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Ireland's oldest arts charity
Death of Sir Anthony O'Reilly.
The President and Council were saddened at the recent death of Sir Anthony. He was a member of Council for many years and a very generous supporter of FNCI. A reminder that the Director of the Solomon Gallery, 2 Balfe Street, Dublin 2, to mark our centenary, has issued an invitation to Council and Members to attend an exhibition at the Gallery on Friday 26 July from 6pm to 8pm.
Details below: SUMMER GROUP EXHIBITION This extensive and varied exhibition, presented in our bright city centre space represents the best of contemporary Irish art and is well worth visiting this summer. A vibrant mix of paintings, sculpture and print by Ireland’s leading artists including work by John Behan RHA, Margo Banks, Leah Beggs, Comhghall Casey, Serena Caulfield, Tom Climent, Clifford Collie, Eamon Colman, Julie Cusack, Orla de Brí, Ana Duncan, Margaret Egan, Bridget Flinn, Carol Hodder, Stephanie Hess, Bernadette Madden, Eilis O’Connell RHA, Melissa O’Donnell, Michael Quane RHA, John Short, Cléa van der Grijn, Corban Walker, Michael Wann & many more. Visit to the Abbey Theatre, Wednesday, July 10th 2024.
For information and booking form, please click HERE Visit to the Irish Architectural Archive, Wednesday, June 19th 2024.
For information and booking form, please click HERE. Visit to the National Gallery of Ireland, Lavinia Fontana Exhibition
Thursday, July 13th, 2023 at 11am. For details and booking form, click HERE. University College Dublin Sculpture Trail
Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023 at 2pm. For details and booking form, click HERE. Festive Lunch, Saturday, 26 November, 2022
Visit to Armagh, Saturday, June 18th, 2022
2022 AGM, April 28th, 2022
The 2022 AGM took place on April 28th at 6pm in the Lecture Room of The Irish Architectural Archive, 45 Merrion Square East, Dublin 2. Public Lecture
The annual Public Lecture of the Friends of the National Collections of Ireland took place on Thursday 28 April 2022 at 7:30pm in the Irish Architectural Archive (by kind permission) 45, Merrion Square East, Dublin 2, following the AGM. The lecture was entitled: Dealing with Controversy – Episodes from the History of the FNCI and was delivered by Dr Róisín Kennedy, lecturer in the School of Art History and Cultural Policy at UCD. Dr Kennedy is former Yeats Curator at the National Gallery of Ireland (2006 -2008) and of the State Collection at Dublin Castle (1998 1999). Dr Kennedy is co-editor and contributor to Harry Clarke and Artistic Visions of the New Irish State, (Irish Academic Press, 2018), Censoring Art - Silencing the Artwork (I.B.Tauris, 2018) and co-editor (with Fintan Cullen) of Sources in Irish Art 2. - A Reader, (Cork University Press, 2021). Her monograph, Art and the Nation State. The Reception of Modern Art in Ireland was published by Liverpool University Press in 2021. Visit to Drimnagh Castle
The visit to Drimnagh Castle took place on Tuesday, May 3rd, 2022 at 10.45am. Visit to Farmleigh House and Estate
The visit to Farmleigh Estate took place on Wednesday, May 18th, 2022. Visit to St Patrick's Pontifical University
The visit to St Patrick's Pontifical University in Maynooth took place on Thursday, June 2nd, 2022. Visit to Russborough House.
Wednesday, May 23rd, 2018. We met at Russborough House in The Brambles Tea Rooms 10.15 am for Tea/Coffee and Scones followed by a guided tour of the house. Visit to Counties Louth and Meath.
Wednesday March 28th, 2018. A guided tour of Townley Hall, lunch at Slane Castle followed by a guided tour of the castle. Visit to Sir Denis Mahon Reading Room.
Tuesday February 27th, 2018. An afternoon visit to the Sir Denis Mahon Reading Room, No. 90 Merrion Square. Festive lunch 2017 at the Royal Irish Yacht Club Dun Laoghaire
Saturday, November 25th, 2017. On Saturday, 25 November 2017, the annual FNCI festive lunch was held in the wonderful surroundings of the Royal Irish Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire. Events committee member Ms Anne Kearney Farrelly was the organiser of this very popular event which again proved to be a great success, with over 70 members and guests attending. The staff at the club, under the management of Gareth McGinty esured that the excellent food and drink was served promptly and efficiently, contributing to a very enjoyable experience by all. Guests were addressed by Dr John Maiben Gilmartin and the lunch was followed by a charming recital by Ireland’s best known harpist Dr Cliona Doris, Head of Orchestral Studies at DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama in Dublin. Her recital included a superb rendering of I Dreamt I Dwelt in Marble Halls or The Gipsy Girl's Dream, a popular aria from The Bohemian Girl, an 1843 opera by Michael William Balffe,with lyrics by Alfred Bunn. Photography was kindly provided by member Mr Pearse Stokes
2020 Garden Party Cancelled
The Annual Garden Party has been cancelled due to Coronavirus. Read More... Festive Lunch 2019
The Festive Lunch took place on Saturday November 23rd, 2019 in the Royal Irish Yacht Club, Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin. Summer Garden Party 2019
The Friends' summer Garden Party took place this year on June 15th at Altidore Castle, Kilpedder, County Wicklow. Our hosts, Philip and Vicky Emmet, welcomed members and their guests who had come by coach and car. A beautiful high summer day -with a single five minute shower to emphasise our good luck with the weather - enabled us to wander around the terraced garden and admire the striking turreted house. Altidore Castle was built around 1730 for General Thomas Pearce. The Emmet family, who have lived here since 1934 and farm the place organically, are direct descendants of the elder brother of the United Irishman, Robert Emmet. Thomas Addis, on his release from prison after the 1798 Rebellion went into exile in the United States where the family became prominent in medicine and the law. A splendid spread of varied sandwiches, strawberries and cream, accompanied by Pimms and wine, soon received our close attention in the shade of the tented gazebo -this year enlarged to accommodate our members -which was again provided by Council member Anne Kearney Farrelly and Adrian. Contented murmuring followed. Our hosts kindly showed us around their lovely house. As well as interesting furniture (including a splendid army officer's campaign chest with twin drawers impartially accommodating bottles of port in one drawer and a fitted commode in the other) the family have some unusual and touching mementos of their ancestor. The much anticipated raffle then took place. As is always the case with FNCI raffles the prizes, which were donated by members, were numerous and valuable. It raised a goodly sum for our work. The day was a great success. Our thanks are due to all who organised it, as well as to Philip and Vicky Emmet and their family.
Visit to Trim Castle and Killua Castle, County Meath Saturday October 19th, 2019
With lunch in Trim Castle Hotel. Visit to The Hunt Museum, Limerick Wednesday September 25th 2019
Guided Tour of the Summer Exhibition: Lavery & Osborne: Observing Life. VISIT to the Tenement Museum and Mark Dion Exhibition
Wednesday 29 May, 2019 Visit to Counties Westmeath and Kildare.
Saturday, March 30th, 2019. Visit to Northern Ireland.
Saturday, October 6th, 2018. Visit to the National Museum, Collins Barracks.
Wednesday, October 24th, 2018. Festive Lunch 2018.
Saturday, November 24th, 2018. Visit to County Kilkenny Saturday 13th Ma7, 2017
Visit to Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane Wednesday 29th March, 2017
An afternoon visit to Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane has been arranged for Wednesday 29th March at 2.00 p.m. Since the foundation of The Friends of the National Collections of Ireland in 1924, the Friends have supported the establishment of the Gallery of Modern Art in Charlemont House, played a significant role in the return of the Lane pictures and donated over 150 works. The visit will focus on some of these works. Refreshments will be served during the afternoon and we will end with a visit to the Irish Writers Centre next door where we will have a look at the Frank Buckley Collection. Frank has kindly agreed to give us a tour. Festive Lunch 2016
Saturday, November 26th, 2016 Walk through Dun Laoghaire with Peter Pearson
Wednesday, October 19th, 2016 Church of St Bigseachs and Tullynally Castle, Westmeath
Saturday, September 3rd, 2016 
Dr. John GilMartin thanking Colonel Richard and Mrs. Kitty Kinsella Bevan for their hospitality at Knockbrack Grange on September 3rd 2016
Garden Party 2016
Saturday, June 18th 
Dr. J. Maiben GilMartin with members of the FNCI and host Mr. Harold Clarke (Trustee FNCI) at Mr. Clarke's gardens in Avoca for the Friends annual garden party
Visit to the Botanic Gardens, Wednesday, May 25th.
Trip to Waterford City
Saturday, May 14th Visit to Glasnevin Cemetary
“Glasnevin, where the social, political and historical timeline of this great country is carved in stone” A private visit to Glasnevin Cemetery has been arranged for the Friends on Tuesday the 29th September in the afternoon. Garden Party
Saturday, July 11th, 3.00pm AGM 2015
Thursday, April 23rd: AGM at the Royal Irish Academy at 6pm followed by a lecture at 7pm by Tim Knox, Director of the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge. "Richard, 7th Viscount Fitzwilliam of Merrion and Sir John Sloane: Two Regency Collectors and their Museums". Wine reception afterwards. Letter from the President, Mr. Arthur Duff. 2015
Dear Friends Please see below the programme of events for the first half of the year that our Entertainments Sub-Committee have put together for your pleasure. As usual we are having a mix of lectures walks and outings - surely something for everyone in the audience! Please let us know as soon as possible what you would like to take part in. Some events are limited in the numbers we can provide for so book early - and often! Clearly everything they are arranging will be of great interest however if I may pick out the following for your particular attention!: We are very lucky to have Mr John Holohan, Council Member of the RDS, lead us behind the closed doors of this very familiar institution. There are fascinating treasures to be seen dating back to the earliest days on its history. We are very happy that Mr Tim Knox is giving our annual lecture. As you will see from his biography he has a huge commitment to the understanding and sharing of the past. Tim Knox was brought up in Nigeria and Fiji, he studied History of Art at the Courtauld Institute of Art. He was Assistant Curator at the RIBA Drawings Collection 1989-95, and moved to the National Trust, first as its Architectural Historian, becoming its Head Curator in 2002. Between 2005 and 2013, he was Director of Sir John Soane’s Museum in London. He is Historic Buildings Adviser to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, a member of the Royal Mint Advisory Committee on the Design of Coins, Medals, Seals and Decorations, a Trustee of the Pilgrim Trust, and a member of the National Heritage Memorial Fund Advisory Committee. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London, a Member of the Society of Dilettanti, and Co-Patron of the Mausolea and Monuments Trust, which he helped found and Chaired 2000-2004. Tim Knox Chaired the Government’s Acceptance in Lieu Panel from 2011-13 and is a Fellow of Gonville and Caius College in Cambridge. He regularly lectures and writes on country houses, architecture, sculpture and the history of collecting. Publications include Sir John Soane’s Museum London (2010), and The British Ambassador’s Residence Paris (2011). Charleville is a perfect late 18th century house surrounded by wonderful timber and gardens that are exquisitely maintained. The collection of furniture and pictures is quite remarkable and needs to be seen. As you know it is through your kind support that we are able to carry out the work of the FNCI on your behalf for the nation. Thank you for your continued support and looking forward to seeing you soon. With kind regards, Arthur. Arthur Duff President The Friends of the National Collections of Ireland Art in the Country House, Dublin Castle, Thursday 23rd April 2015
The Irish Georgian Society and the Office of Public Works are partnering to present a conference, Art in the Country House, at Dublin Castle on Thursday 23rd April 2015. The conference is being arranged to coincide with the exhibition Ireland, Crossroads of Art and Design 1690-1840 (which includes many paintings and objects from Irish country houses). Christopher Monkhouse, the Art Institute of Chicago's Eloise W. Martin Chair and Curator of European Decorative Arts, who is the curator of the exhibition, is the conference keynote speaker. The conference will trace the cycle of the acquisitions of great collections in Ireland to their dispersal, while also exploring the lively intersection of art and the country house today. TUESDAY LECTURE SERIES - Collectors' Conversations
at the United Arts Club, 3 Upper Fitzwilliam St at 7.30pm February 24th, An Evening with Richard Wood - "A Life Collecting" March 3rd, An Evening with David Boles - "Irish Clocks" March 10th, An Evening with Bruce Arnold - "Collecting Art" Booking not necessary for lectures at the United Arts Club "Treasures of the RDS";
Tuesday, March 24th, 2.30pm: Visit led by John Holohan "Visit to Charleville and Tara's Palace"
Wednesday, May 27th, 1pm "Medley of 18th Century Houses and Gardens"
Sunday, June 14th, 9am Letter from the President - February 14th, 2014
Dear Members, I am writing to you on the occasion of our 90th birthday. On this day in 1924 Miss Sarah Purser held the first public meeting of the FNCI in the Royal Irish Academy. Thanks to your support, in so many ways, the Friends are still doing what she and her first committee set out to do which was to support the development of public collections throughout the island of Ireland through donations and bequests. We remain an entirely voluntary organisation which means that any funds generated are spent only on the purchasing of works. As you know, while we are available to all institutions our focus has shifted from the main collections to helping smaller regional centres. Many of you will remember the splendid retrospective marking our 75th anniversary in the RHA that Brian O’Connor organised. It was a snap shot of the wealth of precious things that we have been able to make available for public enjoyment. To mark this anniversary we want to look forward, anticipating our 100th birthday and the future of public collections in Ireland. Thanks to the sterling work of the Outings and Entertainments sub-committee members have been able to enjoy visiting collections up and down the country as well as making trips to England. Over the last few years we have encouraged collectors to share their passion through our Collectors Conversations which we have run in the Arts Club. This has revealed some of the wealth of knowledge and material in private hands that is also a national resource. This year we have a lively programme for your amusement and we look forward to seeing you and your guests join us at all the events. We welcome your support in any other way that you can as we thrive on enthusiasm. Walks, Visits, Conversations, Garden Parties......... looks like we are going to see a lot of each other this year! Please also look out for the conference that we are organising in September on the Future of Ireland’s Collections to be held in the RIA where we will be bringing together the key stakeholders involved in managing Irelands Cultural Heritage for what we expect to be a very lively debate. Yours Sincerely, Arthur Duff President The Friends of the National Collections of Ireland THE 90th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The meeting will take place on Thursday 24th April 2014 at 6.00pm in The Royal Irish Academy, 19 Dawson Street, Dublin 2. By kind invitation. The Future of Collecting In Ireland; our shared legacy - a new dialogue.
