After the great reception of the first season on RTÉ – a season that featured Doneraile Court, Kylemore Abbey and Emo Court – Great Irish Interiors is back with seven incredibly exciting properties.
Yet again, Moondance Productions has been granted exclusive access to follow a number of historical interior restorations around the country, through the eyes of those spearheading the projects.
There is huge public interest and curiosity in what once lay behind the doors, and within the walls, of the coveted ‘big house’. With these projects, the team is aiming to give people, young and old, the chance to physically witness the history of the Irish countryside.
We follow the team as they endeavour to return the interiors of these buildings to the condition and style they were in at the height of their glory. With the experts often just working from archives, and very little photographic evidence, they have to be creative, but accurate
Great Irish Interiors will be hitting the road with them, seeking out the furniture, ornaments and priceless artwork that once belonged to these houses. They’ll also travel nationwide to the conservators and experts in their employ to check in on the works being completed.
Great Irish Interiors is unique as it focuses firmly on the interiors. It is all about the chase to source the right artwork, paint and wallpaper and furniture, and reclaiming the special treasures that tell the incredible stories of these Great Irish Interiors.
- Russborough House (Wicklow):
Russborough House is home to one of Ireland’s most famed and coveted Art collections. It includes priceless works by Goya, Vermeer, Peter-Paul Rubens and Vernet.
The home of the Milltowns, then the Beits, Russborough is now in the hands of the Alfred Beit Foundation. Pauline Swords, the curator, is overseeing the conservation and return of some of Russborough’s most famous masterpieces. As always, she’ll need to be conscious of security, with Russborough the scene of some of Ireland’s most famous art heists.
- Castletown House (Kildare):
Built in 1722, Castletown House, Co. Kildare, was the first palladian mansion in Ireland. Its original owner, William “Speaker” Conolly, was the richest man in Ireland, and this is reflected in the lavish interior and exterior of this truly spectacular residence.
Now under the care of the OPW, Mary Heffernan and a team of experts are exploring the history of the Conolly family, while supervising the return of several paintings and items that have been absent from Castletown for decades.
- Strokestown House (Roscommon):
A house with a chequered history, Strokestown House was the seat of the Pakenham-Mahon family. It was the scene of mass evictions and murder during the Great Famine, with the head of the family being murdered in response to his cruel treatment of tenants.
The house was eventually sold to businessman Jim Calleary in 1979. He has left the house’s contents and it has since become a priceless archive of famine records. Now, curator John O’Driscoll and his team face the challenge of upgrading its heating system so that they can preserve the house’s remarkable contents.
- Johnstown Castle (Wexford):
Located just outside Wexford town in Ireland’s sunny south-east, Johnstown Castle is a stunning example of the Gothic revival architecture of the 19th century. It has a long and storied history of Norman invasions, Cromwellian conquests and the First World War.
When the Irish Heritage Trust took over the care of the stunning Johnstown Castle, Co. Wicklow, they could never have imagined the treasures and secrets they were about to reveal. This week on Great Irish Interiors, we join curator Matt Wheeler and his team as he pieces together the castle’s 800-year history, bringing Johnstown into the 21st century.
- Kilkenny Castle (Kilkenny):
Originally built by Strongbow, in 1173, Kilkenny Castle was eventually the ancestral home of the Butlers of Ormonde. The Castle was eventually sold to the people of Kilkenny for £50, but had fallen to dereliction by the 90s when it was taken over by the OPW.
Now, they’re updating the visitor experience, and a team, led by Mary Heffernan, is working feverishly to conserve, update and reinvigorate the visitor experience at what is one of Ireland’s most beautiful buildings.
- Farmleigh House (Dublin):
Once a Dublin residence of the fabled Guinness family, Farmleigh, just on the outskirts of Dublin’s Phoenix Park, is the official Irish state guesthouse. The maintenance and efficient running of the house is of paramount importance to the state, and it is one of the finest houses in the care of the OPW.
This year, Mary Heffernan of the OPW and her team are gearing up for one of their busiest seasons yet.
7. Glebe House (Donegal):
Glebe House and Gallery in Co. Donegal was the home of the renowned artist Derek Hill. He lived there for 30 years, moving to rural Donegal to escape the hustle and bustle of London and reconnect with his painting.
Now under the care of the OPW, Glebe’s curator and director, Adrian Kelly brings us on a journey through the artist’s extensive collection. We will also explore how Hill’s work inspires fellow artists to this day, and have a look at the influence he had on the local Tory Island.