THE IRISH LANDMARK TRUST Holiday Homes The IRISH LANDMARK EXPerienCE ABOUT US The Irish Landmark Trust was founded to save, conserve and maintain buildings of character and architectural distinction in Ireland, north and south. By using the conserved properties as holiday homes, we give them a new and sustainable future. New life is breathed into properties that might have been lost and gone forever as we open our doors and invite in guests to enjoy these houses and experience the best of a former way of life. Each Landmark property has been carefully and faithfully restored and decorated in a way that reflects its particular character. Our guests add the essential heartbeat that gives new life to these houses. Staying in an Irish Landmark Trust property is an opportunity to experience a different kind of holiday. No two properties are the same; each property is unique and unusual in some way. As our guest, you will have a chance to experience the combination of enthralling architecture, fascinating history and a peaceful, relaxed ambience – where you decide the pace of your holiday. A call to our bookings office can help you decide which property best suits your party size or particular needs. We are always happy to talk about the properties and what is available in the local area. The Irish Landmark Trust is a charity, and is dependent on funding and donations so that it can go on to rescue more properties. The Trust needs your support. The income from the holiday letting ensures the future sustainabiltiy of each house – it is helping to pay for ongoing and future maintenance. So your stay is already helping us. Where personal circumstances might permit it, we would encourage our guests to consider either a regular or a once-off donation. There are details on on how you can help Irish Landmark at the back of this brochure. We hope you enjoy looking through this brochure and look forward to welcoming you to an Irish Landmark holiday. Mary O’Brien Executive Director Disclaimer: Layouts and colour schemes may vary from those illustrated. 1 Future Project BEIT ResidenCE & Garden APartment at RUSSBOROUGH HOUSE BLESSINGTON, CO. WICKLOW REF A ON MAP Housed within the West Wing at Russborough House, the Beit Residence and Garden Apartment echo the opulence and grandeur of the main house. This house enjoys a spectacular setting with magnificent views of the Blessington Lakes and the Wicklow Mountains beyond. It was in the West Wing that Sir Alfred and Lady Beit lived the final years of their lives. Each apartment is exceptional and is representative of the way life was lived here. Beit family photographs, reminiscent of life at Russborough, adorn the drawing rooms. A rich sense of history and craftsmanship can be felt in the specially commissioned Spanish rugs spread throughout the Beit Residence. Sir Alfred and Lady Beit bought Russborough House in 1952, chiefly to hold their art collection and spent many years restoring this truly magnificent Palladian style house. In 1976, Lord and Lady Beit generously gifted the house and the renowned art collection to the people of Ireland by establishing the Alfred Beit Foundation. It was at this time, that they relocated to live full-time in the West Wing until 2005. Russborough House opened to the public in 1978, and it is lavishly furnished with fine furniture, tapestries, porcelain and silver. Considered to be the most beautiful house in Ireland, Russborough House hosts a busy calendar of events including farmers markets, music recitals, school visits and hosting corporate events throughout the year. The programme is available to view at www.russborough.ie. Russborough House is also available as an exclusive wedding venue. Details LOCAL attraCTIONS Details Beit Residence: Sleeps 7: Garden Apartment: Sleeps 8: Details to be confirmed. Please Wicklow Adventure Race, Wicklow Outdoors Festival, Wicklow Gardens Festival, Wicklow 200 – check www.irishlandmark.com for updated information. Ireland’s Premier Cycling, Bray Jazz Festival, Wicklow Gaol, Bray Heritage Centre or take a wander around some of Wicklow’s art galleries. Details at www.visitwicklow.ie 5 Award Nomination - Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland SCHOOlhOuse at AnnaghmOre RIAI Commended Conservation Award 2008 ANNAGHMORE, CO. SLIGO REF 1 ON MAP Described as the “Land of Heart’s Desire” in his early poems, the county of Sligo is depicted by W.B Yeats as wild and romantic. Part of this beauty, archaeology and folklore is captured in the conservation and restoration of the Schoolhouse at Annaghmore. The Schoolhouse was built in the 1860s for the education of children of the tenants of Annaghmore Estate. Nowadays, its cosy vestibule leads through to a light filled sitting room where an open fire adds a welcoming glow to the double height living room. The accommodation comprises two double bedrooms and two bathrooms with a bath upstairs and shower downstairs. County Sligo’s beautiful scenery was an inspiration for Yeats, who is buried at Drumcliffe Churchyard, under loaf-shaped