Workshop 2014 Friday 12th September 2014 The meeting room at the Royal Irish Academy, Dawson Street, Dublin 2. AUTUMN PROGRAMME
12th September: The Future of Collecting in Ireland; our shared legacy - a new dialogue. 11th October: “Hidden Treasures of Carlow and Wexford” 5th November: "In and about the Liberty of the Dean of St Patricks" 29th November: Annual Dinner at St Stephen’s Green Hibernian Club. TUESDAY AUTUMN LECTURE SERIES
at the United Arts Club, 3 Upper Fitzwilliam St at 7.30pm 30 September: Sarah Purser and her World. Presented by Michael Purser. 14 October: Map making in Ireland Presented by Andrew Bonar Law and Charlotte Bonar Law 28 October: The Language of 18th Century Irish Furniture; a new vocabulary Presented by David Marshall 11 November Tara's Palace: a Dolls House in the making. Presented by Jane Williams and Matt Mc Nulty VISIT TO Killineer House and Hilton Park – SUNDAY 15th June 2014
There will be a trip by coach to Killineer House, Drogheda by kind permission of Mr and Mrs Carroll. Killineer is an early 19th C house with a beautiful garden. We will also visit Hilton Park, Clones, Co Monaghan, by kind permission of Mr and Mrs Madden. The visit includes lunch, a tour of the house and a visit to the extensive grounds. Bring suitable shoes. Cost € 75 per person (includes luxury coach, lunch and all entrance fees): The coach leaves at 9.00 am sharp from behind Donnybrook Church. Priority is given to members however non-members are very welcome. GARDEN PARTY - Rosemount, Enniskerry - SATURDAY 12th July 2014
Rosemount, Enniskerry, by kind invitation of John and Mary O’Reilly, will be the setting for our annual Garden Party starting at 3 p.m. There will be Pimm’s, wine and strawberries and cream to be enjoyed in this beautiful garden. Parking is available in the Church of Ireland church grounds further up the hill (the car park entrance is on the corner of the left turn) Cost € 30 per person (ENTITLES YOU TO BRING ALONG A GUEST COMPLEMENTARY) Priority is given to members however non-members are very welcome. Spring Lecture Series
A Spring Series of Lectures will take place in the United Arts Club, 3, Upper Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin 2 All lectures will commence at 7.30 pm Lecture 1: Mr Peter Pearson: 7.30 pm Tuesday 25th February 2014 Title: Fragments of a City: Decorative Dublin Revealed Our speaker has been collecting architectural salvage for over 30 years and has a unique insight into the extraordinary skill and refinement of building in the 18th and 19th centuries. His talk will be illustrated with examples from his collection. Lecture 2: Mr David Davison: 7.30 pm Tuesday 11th March 2014 Title: Photography in Ireland: Past and Present Mr Davison has spent his life documenting Ireland, particularly architecture, through photography and he has also collected a lot of early Irish photographs. He will be sharing his treasure trove with us. Lecture 3: Mr Lanto Synge: 7.30 pm Tuesday 25th March 2014 Title: Fine English Needlework: Styles and Techniques Until recently Mr Synge was director of Malletts in London where he specialised in furniture and needlework. He will be bringing some remarkable samples of embroidery to illustrate his talk. Cost per lecture: €10.00 – All 3 lectures: €25.00 Members are encouraged to bring guests. Lectures are followed by tea and dry biscuits Helpline: 083 3751999 Sunday 18th May: World Museums Day
Lecture at the National Gallery of Ireland at 3.p.m. Entrance free Title: Gifts to Irish Galleries from the Friends of the National Collections SPRING PROGRAMME
The spring programme Collectors Conversations already took place on the 25th February and the 11th and 25th March So also did our first outing, Walk in St Stephen’s Green, on the 7th April The rest of the programme is as follows: June 15th Visit to Killineer House and Hilton Park July 12th Garden Party Rosemount, Enniskerry We will have a fund-raising raffle and prizes will be gratefully accepted. May 18th World Museum Day Lecture about the FNCI in the National Gallery at 3pm entitled ‘Gifts to Ireland from the Friends of the National Collections.’ (admission free) Walking Tour in St. Stephen’s Green - MONDAY 7th April 2014
A walk in St Stephen’s Green will be led by Dr. John Maiben GilMartin. We meet at 2 p.m. at the University Church, then on to Newman House, 85 and 86 St Stephen’s Green and finish at the Little Museum of Dublin by kind invitation of the director, Trevor White. Afterwards, refreshments will be provided in the museum building. Cost € 20 per person (includes entrance fees, coffee or tea and scone). Priority is given to members however non-members are very welcome. Letter from the President - November 22nd 2103
Dear Friends, it was a particular delight to have had Imogen Stuart with us at our last Collector's evening of the season on Tuesday. She brought a treasure trove of pieces dating from the beginning of her career in Germany up to the present. Her passion and commitment is undiminished and in the course of her conversation she gave interesting insights into the relationship between artist and client. As usual there was great chat afterwards and everyone got to enjoy her work in detail. As it happens we were packed to the gills in the Arts Club so thanks to all of you who attended. Our last event for the year is the annual Dinner party which will be taking place on Saturday 30th November in the Kildare Street and University Club. It is always an enjoyable evening in the elegant surroundings of the Club. The Outings and Entertainments sub-committee have been busy working on all the arrangements and you may look forward to a delicious menu! Young Christopher Ellis, the remarkable cellist, is playing for us again and he has a new repertoire of pieces he wants to share. It will be very interesting to see how he has progressed through the year. A number of members have been extremely generous with their gifts of prizes for the raffle and so that part of the evening will be eagerly anticipated. For those who have not yet joined up do please get in touch with Marie Louise Martin [ she can be telephoned on 087 285 9796 ] or any of the committee members who you know and give your names. The more the merrier. Once again it is through your kindness and support that we are able to carry on the work of the FNCI. A big thank you to all! With all good wishes, Arthur President The Friends of the National Collections of Ireland Annual Dinner - Saturday, 30th November, 2013
The Annual Black Tie Dinner will take place on Saturday 30th November 2013, in the Kildare Street and University Club, 17 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2. Wine reception 7.00 pm, dinner at 7.30 pm, with an interlude for music. Subscription, including wine €75.00 per person. Parking is available under the club: cost €7.00, payable at the Club Reception Desk. A fund-raising raffle will be held during the evening. Council would be delighted to receive prizes for the raffle and if you wish to donate a prize please get in touch with Lady Miranda Broadbent 01 286 2657, any member of Council, or the Helpline 083 375 1999. Letter from the President - November 11th 2103
Dear Friends, Our second talk of the season given by Mary Russell last week in the Arts Club was very warmly received. In her inimitable style she brought us on a journey that covered a lot of the world, in pursuit of butter and in particular the butter from the Kerry Cow that made its way abroad out of Cork from the 17th century until the end of the last century. With just a few notes on cards and a couple of photographs she was most entertaining. In turn she was delighted as there was a great exchange of information that ensued. Next Tuesday [ 19th November ] will be our final talk in the Collectors Conversations Series this season. We are welcoming Imogen Stuart to speak to us. Since coming to Ireland from Germany over 60 years ago, Imogen has been working here as a sculptor. Using a collection of her own models and trial pieces she will share her passion for making. Title: The form of Things As usual Jimmy is there to ply us with tea and dry biscuits after the talk! You will have heard about the Annual Dinner which is taking place on the 30th of November in the Kildare Street and University Club. Thanks to you all who have booked your places. For those of you who have not yet please do so quickly so we can include you in the party. Your support, as always, is much appreciated With kind regards Arthur Duff Letter from the President - October 28th 2103
Dear Friends, I am sure those of you who were able to get to Dr Tom Ryan’s evening last Tuesday will all agree that it was a delightful occasion. We all know his work, or at least we thought we did, and so it was such a surprise to be presented with such a diverse range of subjects in a variety of mediums. Using slides and a selection of original works he was able to cover the span of his creative life. His present work includes some book illustrations which are so full of skill and humour. One of these books is called the Secret of the Sleeveen by Brenda Ennis and is being launched on Thursday 31st October in the Writers Centre, Parnell Square. It is utterly charming and if any of you could make it to the launch you will be warmly received. Next Tuesday [ 5th November ] we are welcoming Mary Russell to speak to us. She is normally not at all connected to Things, in fact she makes a virtue out of being unattached to anything so that she is free to travel the world! She writes and many of you will have read articles by her or indeed some of her books. One of the most popular is “The Blessings of a Good Thick Skirt” which is about the many women travellers and explorers who travelled the earth for a variety of reasons. Not excessively concerned about reaching their destination, women tend to wander, to deviate from the well-trodden paths. Mary tells their tales! Her story for our evening began with an object; finding an Irish butter box in Antigua! Kerry's gold: How Irish butter reached the sugar island of Antigua in the 18th Century. Come and join us and stay on for the chat and the tea and the dry biscuits. Marie-Louise Martin who you all know from the great work she does for the FNCI is having an opening of her graphic work along with the sculptor Petr Holocek in the Droichead Arts Centre, Stockwell Street, Drogheda on Sunday 3rd November, at 3pm. All Friends would be most welcome! Please note the following dates for your diary: our final talk, by Imogen Stuart on 19th November, and the Annual Dinner in the Kildare Street and University Club on 30th November. Your support, as always, is much appreciated With kind regards Arthur Duff Autumn Lectures, 2013
An Autumn Series of Lectures will take place in the United Arts Club, 3, Upper Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin 2. All lectures will commence at 7.30 pm. Lecture 1: Dr. Tom Ryan Tuesday 22nd October, 2013. Title: Tom Ryan; Painter, a Working Life. Our speaker continues to play a significant role in the creative life of the country through his Art and his commitment to serving on numerous boards promoting the Arts in various forms. He will be speaking on a life time of painting and drawing and will have illustrations of his work to show us. Lecture 2: Ms Mary Russell Tuesday 5th November 2013. Title: Kerry's gold: how Irish butter reached the sugar island of Antigua in the 18th Century. As a traveller and social commentator over many years Mary has developed a unique sense of history and the connectedness of things. Her story for this evening began with finding an Irish butter box in Antigua! Lecture 3: Ms Imogen Stuart Tuesday 19th November 2013. Title: The form of Things. Since coming to Ireland from Germany over 60 years ago Imogen has been working here as a sculptor. Using a collection of her own models and trial pieces she will share her passion for making. Cost per lecture: Members of FNCI €10.00 Non-members €12.00 All 3 lectures: Members of FNCI €25.00 Non-members €30.00 Visit to the North City - Thursday, October 10th, 2013
A walking tour has been arranged, led by Dr. John Gilmartin. We will visit St Paul’s Church on Arran Quay and St Mary’s Abbey, in Meeting House Lane, once a Cistercian Abbey; these 2 buildings will be opened for the Friends to visit – they are currently closed to the public. Dr. Gilmartin will speak about the history and features of both buildings, the large mural behind the altar in St. Paul’s and the Chapter House of St. Mary’s Abbey where ‘Silken’ Thomas Fitzgerald started his unsuccessful rebellion. We will finish at the privately owned, magnificently furnished Georgian House, No 10 Lower Ormond Quay, by kind invitation, for a tour and refreshments. Cost €20.00 per person; priority is given to members, however non-members are very welcome. Meet at St. Paul’s Church at 1.50 pm. (Luas stop: Smithfield). FNCI helpline - 083 375 1999. Lecture on Moorish Architecture
Barbara Nolan Head of the European Commission Representation in Ireland and The Friends of the National Collections of Ireland Invite you to a Lecture on The Influences of Moorish Architecture in Europe By Jeremy Williams, B Arch (Architect, writer and artist) On Tuesday 17th September 2013, 18.00 - 20.00 pm at European Union House, 18 Dawson Street, Dublin 2. Refreshments will be served Annual Lecture
The President and Council of the Friends of the National Collections of Ireland have great pleasure in inviting you to attend the Annual Lecture on Thursday April 25, 2013 at 7pm. Curiosity and Enlightenment; the Cobbe Family Cabinet of Curiosities at Newbridge House, County Dublin. Presented by Dr Arthur Mac Gregor The lecture will take place in the Library at the Royal Irish Academy, 19 Dawson Street, Dublin 2. The lecture will be followed by a reception with refreshments Dr Arthur Mac Gregor is the authority on the History of Museums. With his joint publication, ”The Origin of Museums” in 1985 and, more recently, “Curiosity and Enlightenment”, he has put the constant preoccupation with collecting in the western world into perspective; their formation, the way they have been displayed and the shift from the private to the public sphere. His life-long association, as curator of Antiquities, with the Ashmolean – Britain’s oldest museum- has given him an excellent vantage point. He is currently engaged in cataloging Ireland’s most famous surviving “Cabinet” at Newbridge House and his lecture will include an outline his work to date. Visit to Buxton Opera Festival 23-26 July, 2012
A party of fourteen ladies and three gentlemen arrived in Buxton on 23 July accompanied by our Kudu Travel guide, Ms Delia Gray-Durant, who had met us at Manchester Airport. Our home for the next few days was the Old Hall Hotel, Buxton, which had accommodated, a few centuries earlier, no less a person than Mary Queen of Scots. Having been given enough time to check in and find our rooms, we were taken by Delia on a short walking tour around Georgian Buxton. The first two courses of dinner followed, and then it was time for the Opera House, which was a two-minute walk from the hotel, and our first opera. "The Marriage of Figaro" by Marcos Portugal (1762-1830). On the Tuesday, we departed by coach at 09.30 for Chatsworth, the 17th century home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire. After a guided tour of the magnificent house, there was still time for lunch, a stroll in the gardens and some retail therapy in the tempting shops before returning to Buxton. Some members succeeded in changing quickly enough to attend the pre-opera talk at 18.15 prior to the performances of "The maiden in the tower" by Sibelius and Rimsky-Korsakov's "Kashchei the Immortal". Late dinner was served afterwards in the hotel. There was a 09.15 start on the Wednesday for our drive to the Georgian house, Renishaw Hall, the home of the Sitwell family for 400 years. After light refreshments, we had a private guided tour of the Hall, Museum and Exhibition Gallery, followed by a lunch, a walk in the gardens and a cream tea. Once again, there was an optional pre-opera talk before the night's performance of the Richard Strauss comic opera, "Intermezzo". Dinner was again provided after the performance. We said goodbye at 09.30 on the Thursday to the Old Hall Hotel and Buxton before setting out on the short journey to Haddon Hall, a fortified manor house dating from the 12th century, which has belonged to the family of Lord Edward Manners, the current owner, for over 800 years. Some of the strongest memories of this visit are of the beautiful Elizabethan gardens, the Chapel wall paintings and the marble effigy of Lord Haddon, who died as a boy in 1894 leaving his mother, Violet, heartbroken. Before departing for Manchester Airport, we enjoyed the best lunch of the holiday in Haddon Hall's excellent restaurant. The Buxton days were greatly enjoyed by the group. Many thanks to Ms Geraldine O'Connor and to her Council colleagues for making this action-packed trip possible. Visit to County Kilkenny on Saturday 8th September 2012
