architecture, encompassing everything from castles and thatched cottages to Georgian urban buildings. In recent times, however, many of the country’s remarkable properties have been threatened with decay, even demolition. For example, Hazelwood House, a 278-year old Palladian mansion is in disrepair and if nothing is done to reverse the decline, could suffer major structural damage.
The Irish Georgian Society is one group that will get involved in the fight. “We’re going to have to do something,” said Maribeth Welsh, Executive Director of the IGS in the U.S. Initially, the Irish Heritage Trust, launched just two years ago to care for historic properties, houses, and gardens throughout Ireland, hoped to acquire the property and open it for public viewing. The Trust, however, has run out of funds and will not have the resources to follow through with that plan. Welsh said that the Society also does not have enough money to take over the entire project, but could manage some of the repairs, a new roof, for example.
The Hon. Desmond Guinness with his late wife, Mariga, founded the Irish Georgian Society in Ireland in 1958. A fierce supporter of the preservation movement in Ireland, Guinness bought Castletown House, built in 1722 for William Conolly, Speaker of the Irish House of Commons, to save it from the clutches of developers. That action no doubt galvanized others who had joined the Society. What began as a small band of dedicated preservationists has evolved over the years into a professional preservation and conservation organization that, in the Republic of Ireland, holds a major national presence. Ireland’s built heritage is unlike any other in Europe, as the Irish craftsmen were not only dedicated to quality construction but their unique interpretation of classical design statements makes them instantly recognizable as Irish.
Politics, unfortunately, has hampered efforts to unite everyone in the preservation movement. Although the hands of Irish Catholic laborers built many of the remarkable structures, the designs are considered Anglo-Irish. “At one point one of the [Catholic] ministers in the Dail, the Irish Congress, proposed that all the Georgian buildings be knocked down,” said Welsh. Younger people, not so caught up in ongoing religious battles, are aware of Ireland’s architectural history and may be enlisted to help, she said.
The Irish Georgian Society in Ireland concentrates on lobbying elected officials, while the U.S. chapters, with over 1,000 members in New York, Chicago, Boston, Palm Beach, and Washington, DC, concentrate on raising money. These chapters sponsor a yearly event that includes a lecturer from Ireland and dinner. Recently, the New York Chapter held a fund raising dinner at Kings’ Carriage house on East 82nd Street. More than $1 million has been raised in the U.S. during the past few years to continue this important work.
Welsh said there are probably dozens of historic buildings and homes in Ireland that are threatened with extinction. Besides Hazelwood House, the group’s website lists five “buildings at risk,” including: the Carlton Cinema, Dublin; the Casino at Marino, Dublin; Vernon Mount, Douglas County, Cork; the Wonderful Barn, Leixlip County, Kildare; and Georgian buildings in Limerick.
Recently, the organization celebrated its 50th anniversary in Ireland and Guinness was the guest of honor. Since there are no other saviors with the stature and resources of a Guinness on the horizon, the Irish Georgian Society’s work becomes that much more important. Welsh said that Society’s officials in Ireland are “fabulous” and elected officials seem more inclined to listen to the preservationist point of view. In New York, the focus will be on enlisting more members to the cause. Anyone wishing to join, may go to the organization’s website, www.igs.ie.
