Irish Period Furniture - Links

No. 29, Georgian House Museum

Number 29 is Dublin's Georgian House Museum. Visitors take a guided tour from the basement to the attic, through rooms which have been furnished with original artefacts as they would have been in the years 1790 to 1820. Number 29 Lower Fitzwilliam Street, was first occupied in 1794, during a time of great change and expansion in Ireland's capital. The first occupant was Mrs Olivia Beatty, the widow of a prominent Dublin wine merchant. Visiting the exhibition gives young and old alike a chance to experience what life was like for the fortunate who lived in such elegant townhouses, and the less fortunate who worked in them.

The exhibition is a partnership between Electricity Supply Board and the National Museum of Ireland, and has been playing an important role since 1991 in making more accessible the history of late Georgian Dublin.

Avondale House, Co. Wicklow

Avondale House, the birthplace and home of Charles Stewart Parnell (1846 - 1891) one of the greatest political leaders of Irish history. Set in a magnificent forest park of over 500 acres with tree trails and walks ranging in duration from one to five hours. This beautiful Georgian house designed by James Wyatt and built in 1777 contains fine plasterwork and many original pieces of furniture. The American Room is dedicated to Admiral Charles Stewart Parnell’s American grandfather, who manned the USS Constitution during the 1812 war. Visitors are introduced to this wonderful historical house by a specially commissioned audio visual presentation. Other facilities include a restaurant, book shop, picnic areas, childrens' play area, two orienteering courses and large car/coach park. Pieces from the National Museum of Ireland collection are on display at Avondale House.

Irish Architectural Archive

The Irish Architectural Archive was established in 1976 to collect and preserve material of every kind relating to the architecture of the entire island of Ireland, and make it available to the public. As a cumulative body of material the holdings of the Archive represent the greatest single source of information on Ireland's buildings and those who designed them.

Swiss Cottage

This delightful "cottage orne'" built in the early 1800s by Richard Butler, First Earl of Glengall, to a design by the famous Regency architect John Nash. Its interior contains a graceful spiral staircase and some elegantly decorated rooms. The wallpaper in the Salon manufactured by the Dufour factory is one of the first commercially produced Parisian wallpapers. Situated on an elevated site with access by stone steps. Pieces of furniture are on loan from the National Museum of Ireland collection and are on display at the Swiss Cottage.

The Irish Georgian Society

The Irish Georgian Society is Ireland's Architectural Heritage Society. The Society aims to encourage an interest in and to promote the conservation of distinguished examples of architecture and the allied arts of all periods in Ireland. These aims are achieved by education and grants, planning participation, membership and fundraising. The Irish Georgian Society was founded in 1958 by the Hon. Desmond Guinness and his late wife, Mariga, for the protection of buildings of architectural merit in Ireland. Many fine houses have been saved through the enthusiasm and commitment of the founders and current members and supporters. The current President is Desmond Fitzgerald, Knight of Glin.