Shankill Castle in Paulstown is the venue for our September outing. We will have a tour of the castle and gardens and see the studio of our hostess Elizabeth Cope. Afterwards we will enjoy lunch there before proceeding to Athy to visit Burtown House, an early Georgian villa with beautiful gardens also. After refreshments we will return to Dublin. Cost: €75.00 per person includes luxury coach travel, lunch with wine, tea/coffee, and all entry charges. Coach departs from rear of Donnybrook church at 9.30 a.m. sharp and returns ca 6.30 p.m. Maximum participants: 48 Non-members are very welcome but priority is given to members. Visit to Howth Castle on Saturday 22nd September 2012
A visit to Howth Castle, by kind invitation, has been arranged for the Friends. The castle is the private residence of the Gaisford - St Lawrence family, is steeped in history, and is not normally open to the public. The visit will take place in the afternoon starting at 2.30 p.m. Parking is available but Howth is also very easy accessible by Dart or Number 31 Bus from Lower Abbey Street Cost: €25.00 per person includes refreshments. Non-members are very welcome but priority is given to members. Visit to Rathfarnham Castle on Monday 22nd October 2012
A private visit, by kind invitation, has been arranged for the Friends. This 17th C fortified house was built for Adam Loftus who was involved in the establishment of Trinity College and was the first provost. The building was remodelled in the 18th C by the finest architects of the day, William Chambers and James ‘Athenian’ Stuart. On display at the moment also is the Berkeley Costume and Toy Collection, an exquisite collection gathered over many years by Countess Ann Griffin Bernstorff, a great supporter of FNCI. The visit will take place in the afternoon starting at 2.30 p.m. There is a car park and Rathfarnham is also very easy accessible by Bus Numbers 16 and 16a from the city centre. Cost: €25.00 per person includes refreshments. Non-members are very welcome but priority is given to members. Lectures
The Art and Passion of Collecting Lecture series presented by the Friends of the National Collections of Ireland Spring 2012 Dear Friends, After a most engaging and eclectic series of talks last autumn it is with great pleasure that we introduce the Spring Series for the benefit and delight of members and their friends. It seems the most enjoyable aspect of the first series was the opportunity to see and touch the pieces that were being presented. It is a matter of fact that when anything finds it way into a museum it is “out of bounds” and already the possible connection with the object diminishes. The theme of this series is the ongoing dialogue and engagement of the collectors with their particular subject. The spread of interests will range from 20th century Irish pottery to Irish miniature painting, to more eclectic collectors who will cover anything from snuff bottles to Icons. Venue: The United Arts Club, 3 Upper Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin 2. Date and time: Wednesday 22nd February, 7.30pm Cost of ticket: Members of FNCI + the United Arts Club: € 10.00 Non-members: € 12.00 Tea and biscuits served. The capacity of the Arts Club is limited so we recommend that you book your place for the lectures of your choice. The following list calls up the complete series of lectures: Lecture Series on the Art and Passion of Collecting The fist 4 lectures are as follows: February 22: Collector: Dr Tom Ryan Topic: Bits and Scraps: to be elaborated on! February 29: Collector: Dr John Maiben Gilmartin Topic: The Connoisseur’s Eye: a lifetime of seeing March 7: Collector: Dr Paul Caffrey Topic: Irish Portrait Miniatures; an introduction. Please note: the speaker invites any attendees who have miniatures they would like to share o the evening they are most welcome to bring them along March 14: Collector: Dr Abdul Bulbulia Topic: A cabinet of small curiosities – living and working with Art March 21: Collector: Mr Peter Lamb Topic: “The Way that I went”; finding Irish 20th Century Pottery March 28: Collector: Mr Robin Hall and Mr Arthur Duff Topic: Irish Furniture: old and new April 4: Collector: Mr Pat Murphy Topic: All to be revealed Visit to Farmleigh on Wednesday 7th March 2012
A very special private visit to Farmleigh has been arranged for the Friends. Mary Heffernan from OPW (The Office of Public Works) will show us around, including areas of the house not open to the general public. The visit will take place in the afternoon starting at 2.00 p.m. Early booking is advised as this visit will be popular. Cost: €25.00 per person includes refreshments. Non-members are very welcome but priority is given to members. Visit to Dublin Castle on Tuesday 29th May 2012
As this year is the 90th anniversary of the handover of Dublin Castle (16 January 1922) a half day private visit to the castle has been arranged for the Friends. We will be shown around the castle by Jacquie Moore from OPW (The Office of Public Works) . The visit will take place in the afternoon starting at 2.00 p.m. The castle was recently refurbished for the state visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Cost: €25.00 per person includes refreshments. Non-members are very welcome but priority is given to members. Visit to Waterford on Saturday 24th March 2012
As many members will recall, the Friends have donated, as well as helped to purchase, several items for Waterford; we felt it was time to see these items in situ. There will be a three-course lunch with wine at the recently restored 18th - century Bishop’s Palace in Waterford followed by a tour of the Palace and Museum of Treasures led by Director, Eamonn McEneaney. (We recently donated a stool and a chandelier to this museum). Also included on the tour are visits to the City Hall, the Theatre Royal, to see their collections, as well as the Anglican Cathedral (1774-80), designed by Roberts. Cost: €75.00 per person includes luxury coach travel, lunch with wine, tea/coffee, and all entry charges. Coach departs from rear of Donnybrook church at 8.30 a.m. sharp and returns ca 8.00 p.m. Maximum participants: 48 Non-members are very welcome but priority is given to members. 
AGM 2016
Thursday, April 28th: AGM at Dublin Castle with speaker Cormac K O'Malley. AGM to start at 6.00pm followed by speaker. The Annual General Meeting of the Friends of the National Collections will take place in the Throne Room of the State Apartments, Dublin Castle on 28 April at 6pm. Following the meeting, Cormac O'Malley will deliver his lecture entitled "Ernie O'Malley and Visual Arts" at 7pm The lecture will explain Ernie O'Malley's life, travels and travails, but will focus on a) his background in the visual arts including his readings and interests while on the run and in jail, 1918-1924, b) his interest in the arts during his travels in Europe and North America, 1925-1935; c) his collecting of art while in North America, France and in Ireland where he settled down and married in 1935, and d) his role in the arts scene in Ireland from 1940-1957. There will be a wine reception from 8 to 9:30pm. Cormac O’Malley is the son of Ernie O'Malley, Irish author of his autobiographical memoirs, On Another Man’s Wound, and The Singing Flame, military historian and militant nationalist from the 1916-1924. Cormac’s mother was Helen Hooker from Connecticut. Cormac was born in Ireland but went to the USA at age 14 to live with his mother after his father died in 1957. After attending Harvard College, serving with the US Navy, and completing Columbia Law School, Cormac worked for forty years in international legal practice, corporate law and consulting while living in Mexico, Brussels, London and New York. Cormac has been interested in Irish history since his college days and while in New York he was always active in Irish American cultural activities. In recent years Cormac was President of the Board of Advisors at Glucksman Ireland House, the Centre for Irish and Irish American Studies at New York University. Over the last 30 years Cormac has helped preserve his father's literary and historical image by republishing his earlier works including the well-known books. In the last 10 years Cormac has co-edited No Surrender Here: The Civil War Papers of Ernie O’Malley, 1922-1924 (2007), on his father's role in the Irish Civil War, edited a memoir by his father, Rising Out, Sean Connolly of Longford, 1890-1921 (2007) and co-edited Broken landscapes: Selected Letters of Erie O’Malley, 1924-1957. Cormac then embarked on a multi volume series of his father’s military interviews with survivors of the War of Independence and the Civil War, and entitled The Men Will Talk to me by Ernie O’Malley and co-edited volumes on Kerry (2012), Galway (2013), and Mayo (2014), with more volumes to come. His most recent book is Western Ways, a book of photographs by his parents on Mayo in the 1930s Cormac has given his father’s nationalist papers to the University College Dublin Archives and his non-nationalist papers to New York University’s Archives of Irish America. He consulted with Jerry O'Callaghan on his 2008 documentary on his father, has written articles for several journals and has lectured on many campuses. Cormac now lives with his family in Stonington, Conn. 
Obituary: Jeremy Williams Celebrated architect left behind a body of work embodying his genius, writes Charles Lysaght.
Jeremy Williams, the architect, who died suddenly on Christmas Eve morning from a heart attack suffered in Thomas Street near his Dublin home, brought his creative genius to his profession and left behind a formidable legacy of artistic and historical work. He was a unique personality, of whom it was well said that if one had not known him it would be impossible to imagine him. Born in 1943, he was one of twin sons of Dermot Williams, a member of the Tullamore merchant family that distilled Tullamore Dew and Irish Mist, and his wife, Joan Roche. Jeremy went to school at St Gerard's, Bray, and Glenstal, after which he spent a year at Maredsous, the Benedictine school in Belgium, before going on to University College Dublin, where he qualified as an architect. A free spirit, he preferred to avoid the restraints of employment or the entanglements of partnership and so operated on his own from an early stage in his career. His practice blended with a peripatetic social life, a taste for which he had inherited from his convivial and unconventional parents. His friends were his clients and his clients joined the wide circle of friends by whom he was cherished. They were often as unique as he was himself. One lucrative client was the developer Johnny Ronan, for whom Jeremy designed a spectacular Palladian style villa in Burlington Road so lavish that it was described in the Irish Arts Review as 'Faroukian.' He did other important work for Ronan, restoring the cottage orné at Dargle Valley and providing a façade for the Powerscourt Hotel. Other notable clients were the artist Martin Mooney, for whom Jeremy designed a splendid regency-style house at Ramelton on the banks of Lough Swilly, and his alma mater Glenstal, where his Russo-Byzantine chapel provided a suitable ambiance for the icons presented by a member of the famous Esmonde family. Jeremy's reverence for the great architecture of the past and empathy with those who had inherited what had survived drew him into the Irish Georgian Society founded in the 1950s. Many of his own commissions resulted in tasteful adaptation and preservation of historic houses. He was assiduous in rescuing for future use items such as ceilings and doors from buildings that had been pulled down by developers. But Jeremy's own roots were more in Victorian than in Georgian Ireland and it was wholly appropriate that he moved to rectify the neglect of its architecture when he formed the Irish Victorian Society in 1974. His 400-page book Architecture in Ireland 1837-1921, published in 1994, was the first comprehensive history of the subject. It was enlivened by witty asides and tales about the owners and architects. Shaking helplessly with laughter, he derived immense amusement, without ever being malicious, from the idiosyncrasies of his fellow humans and the embarrassing situations in which they sometimes found themselves. Deft in sketching and drawing since his school days, he was able to supply his own illustrations. He also illustrated other books, notably Renagh Holohan's Irish Chateaux, a survey of houses of descendants of Irish families in France. His many connections among the old nobility in France and Belgium, which he often visited, had opened doors that might otherwise have remained closed. He made useful and original contributions to public debate on architectural issues. Among his characteristically imaginative proposals, alas not adopted, was a piazza across the river from the Custom House, creating the vista such a great building deserved. Another was the re-creation of the medieval streets surrounding Christchurch Cathedral to the rear of the controversial municipal buildings. The drought in architectural work after 2008 bore hard on Jeremy, who had never been acquisitive and was always generous to a fault. One fruit was more artistic work, such as a collection of watercolours exhibited in 2014, depicting the seven principal rooms of Russborough House in Co Wicklow, complete with the original paintings situated there. Jeremy's mother, to whom he had always been very close, lived into her 90s and died only in 2008. He is survived by his brother, Johnny, his nephew and godson Justin and his niece Ciara. Sunday Independent, 10 January, 2016 Jeremy Williams was for many years a valued member of the Council of the Friends of the National Collections of Ireland. 
The Buxton Opera and Literary Festival, one of Britain’s largest opera-based festivals, takes place each summer in the historic spa town of Buxton, set at an airy 1,000 ft and surrounded by the limestone hills of the Peak District National Park.
One of England’s most ancient hotels, where Mary Queen of Scots was once held prisoner, now beautifully restored and conveniently located only a few minutes from the opera house, is an ideal base for attending 3 opera performances and exploring the architecture, collections and gardens of the aristocratic residences of Chatsworth, Renishaw and Haddon Hall. See below for details of how to book. Day 1 D included The Aer Lingus flight departs Dublin at 12.30 and arrives in Manchester at 13.25, where we meet the tour leader and have a private coach transfer to Buxton (1 hour). There is time to settle into our rooms before a short guided walking tour of Georgian Buxton, seeing the Crescent, built in 1780 on the orders of the fifth Duke of Devonshire as a fashionable rival to Bath, and learning of the origins of the spa in a Celtic votive spring and a Roman baths complex. We have an early dinner in our hotel before strolling across the square to Buxton Opera House (restored to its Edwardian opulence in 2001) for Bampton Classical Opera’s acclaimed production of “The Marriage of Figaro” by Marcos Portugal (1762-1830). 