Benbulben Mountain. A beautiful drive, running north from the town of Sligo, brings the visitor deep in Yeats Country. Sligo’s unique landscape offers a huge range of activities including championship golf courses, surfing and horseracing. Lissadell House, once home to Countess Markievicz, is a good family attraction, with a lovely beach nearby. The mountains of Benbulben and Knocknarea are a spectacular backdrop for hiking enthusiasts and the immediate area also offers a variety of easy but awe-inspiring coastal cliff top and peninsula hill walkways. Sligo is an ideal destination for the outdoor enthusiast. Sligo town’s bustling streets are peppered with small boutiques, cafés and bars, as well as a myriad of craft shops offering many handmade crafts including jewellery, pottery and knitwear. The Schoolhouse is located off the main Galway/Sligo road (N17), approximately 1 mile from Ballinacarrow village, 4 miles from Collooney and 7 miles from Sligo town. Details LOCal ATTR ACtiOns Sleeps 4, 2 Double Bedrooms, 1 Bathroom, Oil Heating, Open Fire, Washer/Dryer, Dishwasher, Iron & Sligo Abbey, Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery, Sligo Art Gallery, Strandhill Golf Club, Island View Riding Ironing Board, Radio, Travel Cot on request, Garden, Patio, Garden Furniture. Stables, Yeat’s Country Drive. 6 RICS Award (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors) TriumPhal ARCH GatelOdge in the Building Conservation Section 2010 COLEBROOKE, CO.FERMANAGH REF 2 ON MAP The Triumphal Arch Gatelodge at Colebrooke is located in the heart of Co Fermanagh. This is an area of outstanding natural beauty and is only a short distance from the tranquility of beautiful Lough Erne. This lodge is one of the gateways to Colebrooke Park, one of Northern Ireland’s most important and historic stately homes which was recently renovated and refurbished by the present Viscount and Viscountess Brookeborough. A Grade B Listed Building, the Triumphal Arch Gatelodge is a classically proportioned T-shaped building designed to echo the grand style of the main house. The Triumphal Arch entrance, circa 1830 was added by a prominent Dublin Architect, William Farrell, who was commissioned by the then occupant Sir Henry Brooke. Once completed, the Gatelodge and The Triumphal Arch entrance would have surpassed the grandeur of neighbouring estates. Guests to the Gatelodge can enjoy a host of outdoor activities organised by arrangement through the Colebrooke Estate such as fishing on the Colebrooke River, walking trails and bird watching on this widespread Estate. Among the many attractions in this area are Crom Castle and Gardens, Enniskillen Castle which dates back to the 1700s, Castle Coole, Florence Court, Marble Arch Caves, Castle Archdale Islands. Crom Castle and Gardens is one of Ireland’s most important nature conservations. The 2,000 acre demesne contains ancient woodland trails, tranquil islands, historic buildings, childrens play area, wildlife exhibition and guided tours. Enniskillen Castle Museum is open all year. The gatelodge is only 90 minutes from Belfast, 2 and a half hours from Dublin, and 40 minutes from the west coast of Ireland. Details LOCal ATTR ACtiOns Sleeps 4: 2 Double Bedrooms, 1 Bathroom, Iron & Ironing Board, Travel Cot on Request, Garden, Garden Furniture. Erne Waterway, Marble Arch Caves, Castle Archdale Islands, Florence Court, Crom Castle & Gardens, Belleek Pottery Visitor Centre, Enniskillen Castle, Castle Coole, Enniskillen Town Hall. 9 Award Nomination - Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland gate HOuse at CastletOWN RIAI Best Conservation Project - Selected For Exhibition 2008 CASTLETOWN, CELBRIDGE, CO. KILDARE REF 3 ON MAP The Gate House is situated at the bottom of the tree lined avenue leading to Castletown House, the largest and most significant Palladian country house in Ireland. Prominently positioned at the top of the main street in Celbridge, the Gate House faces the quaint Church of Ireland Christ Church built in 1884 which retains the majestic tower of an earlier church. This building was vacant for many years, but a careful programme of conservation, in partnership with the state body The Office of Public Works which manages Castletown House, has given a new life to this lovely building. The guests who stay here will become part of the new story of this lodge. It is only a short stroll to the heart of village life where our guests can enjoy many restaurants and traditional Irish pubs; and the Gate House is also within easy reach of championship golf courses, cultural and historical sites and world class race courses. The town of Celbridge has a deep historical background. Celbridge Abbey was built by Bartholomew Van Homrigh, Lord Mayor of Dublin, in 1697. It was his daughter, Esther Van Homrigh who was immortalised as ‘Vanessa’ by Jonathan Swift, who came regularly from his deanery to visit her. The Rock Bridge, situated in the grounds of Celbridge Abbey, is reputed to be the oldest remaining stone bridge that crosses the River Liffey.