Re: Re: Ãras an UachtaráIn
1/6/2005
Anyone ever hear of this before?!:
“[Arás an Uactaráin] remained the residence of the Governor-General of the Irish Free State until 1932, when the new Governor-General, Domhnall Ua Buachalla, was installed in a specially hired private mansion in the southside of Dublin.
The house was left empty for some years, until the office of President of Ireland was created in 1937. In 1938, the first President, Douglas Hyde lived there temporarily while plans were made to build a new presidential palace on the grounds. The outbreak of World War II saved the building, which had been renamed Ãras an Uachtaráin…from demolition, as plans for its demolition [!] and the design of a new residence were put on hold. By 1945 it had become too closely identified with the presidency of Ireland to be demolished, though its poor condition did mean that extensive demolition and rebuilding of parts of the building were necessary, notably the kitchens, servants’ quarters and chapel.
What sort of building was proposed or do people imagine would have been built? A modernist pile perhaps, or a severe modern neoclassical building?