Day 2 B, L, D included
After a leisurely breakfast we depart at 09.30 by private coach to Chatsworth House, the magnificent 17th century home of the Duke & Duchess of Devonshire. A private guided tour (starting before the house opens to the general public) introduces the history of the house and family and showcases masterpieces from the Devonshire Collections. After lunch we can stroll in the beautiful 105 acre gardens and park before returning to Buxton. There is an option of attending a free 30 minute opera talk (starting at 18.15) prior to the second opera performances, a double bill of Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Kashchei the Immortal” and Sibelius’ “The Maiden in the Tower”. We have a late dinner in our hotel restaurant after the operas. 
Day 3 B, L, D included
We depart at 10 am for the 1 hour drive to the Georgian period Renishaw Hall, home of the Sitwell family for 400 years. We have coffee and biscuits on arrival, a private guided tour of the Hall, Museum and Exhibition Gallery, then lunch. After time to explore the formal Italianate gardens we have a cream tea before returning to Buxton. This evening we can again attend the pre-opera talk before the performance of Richard Strauss’s autobiographical comic opera “Intermezzo” and dinner post opera. Day 4 B, L included We depart from Buxton at 10 am (with our luggage on board the coach) for the short drive to Haddon Hall, a fortified manor house dating from the 12th C, the home of Lord & Lady Edward Manners – considered the finest house surviving from the middle ages, Haddon recently starred in the film of “Pride and Prejudice”. We have a private guided tour of the Hall, some free time to walk in the terraced Elizabethan gardens, then lunch before departing for Manchester airport. Our flight to Dublin departs at 16.35, concluding our Buxton Opera Festival visit. 
Trip Dates
Monday 23rd – Thursday 26th July 2012 Caveat The performances described are (very rarely) subject to change by the Festival organizers. Actual activities or their order may therefore vary from those described in the itinerary. Tour leader Delia Gray-Durant is a Blue Badge guide for Oxford with an academic background mainly in History of Art and French – since 1993 she has been leading tours in England and France and writing for the Blue Guide series. Activity Level Moderate town and garden walking daily, with uneven cobbles, steps and stairs - comfortable footwear is required Temperatures July temperaturesrange between 15 and 25°C during the day. Trip Price£ 1,050 per person £ 285 single room supplement Please note that the single room supplement is imposed by the hotel and not by Kudu Travel. If you are willing to share but no other suitable guest books on the trip, we regret that the supplement will be payable. We shall endeavour to obtain double rooms for single occupancy whenever possible. Price Includes all accommodation for Days 1 through 4, on a twin shared basis all meals (with wine at dinners) as listed in the daily notation all entrance and sightseeing fees (including private guided tours), except during free periods best category tickets for 3 opera performances (2 x £58, 1 x £48) all transport by private coach gratuities for hotel and restaurant staff (appreciation for tour leaders/managers is entirely at your discretion) Price does not Include trip cancellation, medical or other insurance immunisations, prescriptions or other medical requirements passport, visa and health documentation personal expenses (laundry, alcohol besides wine with group dinners, free time activities, etc.) meals noted as excepted in the daily notation transport and transfer of excess baggage Size of Party This trip will run with a minimum of 20 and a maximum of 30 guests. HEART AND PASSION OF COLLECTING
Lecture series presented by the Friends of the National collections of Ireland Autumn 2011 Arthur Duff, our President had the wonderful idea of inviting people who collect to talk to us about their own particular collections. What a fascinating time we have had every Wednesday for the past few weeks! Being able to handle beautiful objects, African carvings, textiles, curios of wood and ceramic, and hear from these enthusiastic people, how and why they collect as well as learn all kinds of insights and facts that we never knew, has been a stimulating and entrancing experience. We very much hope to enjoy more of these evenings early next year. You may think that you are not interested in costume or treen for example, but you will find that you are drawn in and you will end the evening feeling enriched. ANNUAL DINNER
Saturday 26th November 2011 The Annual Dinner took place on Saturday 26th November 2011, in the Kildare Street and University Club, 17 St.Stephen's Green, Dublin 2. Wine reception 7 p.m. Dinner 8.00 p.m. The subscription was €75 and included wine. In view of the current economic situation, we have, for the third year, kept the cost of the dinner at €75. Parking was available under the club; cost €7 payable at the Club Reception Desk. A fund-raising raffle was held during the evening. Black Tie Helpline: 083 3751999 Visit to Belvedere College and An Post Museum, 9 November, 2011
Walking up North Great George's Street, Belvedere College is straight ahead. A group visited Belvedere on 9 November 2011. This house, built by the first Earl of Belvedere, is one of the most famous of all Dublin eighteen century town houses of the nobility. Its plasterwork decoration by Michael Stapleton is what makes it outstanding with an international reputation. Dr. Joseph McDonnell, who has published extensively on the history of Dublin plasterwork, was our guide. He described how the light decorative scheme was derived ultimately from the Renaissance and antiquity, but its more recent use was associated with Robert Adam in England. Stapleton edited and adapted published engravings of ceilings, reliefs, and paintings to create designs to fit the dimensions of the ground floor, the staircase hall and the first floor reception rooms. We had an opportunity to walk through the courtyard of the college at the rear of the house. Our next destination was the newly opened An Post Museum where Stephen Ferguson showed us around and explained the collection. He told us how a redundant telephone area had been converted into a museum space. This shows the history of the Irish postal service and the GPO. All the Irish postage stamps ever printed were on view at the touch of a screen. We saw a Victorian post box, old telephone equipment, uniforms and other memorabilia of the past. The history of the Easter Rising was imaginatively recreated by a drama on screen, as were various aspects of postal work over the years, accessible at the press of a button. It was a splendid and stylish modern museum display. After our tour we were invited to tea in the private offices of An Post. Visit to Castletown, Leixlip and Hamwood, Saturday 7th May 2011
An outing by coach has been arranged on the above date. Starting with the newly restored, magnificent Castletown House in the morning, we visit Leixlip Castle in the aftemoon, by kind permission of Mr and Mrs Desmond Guinness and round off the day with a visit to Hamwood House in Co Meath, by kind permission of Mrs Hamilton. We will have lunch in the old kitchen at Castletown and tea at Hamwood before returning to Dublin. Cost: €75 per person includes lunch and refreshments Coach departs from rear of Donnybrook church at 9 a.m. sharp and returns ca 6.30 p.m. Maximum participants: 48 Non members are very welcome but priority is given to members. NOTICE OF THE 87TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The meeting will take place on Thursday 28th April 2011 at 6.30 p.m. in The Royal Irish Academy, 19 Dawson Street, Dublin 2 by kind invitation. AGENDA 1. Minutes of the 86th Annual General Meeting held on 28th April 2010 2. Annual report of the Honorary Secretary 3. Annual report of the Honorary Treasurer 4. *Election of the Honorary Officers and Council 5. Appointment of Auditors 6. Any other business Following the A.G.M. there will be a lecture by Ms. Mary Heffernan, OPW, General Manager at Farmleigh, after which there will be a wine reception. The evening will end at 9.00 p.m. *Nominations to Honorary Office or Council must be in the hands of the Honorary Secretary at least seven days before the date fixed for the Annual General Meeting. Such nominations must be made in writing, duly proposed by a member and seconded by another member. The consent, in writing~ of the candidate to the nomination must have been obtained. Note: Subscriptions for the year 2011, if not already paid, may be paid at the Annual General Meeting. Visit to F.E. McWilliam Gallery and Studio and to the Ulster Museum
Saturday 23 October 2010 Led by Council members, Ms Mia Craig and Dr John Turpin, sixteen FNCI members and guests travelled north by coach on the Saturday of the bank holiday weekend. En route, Mia kept us awake with timely snippets of information on the places of interest through which we passed. Our first stop was at Dromantine, five miles north of Newry. The estate was first owned by the Magennis clan, and it passed to a Scottish family called Innis in 1741. In 1926, the Society of African Missions bought Dromantine, and it was their seminary until 1972. Since 2001, it has been a Retreat and Conference Centre. The members were able to view the beauty of the lake and woodlands before arriving at the 19th century house for their much appreciated coffee and scone break. In the late morning, we reached the F.E. McWilliam Gallery and Studio in Banbridge. Opened in September 2008, the place is dedicated to the memory of the sculptor, who was born in Banbridge in 1909, and died in 1992. We were ably guided around the T.P. Flanagan exhibition by a lady staff member and around the sculptures by her colleague, Jason. Two of the items that linger in the memory are, ‘Legs static’ and, for those of us who remember 1974, ‘Woman in blast’. Following a good lunch in Deanes at Queen’s, the group moved on to the Ulster Museum, where we were welcomed by Ms Kim Mawhinney, Head of Art, who thanked the Friends for their great generosity to the Museum over the years, and took us on a tour of the collection. The ladies were pleased to see the exhibition,Grand Designers – a century of fashion, which included garments by Vivienne Westwood, Ungaro and Emilio Pucci. Ms Mawhinney also led the group through the following exhibitions, Faces and Places – Irish art 1690s-1880s, with works by George Barret, Nathaniel Hone and Sir John Lavery, among others, and A New Order – 20th Century Irish art, including paintings by Roderic O’Conor, Leech, Sean Keating and Jack Yeats. Yeats’ ‘The Riverside long ago’ was of particular interest to a member whose father had once lived in that area of Sligo. On the return journey, there was a brief but welcome stop for refreshments at Hillsborough, and the party arrived back in Dublin at around 8.00 p.m. Many thanks to the Council for organizing such an enjoyable and successful trip. The Friends' Trip to Dresden, 18th to 21st September, 2010
Our first view of Dresden was startling - the evening sun reflecting off the glass dome of a psuedo-mosque as we descended into the city. It was a wonderful evening greeting. Our next morning started with a review of the "Procession of Princes", a wall of Meissan tiles depicting the history of the Wettin family. Dresden art and architecture, derives mainly from the activities of Wettin members August the Strong, Elector of Saxony 1694-1733, and his son Frederick Augustus 3rd, the initiators of the beautiful baroque buildings and amassers of extensive collections of artefacts. Then off to the "Zwinger" area where the Gemaldegalerie Alte Meister, houses a world-renowned collection of German, Dutch and Italian paintings. It is a veritable paradise of art. The adjoining pavilions house the sculpture, scientific, armoury and historical porcelain collections. This last was visited by some of our group prior to a wine tasting and lunch at Prince zur Lippe's country domaine, Schhloss Proschwitz. The afternoon saw us in the Meissen manufactory viewing working craftspeople and the day ended with a private tour of Moritzburg Castle, one of August's hunting lodges with walls dressed in antlers, a boudoir dressed in feathers and other rooms dressed in leather. Our final day started in the Grunes Gewolbe, one of Europe's most splendid treasure chambers which includes miniature and delicate models hand-crafted by experts of the day, gold and silver artefacts, precious gems, amber and ivory creations. It is a 'must see' for anybody visiting Dresden. Lunch was in Pilnitz, a country pleasure palace created by August for riverside entertainment where he used to delight in arriving and departing by gondola. We returned by paddle-steamer! Finally a quick visit to the Frauenkirche, a baroque masterpiece demolished in the WW2 Dresden bombing but since restored through public outcry and subscription. During drinks in their home we were regaled by Count and Countess zu Stolberg- Stolberg with tales of the rebuilding programme in which they were involved, and we thank them sincerely for this and their relaxed hospitality. We also thank the committee who made this very enjoyable trip happen - despite the earlier interference of Icelandic ash! 
Group Picture at Pilnitz
Visit to the National Gallery
2.30pm Saturday, November 4th, 2017. Garden Party Saturday 1st July, 2017 Our annual Summer Garden Party was held in one of Wicklow's finest gardens:the Dower House, Rossanagh, near Ashford. It dates from the late 18th century, and over the years it has welcomed many famous guests - Thomas Moore, Henry Grattan, William Pitt the Younger and artists George Romney and Maria Spilsbury-Taylor among them. The gardens, laid out towards the end of the 19th century, are deservedly famous and are a partner garden with the Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland. In perfect sunshine we wandered the grounds and admired the fine specimen trees and what is surely Ireland's answer to Sissinghurst's White Garden, filled with varieties of flower and shrub -all white, naturally.It was agreed that the extensive wild meadow was one of the most colourful that any of us had seen. To the relaxing music of a string quartet we sated ourselves on strawberries and cream and afternoon tea goodies, reviving ourselves as needed on Pimms and wine. All of this under the shade of an Ascot-style pagoda kindly provided by Council member Anne Kearney Farrelly and her husband Aidrian. A raffle ensured that almost everybody carried home a high-grade prize, and raised needed funds for acquisitions by the Friends. The large group of members and their guests thoroughly enjoyed the day and we are grateful to Mrs Patricia Butler (author of many books) for her warm welcome. 
Largest Single Piece of Meissen Porcelain Made in the 19th Century - 3.5 Meters High.
THE COUNTESS OF IVEAGH
The Friends have suffered a sad loss with the untimely death of Miranda, Countess of Iveagh, Vice-President of the FNCI for many years. We particularly remember her great charm and hard work, as she escorted members around the great houses of Wiltshire (whose owners she had persuaded to open their doors for us ) in April, 2007 on the occasion of the Friends' visit. Council are extremely pleased that the family connection with the Friends is being maintained with her son, Edward, the Earl of Iveagh, agreeing to become a Vice-President. AGM, Thursday 29th March, 2017 Visit to Northern Ireland.
Saturday, October 6th, 2018. Visit to the National Museum, Collins Barracks.
Wednesday, October 24th, 2018. Festive Lunch 2018.
Saturday, November 24th, 2018.
Annual Garden Party 2018.
Saturday, June 9th, 2018. Knocknamohill House , County Wicklow. This year's Garden Party took place on 9th June. In glorious sunshine members and their friends travelled through the Vale of Avoca to lovely 18th century Knocknamohill House, County Wicklow, the home of Richard and Elizabeth Tottenham. Richard is a direct descendant of Charles, the famous "Tottenham in his Boots" whose 1731 portrait by James Latham showing him striding into Parliament in College Green for a vital vote hangs in the National Gallery of Ireland. Under a splendid pagoda, once again provided by Council member Anne Kearney Farrelly, we enjoyed a wonderful afternoon tea (cucumber sandwiches in abundance), strawberries and cream, Pimms and wine. The lovely garden and wood were looking at their best in the sun as kites -the feathered sort- flew overhead. The serious business of the traditional raffle then took place and raised almost €400 to assist our acquisitions for the country's galleries and museums (see our website www.fnci.ie for our recent donations). We are very grateful to the Tottenham family for their hospitality and to the FNCI members who generously donated prizes for the raffle and Council members Lady Broadbent and Jennifer Waldron-Lynch who 'made the tea'. Enjoying the FNCI Garden Party at Knocknamohill House, Co.Wicklow, June 2018;
Visit to Russborough House.
Wednesday, May 23rd, 2018. Meet at Russborough House in The Brambles Tea Rooms 10.15 am for Tea/Coffee and Scones followed by a guided tour of the house. Details and booking form can be downloaded here. Visit to Counties Louth and Meath.
Wednesday March 28th, 2018. A guided tour of Townley Hall, lunch at Slane Castle followed by a guided tour of the castle. Details and booking form can be downloaded here. Visit to Sir Denis Mahon Reading Room.
Tuesday February 27th, 2018. Enjoy an afternoon visit to the Sir Denis Mahon Reading Room, No. 90 Merrion Square. Details and booking form can be downloaded here. Festive lunch 2017 at the Royal Irish Yacht Club Dun Laoghaire
Saturday, November 25th, 2017 On Saturday, 25 November 2017, the annual FNCI festive lunch was held in the wonderful surroundings of the Royal Irish Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire. Events committee member Ms Anne Kearney Farrelly was the organiser of this very popular event which again proved to be a great success, with over 70 members and guests attending. The staff at the club, under the management of Gareth McGinty esured that the excellent food and drink was served promptly and efficiently, contributing to a very enjoyable experience by all. Guests were addressed by Dr John Maiben Gilmartin (Click this link to see his address) and the lunch was followed by a charming recital by Ireland’s best known harpist Dr Cliona Doris, Head of Orchestral Studies at DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama in Dublin. Her recital included a superb rendering of I Dreamt I Dwelt in Marble Halls or The Gipsy Girl's Dream, a popular aria from The Bohemian Girl, an 1843 opera by Michael William Balffe,with lyrics by Alfred Bunn. Photography was kindly provided by member Mr Pearse Stokes
Harpist Dr Cliona Doris, Head of Orchestral Studies at DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama in Dublin, provides a charming after-lunch recital.
Visit to the National Gallery
2.30pm Saturday, November 4th, 2017 Download Details and Booking Form Here. Garden Party Saturday 1st July, 2017
Our annual Summer Garden Party was held in one of Wicklow's finest gardens:the Dower House, Rossanagh, near Ashford. It dates from the late 18th century, and over the years it has welcomed many famous guests - Thomas Moore, Henry Grattan, William Pitt the Younger and artists George Romney and Maria Spilsbury-Taylor among them. The gardens, laid out towards the end of the 19th century, are deservedly famous and are a partner garden with the Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland. In perfect sunshine we wandered the grounds and admired the fine specimen trees and what is surely Ireland's answer to Sissinghurst's White Garden, filled with varieties of flower and shrub -all white, naturally.It was agreed that the extensive wild meadow was one of the most colourful that any of us had seen. To the relaxing music of a string quartet we sated ourselves on strawberries and cream and afternoon tea goodies, reviving ourselves as needed on Pimms and wine. All of this under the shade of an Ascot-style pagoda kindly provided by Council member Anne Kearney Farrelly and her husband Aidrian. A raffle ensured that almost everybody carried home a high-grade prize, and raised needed funds for acquisitions by the Friends. The large group of members and their guests thoroughly enjoyed the day and we are grateful to Mrs Patricia Butler (author of many books) for her warm welcome. Visit to County Kilkenny Saturday 13th Ma7, 2017
Download Details and Booking Form here.
Visit to Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane Wednesday 29th March, 2017
An afternoon visit to Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane has been arranged for Wednesday 29th March at 2.00 p.m. Since the foundation of The Friends of the National Collections of Ireland in 1924, the Friends have supported the establishment of the Gallery of Modern Art in Charlemont House, played a significant role in the return of the Lane pictures and donated over 150 works. The visit will focus on some of these works. Refreshments will be served during the afternoon and we will end with a visit to the Irish Writers Centre next door where we will have a look at the Frank Buckley Collection. Frank has kindly agreed to give us a tour. Download Details and Booking Form here. Walk through Dun Laoghaire with Peter Pearson
Wednesday, October 19th, 2016: Download Details and Booking Form Here Church of St Bigseachs and Tullynally Castle, Westmeath
Saturday, September 3rd, 2016: Download Details and Booking Form Here. 
Dr. John GilMartin thanking Colonel Richard and Mrs. Kitty Kinsella Bevan for their hospitality at Knockbrack Grange on September 3rd 2016
Dr. J. Maiben GilMartin with members of the FNCI and host Mr. Harold Clarke (Trustee FNCI) at Mr. Clarke's gardens in Avoca for the Friends annual garden party
Visit to the Botanic Gardens, Wednesday, May 25th.
Wednesday, May 25th: Download Details and Booking Form Here. 
Notice of AGM 2016
Thursday, April 28th: AGM at Dublin Castle with speaker Cormac K O'Malley. AGM to start at 6.00pm followed by speaker. The Annual General Meeting of the Friends of the National Collections will take place in the Throne Room of the State Apartments, Dublin Castle on 28 April at 6pm. Following the meeting, Cormac O'Malley will deliver his lecture entitled "Ernie O'Malley and Visual Arts" at 7pm The lecture will explain Ernie O'Malley's life, travels and travails, but will focus on a) his background in the visual arts including his readings and interests while on the run and in jail, 1918-1924, b) his interest in the arts during his travels in Europe and North America, 1925-1935; c) his collecting of art while in North America, France and in Ireland where he settled down and married in 1935, and d) his role in the arts scene in Ireland from 1940-1957. There will be a wine reception from 8 to 9:30pm. Cormac O’Malley is the son of Ernie O'Malley, Irish author of his autobiographical memoirs, On Another Man’s Wound, and The Singing Flame, military historian and militant nationalist from the 1916-1924. Cormac’s mother was Helen Hooker from Connecticut. Cormac was born in Ireland but went to the USA at age 14 to live with his mother after his father died in 1957. After attending Harvard College, serving with the US Navy, and completing Columbia Law School, Cormac worked for forty years in international legal practice, corporate law and consulting while living in Mexico, Brussels, London and New York. Cormac has been interested in Irish history since his college days and while in New York he was always active in Irish American cultural activities. In recent years Cormac was President of the Board of Advisors at Glucksman Ireland House, the Centre for Irish and Irish American Studies at New York University. Over the last 30 years Cormac has helped preserve his father's literary and historical image by republishing his earlier works including the well-known books. In the last 10 years Cormac has co-edited No Surrender Here: The Civil War Papers of Ernie O’Malley, 1922-1924 (2007), on his father's role in the Irish Civil War, edited a memoir by his father, Rising Out, Sean Connolly of Longford, 1890-1921 (2007) and co-edited Broken landscapes: Selected Letters of Erie O’Malley, 1924-1957. Cormac then embarked on a multi volume series of his father’s military interviews with survivors of the War of Independence and the Civil War, and entitled The Men Will Talk to me by Ernie O’Malley and co-edited volumes on Kerry (2012), Galway (2013), and Mayo (2014), with more volumes to come. His most recent book is Western Ways, a book of photographs by his parents on Mayo in the 1930s Cormac has given his father’s nationalist papers to the University College Dublin Archives and his non-nationalist papers to New York University’s Archives of Irish America. He consulted with Jerry O'Callaghan on his 2008 documentary on his father, has written articles for several journals and has lectured on many campuses. Cormac now lives with his family in Stonington, Conn. 
Obituary: Jeremy Williams Celebrated architect left behind a body of work embodying his genius, writes Charles Lysaght.
Jeremy Williams, the architect, who died suddenly on Christmas Eve morning from a heart attack suffered in Thomas Street near his Dublin home, brought his creative genius to his profession and left behind a formidable legacy of artistic and historical work. He was a unique personality, of whom it was well said that if one had not known him it would be impossible to imagine him. Born in 1943, he was one of twin sons of Dermot Williams, a member of the Tullamore merchant family that distilled Tullamore Dew and Irish Mist, and his wife, Joan Roche. Jeremy went to school at St Gerard's, Bray, and Glenstal, after which he spent a year at Maredsous, the Benedictine school in Belgium, before going on to University College Dublin, where he qualified as an architect. A free spirit, he preferred to avoid the restraints of employment or the entanglements of partnership and so operated on his own from an early stage in his career. His practice blended with a peripatetic social life, a taste for which he had inherited from his convivial and unconventional parents. His friends were his clients and his clients joined the wide circle of friends by whom he was cherished. They were often as unique as he was himself. One lucrative client was the developer Johnny Ronan, for whom Jeremy designed a spectacular Palladian style villa in Burlington Road so lavish that it was described in the Irish Arts Review as 'Faroukian.' He did other important work for Ronan, restoring the cottage orné at Dargle Valley and providing a façade for the Powerscourt Hotel. Other notable clients were the artist Martin Mooney, for whom Jeremy designed a splendid regency-style house at Ramelton on the banks of Lough Swilly, and his alma mater Glenstal, where his Russo-Byzantine chapel provided a suitable ambiance for the icons presented by a member of the famous Esmonde family. Jeremy's reverence for the great architecture of the past and empathy with those who had inherited what had survived drew him into the Irish Georgian Society founded in the 1950s. Many of his own commissions resulted in tasteful adaptation and preservation of historic houses. He was assiduous in rescuing for future use items such as ceilings and doors from buildings that had been pulled down by developers. But Jeremy's own roots were more in Victorian than in Georgian Ireland and it was wholly appropriate that he moved to rectify the neglect of its architecture when he formed the Irish Victorian Society in 1974. His 400-page book Architecture in Ireland 1837-1921, published in 1994, was the first comprehensive history of the subject. It was enlivened by witty asides and tales about the owners and architects. Shaking helplessly with laughter, he derived immense amusement, without ever being malicious, from the idiosyncrasies of his fellow humans and the embarrassing situations in which they sometimes found themselves. Deft in sketching and drawing since his school days, he was able to supply his own illustrations. He also illustrated other books, notably Renagh Holohan's Irish Chateaux, a survey of houses of descendants of Irish families in France. His many connections among the old nobility in France and Belgium, which he often visited, had opened doors that might otherwise have remained closed. He made useful and original contributions to public debate on architectural issues. Among his characteristically imaginative proposals, alas not adopted, was a piazza across the river from the Custom House, creating the vista such a great building deserved. Another was the re-creation of the medieval streets surrounding Christchurch Cathedral to the rear of the controversial municipal buildings. The drought in architectural work after 2008 bore hard on Jeremy, who had never been acquisitive and was always generous to a fault. One fruit was more artistic work, such as a collection of watercolours exhibited in 2014, depicting the seven principal rooms of Russborough House in Co Wicklow, complete with the original paintings situated there. Jeremy's mother, to whom he had always been very close, lived into her 90s and died only in 2008. He is survived by his brother, Johnny, his nephew and godson Justin and his niece Ciara. Sunday Independent, 10 January, 2016 Jeremy Williams was for many years a valued member of the Council of the Friends of the National Collections of Ireland. Visit to Glasnevin Cemetary
“Glasnevin, where the social, political and historical timeline of this great country is carved in stone” A private visit to Glasnevin Cemetery has been arranged for the Friends on Tuesday the 29th September in the afternoon. Download Details and Booking Form Here. Notice of AGM 2015
Thursday, April 23rd: AGM at the Royal Irish Academy at 6pm followed by a lecture at 7pm by Tim Knox, Director of the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge. "Richard, 7th Viscount Fitzwilliam of Merrion and Sir John Sloane: Two Regency Collectors and their Museums". Wine reception afterwards. Click on the Download Letter from the President, Mr. Arthur Duff. 2015
Dear Friends Please see below the programme of events for the first half of the year that our Entertainments Sub-Committee have put together for your pleasure. As usual we are having a mix of lectures walks and outings - surely something for everyone in the audience! Please let us know as soon as possible what you would like to take part in. Some events are limited in the numbers we can provide for so book early - and often! Clearly everything they are arranging will be of great interest however if I may pick out the following for your particular attention!: We are very lucky to have Mr John Holohan, Council Member of the RDS, lead us behind the closed doors of this very familiar institution. There are fascinating treasures to be seen dating back to the earliest days on its history. We are very happy that Mr Tim Knox is giving our annual lecture. As you will see from his biography he has a huge commitment to the understanding and sharing of the past. Tim Knox was brought up in Nigeria and Fiji, he studied History of Art at the Courtauld Institute of Art. He was Assistant Curator at the RIBA Drawings Collection 1989-95, and moved to the National Trust, first as its Architectural Historian, becoming its Head Curator in 2002. Between 2005 and 2013, he was Director of Sir John Soane’s Museum in London. He is Historic Buildings Adviser to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, a member of the Royal Mint Advisory Committee on the Design of Coins, Medals, Seals and Decorations, a Trustee of the Pilgrim Trust, and a member of the National Heritage Memorial Fund Advisory Committee. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London, a Member of the Society of Dilettanti, and Co-Patron of the Mausolea and Monuments Trust, which he helped found and Chaired 2000-2004. Tim Knox Chaired the Government’s Acceptance in Lieu Panel from 2011-13 and is a Fellow of Gonville and Caius College in Cambridge. He regularly lectures and writes on country houses, architecture, sculpture and the history of collecting. Publications include Sir John Soane’s Museum London (2010), and The British Ambassador’s Residence Paris (2011). Charleville is a perfect late 18th century house surrounded by wonderful timber and gardens that are exquisitely maintained. The collection of furniture and pictures is quite remarkable and needs to be seen. As you know it is through your kind support that we are able to carry out the work of the FNCI on your behalf for the nation. Thank you for your continued support and looking forward to seeing you soon. With kind regards, Arthur. Arthur Duff President The Friends of the National Collections of Ireland Art in the Country House, Dublin Castle, Thursday 23rd April 2015
The Irish Georgian Society and the Office of Public Works are partnering to present a conference, Art in the Country House, at Dublin Castle on Thursday 23rd April 2015. The conference is being arranged to coincide with the exhibition Ireland, Crossroads of Art and Design 1690-1840 (which includes many paintings and objects from Irish country houses). Christopher Monkhouse, the Art Institute of Chicago's Eloise W. Martin Chair and Curator of European Decorative Arts, who is the curator of the exhibition, is the conference keynote speaker. The conference will trace the cycle of the acquisitions of great collections in Ireland to their dispersal, while also exploring the lively intersection of art and the country house today. Go to; http://www.igs.ie/events/detail/art-in-the-country-house for more details. Events for Spring/Summer 2015.
Download list of Events Here. Updates as of April 4th, 2015: The visit to Charleville and Tara's Palace on May 27th is now full. Please let us know if you are still interested in the tour, we can put your name on the waiting list. There is some availability for both the Medley of 18th Century Houses and Gardens (Sunday 14th June) and the Garden Party on Saturday 11th July. We look forward to seeing you at some of the events. TUESDAY LECTURE SERIES - Collectors' Conversations
at the United Arts Club, 3 Upper Fitzwilliam St at 7.30pm February 24th, An Evening with Richard Wood - "A Life Collecting" March 3rd, An Evening with David Boles - "Irish Clocks" March 10th, An Evening with Bruce Arnold - "Collecting Art" Booking not necessary for lectures at the United Arts Club More Details Here. "Treasures of the RDS";
Tuesday, March 24th, 2.30pm: Visit led by John Holohan Download Details and Booking Form Here. "Visit to Charleville and Tara's Palace"
Wednesday, May 27th, 1pm: Download Details and Booking Form Here. "Medley of 18th Century Houses and Gardens"
Sunday, June 14th, 9am: Download Details and Booking Form Here. Letter from the President - February 14th, 2014
Dear Members, I am writing to you on the occasion of our 90th birthday. On this day in 1924 Miss Sarah Purser held the first public meeting of the FNCI in the Royal Irish Academy. Thanks to your support, in so many ways, the Friends are still doing what she and her first committee set out to do which was to support the development of public collections throughout the island of Ireland through donations and bequests. We remain an entirely voluntary organisation which means that any funds generated are spent only on the purchasing of works. As you know, while we are available to all institutions our focus has shifted from the main collections to helping smaller regional centres. Many of you will remember the splendid retrospective marking our 75th anniversary in the RHA that Brian O’Connor organised. It was a snap shot of the wealth of precious things that we have been able to make available for public enjoyment. To mark this anniversary we want to look forward, anticipating our 100th birthday and the future of public collections in Ireland. Thanks to the sterling work of the Outings and Entertainments sub-committee members have been able to enjoy visiting collections up and down the country as well as making trips to England. Over the last few years we have encouraged collectors to share their passion through our Collectors Conversations which we have run in the Arts Club. This has revealed some of the wealth of knowledge and material in private hands that is also a national resource. This year we have a lively programme for your amusement and we look forward to seeing you and your guests join us at all the events. We welcome your support in any other way that you can as we thrive on enthusiasm. Walks, Visits, Conversations, Garden Parties......... looks like we are going to see a lot of each other this year! Please also look out for the conference that we are organising in September on the Future of Ireland’s Collections to be held in the RIA where we will be bringing together the key stakeholders involved in managing Irelands Cultural Heritage for what we expect to be a very lively debate. Yours Sincerely, Arthur Duff President The Friends of the National Collections of Ireland THE 90th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The meeting will take place on Thursday 24th April 2014 at 6.00pm in The Royal Irish Academy, 19 Dawson Street, Dublin 2. By kind invitation. Download Agenda and further details Here. The Future of Collecting In Ireland; our shared legacy - a new dialogue.
Workshop 2014 Friday 12th September 2014 The meeting room at the Royal Irish Academy, Dawson Street, Dublin 2. Download Details and Booking Form Here. AUTUMN PROGRAMME
12th September: The Future of Collecting in Ireland; our shared legacy - a new dialogue. (book by 10th September) 11th October: “Hidden Treasures of Carlow and Wexford” (book by 3rd October) Download Details and Booking Form Here. 5th November: "In and about the Liberty of the Dean of St Patrick`s" (book by 29th October) Download Details and Booking Form Here. 29th November: Annual Dinner at StStephen’s Green Hibernian Club. (book by 19th November) Please note new venue Download Details and Booking Form Here. TUESDAY AUTUMN LECTURE SERIES
at the United Arts Club, 3 Upper Fitzwilliam St at 7.30pm 30 September: Sarah Purser and her World. Presented by Michael Purser. 14 October: Map making in Ireland Presented by Andrew Bonar Law and Charlotte Bonar Law 28 October: The Language of 18th Century Irish Furniture; a new vocabulary Presented by David Marshall 11 November Tara's Palace: a Dolls House in the making. Presented by Jane Williams and Matt Mc Nulty Booking not necessary for lectures at the United Arts Club VISIT TO Killineer House and Hilton Park – SUNDAY 15th June 2014
There will be a trip by coach to Killineer House, Drogheda by kind permission of Mr and Mrs Carroll. Killineer is an early 19th C house with a beautiful garden. We will also visit Hilton Park, Clones, Co Monaghan, by kind permission of Mr and Mrs Madden. The visit includes lunch, a tour of the house and a visit to the extensive grounds. Bring suitable shoes. Cost € 75 per person (includes luxury coach, lunch and all entrance fees): The coach leaves at 9.00 am sharp from behind Donnybrook Church. Priority is given to members however non-members are very welcome. Please reply to: The Friends of the National Collections of Ireland, PO Box 11481, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 enclosing: (1) cheque for €75 per person payable to FNCI or Debit/Credit Card payment (2) stamped addressed envelope (not required if we can acknowledge booking by e mail) Helpline: 083 3751999 Download Booking Form Here. GARDEN PARTY - Rosemount, Enniskerry - SATURDAY 12th July 2014
Rosemount, Enniskerry, by kind invitation of John and Mary O’Reilly, will be the setting for our annual Garden Party starting at 3 p.m. There will be Pimm’s, wine and strawberries and cream to be enjoyed in this beautiful garden. Parking is available in the Church of Ireland church grounds further up the hill (the car park entrance is on the corner of the left turn) Cost € 30 per person (ENTITLES YOU TO BRING ALONG A GUEST COMPLEMENTARY) Priority is given to members however non-members are very welcome. Please reply to: The Friends of the National Collections of Ireland, PO Box 11481, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 enclosing: (1) cheque for €30 per person payable to FNCI or Debit/Credit Card payment (2) stamped addressed envelope (not required if we can acknowledge booking by e mail) Helpline: 083 3751999 Download Booking Form Here. Sunday 18th May: World Museums Day
Lecture at the National Gallery of Ireland at 3.p.m. Entrance free Title: Gifts to Irish Galleries from the Friends of the National Collections NO BOOKING REQUIRED. However spaces are limited so booking is always advised. Download Booking Form Here. Spring Lecture Series
A Spring Series of Lectures will take place in the United Arts Club, 3, Upper Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin 2 All lectures will commence at 7.30 pm Lecture 1: Mr Peter Pearson: 7.30 pm Tuesday 25th February 2014 Title: Fragments of a City: Decorative Dublin Revealed Our speaker has been collecting architectural salvage for over 30 years and has a unique insight into the extraordinary skill and refinement of building in the 18th and 19th centuries. His talk will be illustrated with examples from his collection. Lecture 2: Mr David Davison: 7.30 pm Tuesday 11th March 2014 Title: Photography in Ireland: Past and Present Mr Davison has spent his life documenting Ireland, particularly architecture, through photography and he has also collected a lot of early Irish photographs. He will be sharing his treasure trove with us. Lecture 3: Mr Lanto Synge: 7.30 pm Tuesday 25th March 2014 Title: Fine English Needlework: Styles and Techniques Until recently Mr Synge was director of Malletts in London where he specialised in furniture and needlework. He will be bringing some remarkable samples of embroidery to illustrate his talk. Cost per lecture: €10.00 – All 3 lectures: €25.00 Members are encouraged to bring guests. Lectures are followed by tea and dry biscuits Helpline: 083 3751999 SPRING PROGRAMME
The spring programme Collectors Conversations already took place on the 25th February and the 11th and 25th March So also did our first outing, Walk in St Stephen’s Green, on the 7th April The rest of the programme is as follows: June 15th Visit to Killineer House and Hilton Park July 12th Garden Party Rosemount, Enniskerry We will have a fund-raising raffle and prizes will be gratefully accepted. May 18th World Museum Day Lecture about the FNCI in the National Gallery at 3pm entitled ‘Gifts to Ireland from the Friends of the National Collections.’ (admission free) Booking forms for the above have been sent to members. Walking Tour in St. Stephen’s Green - Monday 7th April 2014
A walk in St Stephen’s Green will be led by Dr. John Maiben GilMartin. We meet at 2 p.m. at the University Church, then on to Newman House, 85 and 86 St Stephen’s Green and finish at the Little Museum of Dublin by kind invitation of the director, Trevor White. Afterwards, refreshments will be provided in the museum building. Cost € 20 per person (includes entrance fees, coffee or tea and scone). Priority is given to members however non-members are very welcome. Please reply to: The Friends of the National Collections of Ireland, PO Box 11481, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 enclosing: (1) cheque for €20 per person payable to FNCI or Debit/Credit Card payment (2) stamped addressed envelope (not required if we can acknowledge booking by e mail) Helpline: 083 3751999 Download Booking Form Here. Letter from the President - November 22nd 2103
Dear Friends, it was a particular delight to have had Imogen Stuart with us at our last Collector's evening of the season on Tuesday. She brought a treasure trove of pieces dating from the beginning of her career in Germany up to the present. Her passion and commitment is undiminished and in the course of her conversation she gave interesting insights into the relationship between artist and client. As usual there was great chat afterwards and everyone got to enjoy her work in detail. As it happens we were packed to the gills in the Arts Club so thanks to all of you who attended. Our last event for the year is the annual Dinner party which will be taking place on Saturday 30th November in the Kildare Street and University Club. It is always an enjoyable evening in the elegant surroundings of the Club. The Outings and Entertainments sub-committee have been busy working on all the arrangements and you may look forward to a delicious menu! Young Christopher Ellis, the remarkable cellist, is playing for us again and he has a new repertoire of pieces he wants to share. It will be very interesting to see how he has progressed through the year. A number of members have been extremely generous with their gifts of prizes for the raffle and so that part of the evening will be eagerly anticipated. For those who have not yet joined up do please get in touch with Marie Louise Martin [ she can be telephoned on 087 285 9796 ] or any of the committee members who you know and give your names. The more the merrier. Once again it is through your kindness and support that we are able to carry on the work of the FNCI. A big thank you to all! With all good wishes, Arthur President The Friends of the National Collections of Ireland Annual Dinner - Saturday, 30th November, 2013
The Annual Black Tie Dinner will take place on Saturday 30th November 2013, in the Kildare Street and University Club, 17 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2. Wine reception 7.00 pm, dinner at 7.30 pm, with an interlude for music. Subscription, including wine €75.00 per person. Parking is available under the club: cost €7.00, payable at the Club Reception Desk. A fund-raising raffle will be held during the evening. Council would be delighted to receive prizes for the raffle and if you wish to donate a prize please get in touch with Lady Miranda Broadbent 01 286 2657, any member of Council, or the Helpline 083 375 1999. Please reply to: The Friends of the National Collections of Ireland, PO Box 11481, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 enclosing cheque for €75 per person payable to FNCI or pay by Credit/Debit Card. A stamped addressed envelope, to acknowledge your booking should be enclosed. Download Booking Form Here. Letter from the President - November 11th 2103
Dear Friends, Our second talk of the season given by Mary Russell last week in the Arts Club was very warmly received. In her inimitable style she brought us on a journey that covered a lot of the world, in pursuit of butter and in particular the butter from the Kerry Cow that made its way abroad out of Cork from the 17th century until the end of the last century. With just a few notes on cards and a couple of photographs she was most entertaining. In turn she was delighted as there was a great exchange of information that ensued. Next Tuesday [ 19th November ] will be our final talk in the Collectors Conversations Series this season. We are welcoming Imogen Stuart to speak to us. Since coming to Ireland from Germany over 60 years ago, Imogen has been working here as a sculptor. Using a collection of her own models and trial pieces she will share her passion for making. Title: The form of Things As usual Jimmy is there to ply us with tea and dry biscuits after the talk! Download Lecture Booking Form Here. You will have heard about the Annual Dinner which is taking place on the 30th of November in the Kildare Street and University Club. Thanks to you all who have booked your places. For those of you who have not yet please do so quickly so we can include you in the party. Download Dinner Booking Form Here. Your support, as always, is much appreciated With kind regards Arthur Duff Letter from the President - October 28th 2103
Dear Friends, I am sure those of you who were able to get to Dr Tom Ryan’s evening last Tuesday will all agree that it was a delightful occasion. We all know his work, or at least we thought we did, and so it was such a surprise to be presented with such a diverse range of subjects in a variety of mediums. Using slides and a selection of original works he was able to cover the span of his creative life. His present work includes some book illustrations which are so full of skill and humour. One of these books is called the Secret of the Sleeveen by Brenda Ennis and is being launched on Thursday 31st October in the Writers Centre, Parnell Square. It is utterly charming and if any of you could make it to the launch you will be warmly received. Next Tuesday [ 5th November ] we are welcoming Mary Russell to speak to us. She is normally not at all connected to Things, in fact she makes a virtue out of being unattached to anything so that she is free to travel the world! She writes and many of you will have read articles by her or indeed some of her books. One of the most popular is “The Blessings of a Good Thick Skirt” which is about the many women travellers and explorers who travelled the earth for a variety of reasons. Not excessively concerned about reaching their destination, women tend to wander, to deviate from the well-trodden paths. Mary tells their tales! Her story for our evening began with an object; finding an Irish butter box in Antigua! Kerry's gold: How Irish butter reached the sugar island of Antigua in the 18th Century. Come and join us and stay on for the chat and the tea and the dry biscuits. Marie-Louise Martin who you all know from the great work she does for the FNCI is having an opening of her graphic work along with the sculptor Petr Holocek in the Droichead Arts Centre, Stockwell Street, Drogheda on Sunday 3rd November, at 3pm. All Friends would be most welcome! Please note the following dates for your diary: our final talk, by Imogen Stuart on 19th November, and the Annual Dinner in the Kildare Street and University Club on 30th November. Your support, as always, is much appreciated With kind regards Arthur Duff Autumn Lectures, 2013
An Autumn Series of Lectures will take place in the United Arts Club, 3, Upper Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin 2. All lectures will commence at 7.30 pm. Lecture 1: Dr. Tom Ryan Tuesday 22nd October, 2013. Title: Tom Ryan; Painter, a Working Life. Our speaker continues to play a significant role in the creative life of the country through his Art and his commitment to serving on numerous boards promoting the Arts in various forms. He will be speaking on a life time of painting and drawing and will have illustrations of his work to show us. Lecture 2: Ms Mary Russell Tuesday 5th November 2013. Title: Kerry's gold: how Irish butter reached the sugar island of Antigua in the 18th Century. As a traveller and social commentator over many years Mary has developed a unique sense of history and the connectedness of things. Her story for this evening began with finding an Irish butter box in Antigua! Lecture 3: Ms Imogen Stuart Tuesday 19th November 2013. Title: The form of Things. Since coming to Ireland from Germany over 60 years ago Imogen has been working here as a sculptor. Using a collection of her own models and trial pieces she will share her passion for making. Cost per lecture: Members of FNCI €10.00 Non-members €12.00 All 3 lectures: Members of FNCI €25.00 Non-members €30.00 Download Booking Form Here Visit to the North City - Thursday, October 10th, 2013
A walking tour has been arranged, led by Dr. John Gilmartin. We will visit St Paul’s Church on Arran Quay and St Mary’s Abbey, in Meeting House Lane, once a Cistercian Abbey; these 2 buildings will be opened for the Friends to visit – they are currently closed to the public. Dr. Gilmartin will speak about the history and features of both buildings, the large mural behind the altar in St. Paul’s and the Chapter House of St. Mary’s Abbey where ‘Silken’ Thomas Fitzgerald started his unsuccessful rebellion. We will finish at the privately owned, magnificently furnished Georgian House, No 10 Lower Ormond Quay, by kind invitation, for a tour and refreshments. Cost €20.00 per person; priority is given to members, however non-members are very welcome. Meet at St. Paul’s Church at 1.50 pm. (Luas stop: Smithfield). FNCI helpline - 083 375 1999. Download Booking Form Here. Lecture on Moorish Architecture
Barbara Nolan Head of the European Commission Representation in Ireland and The Friends of the National Collections of Ireland Invite you to a Lecture on The Influences of Moorish Architecture in Europe By Jeremy Williams, B Arch (Architect, writer and artist) On Tuesday 17th September 2013, 18.00 - 20.00 pm at European Union House, 18 Dawson Street, Dublin 2. Refreshments will be served Numbers are limited so please reserve your place by contacting Geraldine at [email protected] Annual Lecture
The President and Council of the Friends of the National Collections of Ireland have great pleasure in inviting you to attend the Annual Lecture on Thursday April 25, 2013 at 7pm. Curiosity and Enlightenment; the Cobbe Family Cabinet of Curiosities at Newbridge House, County Dublin. Presented by Dr Arthur Mac Gregor The lecture will take place in the Library at the Royal Irish Academy, 19 Dawson Street, Dublin 2. The lecture will be followed by a reception with refreshments Rsvp to [email protected] Dr Arthur Mac Gregor is the authority on the History of Museums. With his joint publication, ”The Origin of Museums” in 1985 and, more recently, “Curiosity and Enlightenment”, he has put the constant preoccupation with collecting in the western world into perspective; their formation, the way they have been displayed and the shift from the private to the public sphere. His life-long association, as curator of Antiquities, with the Ashmolean – Britain’s oldest museum- has given him an excellent vantage point. He is currently engaged in cataloging Ireland’s most famous surviving “Cabinet” at Newbridge House and his lecture will include an outline his work to date. Visit to Buxton Opera Festival 23-26 July, 2012
A party of fourteen ladies and three gentlemen arrived in Buxton on 23 July accompanied by our Kudu Travel guide, Ms Delia Gray-Durant, who had met us at Manchester Airport. Our home for the next few days was the Old Hall Hotel, Buxton, which had accommodated, a few centuries earlier, no less a person than Mary Queen of Scots. Having been given enough time to check in and find our rooms, we were taken by Delia on a short walking tour around Georgian Buxton. The first two courses of dinner followed, and then it was time for the Opera House, which was a two-minute walk from the hotel, and our first opera. "The Marriage of Figaro" by Marcos Portugal (1762-1830). On the Tuesday, we departed by coach at 09.30 for Chatsworth, the 17th century home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire. After a guided tour of the magnificent house, there was still time for lunch, a stroll in the gardens and some retail therapy in the tempting shops before returning to Buxton. Some members succeeded in changing quickly enough to attend the pre-opera talk at 18.15 prior to the performances of "The maiden in the tower" by Sibelius and Rimsky-Korsakov's "Kashchei the Immortal". Late dinner was served afterwards in the hotel. There was a 09.15 start on the Wednesday for our drive to the Georgian house, Renishaw Hall, the home of the Sitwell family for 400 years. After light refreshments, we had a private guided tour of the Hall, Museum and Exhibition Gallery, followed by a lunch, a walk in the gardens and a cream tea. Once again, there was an optional pre-opera talk before the night's performance of the Richard Strauss comic opera, "Intermezzo". Dinner was again provided after the performance. We said goodbye at 09.30 on the Thursday to the Old Hall Hotel and Buxton before setting out on the short journey to Haddon Hall, a fortified manor house dating from the 12th century, which has belonged to the family of Lord Edward Manners, the current owner, for over 800 years. Some of the strongest memories of this visit are of the beautiful Elizabethan gardens, the Chapel wall paintings and the marble effigy of Lord Haddon, who died as a boy in 1894 leaving his mother, Violet, heartbroken. Before departing for Manchester Airport, we enjoyed the best lunch of the holiday in Haddon Hall's excellent restaurant. The Buxton days were greatly enjoyed by the group. Many thanks to Ms Geraldine O'Connor and to her Council colleagues for making this action-packed trip possible. Visit to County Kilkenny on Saturday 8th September 2012
Shankill Castle in Paulstown is the venue for our September outing. We will have a tour of the castle and gardens and see the studio of our hostess Elizabeth Cope. Afterwards we will enjoy lunch there before proceeding to Athy to visit Burtown House, an early Georgian villa with beautiful gardens also. After refreshments we will return to Dublin. Cost: €75.00 per person includes luxury coach travel, lunch with wine, tea/coffee, and all entry charges. Coach departs from rear of Donnybrook church at 9.30 a.m. sharp and returns ca 6.30 p.m. Maximum participants: 48 Non-members are very welcome but priority is given to members. Please reply to: The Friends of the National Collections of Ireland, PO Box 11481, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 enclosing cheque for €75.00 per person payable to FNCI and a stamped addressed envelope. Helpline: 083 3751999 Visit to Howth Castle on Saturday 22nd September 2012
A visit to Howth Castle, by kind invitation, has been arranged for the Friends. The castle is the private residence of the Gaisford - St Lawrence family, is steeped in history, and is not normally open to the public. The visit will take place in the afternoon starting at 2.30 p.m. Parking is available but Howth is also very easy accessible by Dart or Number 31 Bus from Lower Abbey Street Cost: €25.00 per person includes refreshments. Non-members are very welcome but priority is given to members. Please reply to: The Friends of the National Collections of Ireland, PO Box 11481, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 enclosing cheque for €25.00 per person payable to FNCI and a stamped addressed envelope.Helpline: 083 3751999 Visit to Rathfarnham Castle on Monday 22nd October 2012
A private visit, by kind invitation, has been arranged for the Friends. This 17th C fortified house was built for Adam Loftus who was involved in the establishment of Trinity College and was the first provost. The building was remodelled in the 18th C by the finest architects of the day, William Chambers and James ‘Athenian’ Stuart. On display at the moment also is the Berkeley Costume and Toy Collection, an exquisite collection gathered over many years by Countess Ann Griffin Bernstorff, a great supporter of FNCI. The visit will take place in the afternoon starting at 2.30 p.m. There is a car park and Rathfarnham is also very easy accessible by Bus Numbers 16 and 16a from the city centre. Cost: €25.00 per person includes refreshments. Non-members are very welcome but priority is given to members. Please reply to: The Friends of the National Collections of Ireland, PO Box 11481, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 enclosing cheque for €25.00 per person payable to FNCI and a stamped addressed envelope. Helpline: 083 3751999 Lectures
The Art and Passion of Collecting Lecture series presented by the Friends of the National Collections of Ireland Spring 2012 Dear Friends, After a most engaging and eclectic series of talks last autumn it is with great pleasure that we introduce the Spring Series for the benefit and delight of members and their friends. It seems the most enjoyable aspect of the first series was the opportunity to see and touch the pieces that were being presented. It is a matter of fact that when anything finds it way into a museum it is “out of bounds” and already the possible connection with the object diminishes. The theme of this series is the ongoing dialogue and engagement of the collectors with their particular subject. The spread of interests will range from 20th century Irish pottery to Irish miniature painting, to more eclectic collectors who will cover anything from snuff bottles to Icons. Venue: The United Arts Club, 3 Upper Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin 2. Date and time: Wednesday 22nd February, 7.30pm Cost of ticket: Members of FNCI + the United Arts Club: € 10.00 Non-members: € 12.00 Tea and biscuits served. The capacity of the Arts Club is limited so we recommend that you book your place for the lectures of your choice. Please contact the outings and entertainments sub-committee member in charge: Ms Mia Craig at [email protected] The following list calls up the complete series of lectures: Lecture Series on the Art and Passion of Collecting The fist 4 lectures are as follows: February 22: Collector: Dr Tom Ryan Topic: Bits and Scraps: to be elaborated on! February 29: Collector: Dr John Maiben Gilmartin Topic: The Connoisseur’s Eye: a lifetime of seeing March 7: Collector: Dr Paul Caffrey Topic: Irish Portrait Miniatures; an introduction. Please note: the speaker invites any attendees who have miniatures they would like to share o the evening they are most welcome to bring them along March 14: Collector: Dr Abdul Bulbulia Topic: A cabinet of small curiosities – living and working with Art March 21: Collector: Mr Peter Lamb Topic: “The Way that I went”; finding Irish 20th Century Pottery March 28: Collector: Mr Robin Hall and Mr Arthur Duff Topic: Irish Furniture: old and new April 4: Collector: Mr Pat Murphy Topic: All to be revealed Visit to Farmleigh on Wednesday 7th March 2012
A very special private visit to Farmleigh has been arranged for the Friends. Mary Heffernan from OPW (The Office of Public Works) will show us around, including areas of the house not open to the general public. The visit will take place in the afternoon starting at 2.00 p.m. Early booking is advised as this visit will be popular. Cost: €25.00 per person includes refreshments. Non-members are very welcome but priority is given to members. Please reply to: The Friends of the National Collections of Ireland, PO Box 11481, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 enclosing cheque for €25.00 per person payable to FNCI and a stamped addressed envelope. Helpline: 083 3751999 www.farmleigh.ie Visit to Dublin Castle on Tuesday 29th May 2012
As this year is the 90th anniversary of the handover of Dublin Castle (16 January 1922) a half day private visit to the castle has been arranged for the Friends. We will be shown around the castle by Jacquie Moore from OPW (The Office of Public Works) . The visit will take place in the afternoon starting at 2.00 p.m. The castle was recently refurbished for the state visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Cost: €25.00 per person includes refreshments. Non-members are very welcome but priority is given to members. Please reply to: The Friends of the National Collections of Ireland, PO Box 11481, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 enclosing cheque for €25.00 per person payable to FNCI and a stamped addressed envelope. Helpline: 083 3751999 www.dublincastle.ie Visit to Waterford on Saturday 24th March 2012
As many members will recall, the Friends have donated, as well as helped to purchase, several items for Waterford; we felt it was time to see these items in situ. There will be a three-course lunch with wine at the recently restored 18th - century Bishop’s Palace in Waterford followed by a tour of the Palace and Museum of Treasures led by Director, Eamonn McEneaney. (We recently donated a stool and a chandelier to this museum). Also included on the tour are visits to the City Hall, the Theatre Royal, to see their collections, as well as the Anglican Cathedral (1774-80), designed by Roberts. Cost: €75.00 per person includes luxury coach travel, lunch with wine, tea/coffee, and all entry charges. Coach departs from rear of Donnybrook church at 8.30 a.m. sharp and returns ca 8.00 p.m. Maximum participants: 48 Non-members are very welcome but priority is given to members. Please reply to: The Friends of the National Collections of Ireland, PO Box 11481, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 enclosing cheque for €75.00 per person payable to FNCI and a stamped addressed envelope. Helpline: 083 3751999 www.waterfordtreasures.com Trip Abroad
The Friends of the National Collections of Ireland Buxton Opera Festival Visit
The Buxton Opera and Literary Festival, one of Britain’s largest opera-based festivals, takes place each summer in the historic spa town of Buxton, set at an airy 1,000 ft and surrounded by the limestone hills of the Peak District National Park.
One of England’s most ancient hotels, where Mary Queen of Scots was once held prisoner, now beautifully restored and conveniently located only a few minutes from the opera house, is an ideal base for attending 3 opera performances and exploring the architecture, collections and gardens of the aristocratic residences of Chatsworth, Renishaw and Haddon Hall. See below for details of how to book. Day 1 D included The Aer Lingus flight departs Dublin at 12.30 and arrives in Manchester at 13.25, where we meet the tour leader and have a private coach transfer to Buxton (1 hour). There is time to settle into our rooms before a short guided walking tour of Georgian Buxton, seeing the Crescent, built in 1780 on the orders of the fifth Duke of Devonshire as a fashionable rival to Bath, and learning of the origins of the spa in a Celtic votive spring and a Roman baths complex. We have an early dinner in our hotel before strolling across the square to Buxton Opera House (restored to its Edwardian opulence in 2001) for Bampton Classical Opera’s acclaimed production of “The Marriage of Figaro” by Marcos Portugal (1762-1830). 
Day 2 B, L, D included
After a leisurely breakfast we depart at 09.30 by private coach to Chatsworth House, the magnificent 17th century home of the Duke & Duchess of Devonshire. A private guided tour (starting before the house opens to the general public) introduces the history of the house and family and showcases masterpieces from the Devonshire Collections. After lunch we can stroll in the beautiful 105 acre gardens and park before returning to Buxton. There is an option of attending a free 30 minute opera talk (starting at 18.15) prior to the second opera performances, a double bill of Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Kashchei the Immortal” and Sibelius’ “The Maiden in the Tower”. We have a late dinner in our hotel restaurant after the operas. 
Day 3 B, L, D included
We depart at 10 am for the 1 hour drive to the Georgian period Renishaw Hall, home of the Sitwell family for 400 years. We have coffee and biscuits on arrival, a private guided tour of the Hall, Museum and Exhibition Gallery, then lunch. After time to explore the formal Italianate gardens we have a cream tea before returning to Buxton. This evening we can again attend the pre-opera talk before the performance of Richard Strauss’s autobiographical comic opera “Intermezzo” and dinner post opera. Day 4 B, L included We depart from Buxton at 10 am (with our luggage on board the coach) for the short drive to Haddon Hall, a fortified manor house dating from the 12th C, the home of Lord & Lady Edward Manners – considered the finest house surviving from the middle ages, Haddon recently starred in the film of “Pride and Prejudice”. We have a private guided tour of the Hall, some free time to walk in the terraced Elizabethan gardens, then lunch before departing for Manchester airport. Our flight to Dublin departs at 16.35, concluding our Buxton Opera Festival visit. 
Trip Dates
Monday 23rd – Thursday 26th July 2012 Caveat The performances described are (very rarely) subject to change by the Festival organizers. Actual activities or their order may therefore vary from those described in the itinerary. Tour leader Delia Gray-Durant is a Blue Badge guide for Oxford with an academic background mainly in History of Art and French – since 1993 she has been leading tours in England and France and writing for the Blue Guide series. Activity Level Moderate town and garden walking daily, with uneven cobbles, steps and stairs - comfortable footwear is required Temperatures July temperaturesrange between 15 and 25°C during the day. Trip Price£ 1,050 per person £ 285 single room supplement Please note that the single room supplement is imposed by the hotel and not by Kudu Travel. If you are willing to share but no other suitable guest books on the trip, we regret that the supplement will be payable. We shall endeavour to obtain double rooms for single occupancy whenever possible. Price Includes all accommodation for Days 1 through 4, on a twin shared basis all meals (with wine at dinners) as listed in the daily notation all entrance and sightseeing fees (including private guided tours), except during free periods best category tickets for 3 opera performances (2 x £58, 1 x £48) all transport by private coach gratuities for hotel and restaurant staff (appreciation for tour leaders/managers is entirely at your discretion) Price does not Include trip cancellation, medical or other insurance immunisations, prescriptions or other medical requirements passport, visa and health documentation personal expenses (laundry, alcohol besides wine with group dinners, free time activities, etc.) meals noted as excepted in the daily notation transport and transfer of excess baggage Booking To book go to the FNCI Buxton Opera Festival Visit page and click on the "Book Now" button. Alternatively, you can download a booking form at the Kudu Travel website to complete by hand and post or fax in to the address detailed on the form. A deposit of £ 300, accompanied by a completed Booking Form, will reserve your place on the trip. Full payment must be received 60 days prior to departure. PLEASE NOTE THAT EARLY BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR MUSIC AND OPERA TRIPS Kudu Travel reserves a block of seats for each performance, approximately 1 year in advance, and unsold seats will be released back to the Festival box office. Late bookings will be subject to an administrative fee of £30 per person. In addition, please be aware that it may not be possible to retrieve seats in the same category, or indeed, to obtain any tickets at all for sold out performances. Insurance It is essential, and a condition of booking, that you protect yourself with a suitable travel insurance policy as soon as you book a trip. Visa and Health RequirementsVisitors from Ireland and the USA currently require a valid passport, but not a visa, for entry to Britain. If you are a national of any other country, please check visa regulations with your nearest British Embassy. At present there are no specific and compulsory health requirements for entry to Britain. Residents of countries in the EU can only claim free (emergency) medical treatment in the UK by presenting their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Size of Party This trip will run with a minimum of 20 and a maximum of 30 guests. 
THE ART AND PASSION OF COLLECTING
Lecture series presented by the Friends of the National collections of Ireland Autumn 2011 Arthur Duff, our President had the wonderful idea of inviting people who collect to talk to us about their own particular collections. What a fascinating time we have had every Wednesday for the past few weeks! Being able to handle beautiful objects, African carvings, textiles, curios of wood and ceramic, and hear from these enthusiastic people, how and why they collect as well as learn all kinds of insights and facts that we never knew, has been a stimulating and entrancing experience. We very much hope to enjoy more of these evenings early next year. You may think that you are not interested in costume or treen for example, but you will find that you are drawn in and you will end the evening feeling enriched. ANNUAL DINNER
Saturday 26th November 2011 The Annual Dinner took place on Saturday 26th November 2011, in the Kildare Street and University Club, 17 St.Stephen's Green, Dublin 2. Wine reception 7 p.m. Dinner 8.00 p.m. The subscription was €75 and included wine. In view of the current economic situation, we have, for the third year, kept the cost of the dinner at €75. Parking was available under the club; cost €7 payable at the Club Reception Desk. A fund-raising raffle was held during the evening. Black Tie Helpline: 083 3751999 Visit to Belvedere College and An Post Museum, 9 November, 2011
Walking up North Great George's Street, Belvedere College is straight ahead. A group visited Belvedere on 9 November 2011. This house, built by the first Earl of Belvedere, is one of the most famous of all Dublin eighteen century town houses of the nobility. Its plasterwork decoration by Michael Stapleton is what makes it outstanding with an international reputation. Dr. Joseph McDonnell, who has published extensively on the history of Dublin plasterwork, was our guide. He described how the light decorative scheme was derived ultimately from the Renaissance and antiquity, but its more recent use was associated with Robert Adam in England. Stapleton edited and adapted published engravings of ceilings, reliefs, and paintings to create designs to fit the dimensions of the ground floor, the staircase hall and the first floor reception rooms. We had an opportunity to walk through the courtyard of the college at the rear of the house. Our next destination was the newly opened An Post Museum where Stephen Ferguson showed us around and explained the collection. He told us how a redundant telephone area had been converted into a museum space. This shows the history of the Irish postal service and the GPO. All the Irish postage stamps ever printed were on view at the touch of a screen. We saw a Victorian post box, old telephone equipment, uniforms and other memorabilia of the past. The history of the Easter Rising was imaginatively recreated by a drama on screen, as were various aspects of postal work over the years, accessible at the press of a button. It was a splendid and stylish modern museum display. After our tour we were invited to tea in the private offices of An Post. Visit to Castletown, Leixlip and Hamwood, Saturday 7th May 2011
An outing by coach was arranged on the above date. Starting with the newly restored, magnificent Castletown House in the morning, we visited Leixlip Castle in the afternoon, by kind permission of Mr and Mrs Desmond Guinness and rounded off the day with a visit to Hamwood House in Co Meath, by kind permission of Mrs Hamilton. We had lunch in the old kitchen at Castletown and tea at Hamwood before returning to Dublin. Cost: €75 per person included lunch and refreshments Coach departed from rear of Donnybrook church at 9 a.m. sharp and returned at around 6.30 p.m. Maximum participants: 48 Non members were very welcome but priority was given to members. Helpline: 083 3751999 NOTICE OF THE 87TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The meeting took place on Thursday 28th April 2011 at 6.30 p.m. in The Royal Irish Academy, 19 Dawson Street, Dublin 2 by kind invitation. AGENDA 1. Minutes of the 86th Annual General Meeting held on 28th April 2010 2. Annual report of the Honorary Secretary 3. Annual report of the Honorary Treasurer 4. *Election of the Honorary Officers and Council 5. Appointment of Auditors 6. Any other business Following the A.G.M. there was a lecture by Ms. Mary Heffernan, OPW, General Manager at Farmleigh, after which there was a wine reception. The evening ended at 9.00 p.m. *Nominations to Honorary Office or Council had to be in the hands of the Honorary Secretary at least seven days before the date fixed for the Annual General Meeting. Such nominations had to be made in writing, duly proposed by a member and seconded by another member. The consent, in writing~ of the candidate to the nomination must have been obtained. Note: Subscriptions for the year 2011, if not already paid, were to be paid at the Annual General Meeting. Visit to F.E. McWilliam Gallery and Studio and to the Ulster Museum
Saturday 23 October 2010 Led by Council members, Ms Mia Craig and Dr John Turpin, sixteen FNCI members and guests travelled north by coach on the Saturday of the bank holiday weekend. En route, Mia kept us awake with timely snippets of information on the places of interest through which we passed. Our first stop was at Dromantine, five miles north of Newry. The estate was first owned by the Magennis clan, and it passed to a Scottish family called Innis in 1741. In 1926, the Society of African Missions bought Dromantine, and it was their seminary until 1972. Since 2001, it has been a Retreat and Conference Centre. The members were able to view the beauty of the lake and woodlands before arriving at the 19th century house for their much appreciated coffee and scone break. In the late morning, we reached the F.E. McWilliam Gallery and Studio in Banbridge. Opened in September 2008, the place is dedicated to the memory of the sculptor, who was born in Banbridge in 1909, and died in 1992. We were ably guided around the T.P. Flanagan exhibition by a lady staff member and around the sculptures by her colleague, Jason. Two of the items that linger in the memory are, ‘Legs static’ and, for those of us who remember 1974, ‘Woman in blast’. Following a good lunch in Deanes at Queen’s, the group moved on to the Ulster Museum, where we were welcomed by Ms Kim Mawhinney, Head of Art, who thanked the Friends for their great generosity to the Museum over the years, and took us on a tour of the collection. The ladies were pleased to see the exhibition,Grand Designers – a century of fashion, which included garments by Vivienne Westwood, Ungaro and Emilio Pucci. Ms Mawhinney also led the group through the following exhibitions, Faces and Places – Irish art 1690s-1880s, with works by George Barret, Nathaniel Hone and Sir John Lavery, among others, and A New Order – 20th Century Irish art, including paintings by Roderic O’Conor, Leech, Sean Keating and Jack Yeats. Yeats’ ‘The Riverside long ago’ was of particular interest to a member whose father had once lived in that area of Sligo. On the return journey, there was a brief but welcome stop for refreshments at Hillsborough, and the party arrived back in Dublin at around 8.00 p.m. Many thanks to the Council for organizing such an enjoyable and successful trip. The Friends' Trip to Dresden, 18th to 21st September, 2010
Our first view of Dresden was startling - the evening sun reflecting off the glass dome of a psuedo-mosque as we descended into the city. It was a wonderful evening greeting. Our next morning started with a review of the "Procession of Princes", a wall of Meissan tiles depicting the history of the Wettin family. Dresden art and architecture, derives mainly from the activities of Wettin members August the Strong, Elector of Saxony 1694-1733, and his son Frederick Augustus 3rd, the initiators of the beautiful baroque buildings and amassers of extensive collections of artefacts. Then off to the "Zwinger" area where the Gemaldegalerie Alte Meister, houses a world-renowned collection of German, Dutch and Italian paintings. It is a veritable paradise of art. The adjoining pavilions house the sculpture, scientific, armoury and historical porcelain collections. This last was visited by some of our group prior to a wine tasting and lunch at Prince zur Lippe's country domaine, Schhloss Proschwitz. The afternoon saw us in the Meissen manufactory viewing working craftspeople and the day ended with a private tour of Moritzburg Castle, one of August's hunting lodges with walls dressed in antlers, a boudoir dressed in feathers and other rooms dressed in leather. Our final day started in the Grunes Gewolbe, one of Europe's most splendid treasure chambers which includes miniature and delicate models hand-crafted by experts of the day, gold and silver artefacts, precious gems, amber and ivory creations. It is a 'must see' for anybody visiting Dresden. Lunch was in Pilnitz, a country pleasure palace created by August for riverside entertainment where he used to delight in arriving and departing by gondola. We returned by paddle-steamer! Finally a quick visit to the Frauenkirche, a baroque masterpiece demolished in the WW2 Dresden bombing but since restored through public outcry and subscription. During drinks in their home we were regaled by Count and Countess zu Stolberg- Stolberg with tales of the rebuilding programme in which they were involved, and we thank them sincerely for this and their relaxed hospitality. We also thank the committee who made this very enjoyable trip happen - despite the earlier interference of Icelandic ash! 
Group Picture at Pilnitz
Largest Single Piece of Meissen Porcelain Made in the 19th Century - 3.5 Meters High.
THE COUNTESS OF IVEAGH
The Friends have suffered a sad loss with the untimely death of Miranda, Countess of Iveagh, Vice-President of the FNCI for many years. We particularly remember her great charm and hard work, as she escorted members around the great houses of Wiltshire (whose owners she had persuaded to open their doors for us ) in April, 2007 on the occasion of the Friends' visit. Council are extremely pleased that the family connection with the Friends is being maintained with her son, Edward, the Earl of Iveagh, agreeing to become a Vice-President. |
Ireland's Oldest Arts Charity
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