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How predictable I know – but just watching the archive footage yesterday of the inaugurations through the years, I see that the Ãras wasn’t always painted white! This is hardly a revelation to most people, but I always thought that it was rendered and smothered in paint in the mid to late 19th century to tart the place up & turn it into a typically Victorian seasidey retreat for one of Victoria’s visits.
But in the footage yesterday, as late as 1938 for the inauguration of Douglas Hyde, it would appear from the black and white footage that the main body of the house is of the same grey limestone as the portico, and the white sash windows clearly stand out from the dull walls. I’ve seen the odd pic of the house from the olden days but they’re always wide shots and difficult to make out the colouring.
If this is the case, why was it painted – a direct attempt to emulate the White House?
Not that it doesn’t look great now – with those matching gleaming white chimneys it’s one of the most beautiful sights in this country. At the same time I wouldn’t advocate tackling Russborough today with a bucket of Dulux Weathershield 😀
I’ll try and get a still from the footage – unless someone else has a pic?Here’s the pic of the apparently unpainted house – it’s just interesting how recently it was so drastically altered:
Thats a very interesting topic, i always presumed it was rendered but now that i think about it, of course it wasn’t. I don’t suppose its a painted lime render that was applied? Under the current legislation on Protected Structures there would be no mission of this treatment being approved today, but it just goes to show you that, something deemed to materially alter the character of the building may still look well?!
How do you rate it as a building Graham? Strikes me as being a bit of a hospital from some angles. The portico is impressive
That’s an interesting point you make Sinead – indeed there is an attitude today regarding alterations that, ah sure if it was done before 1960 there’s value in it regardless 🙂
I see what you mean about it looking like a hospital Sue – suppose the severe architecture of the mid-18th century doesn’t best lend itself to being rendered considering how important the materials and relief etc is on such buildings.
Still think it looks amazing though, there’s just something about everything being white, esp when contrasted with the deadpan grey portico on the garden front.
I was looking through the list of projects carried out by the OPW over the years, and the Ãras was ‘altered’ and redecorated between circa 1944-1960, naturally with the infamous Raymond McGrath overseeing the project, so presumably it was around this time that the paint and/or render arrived.
I wonder when the garden front was extended in 1802 and again in the 1850s if it was extended in the red brick the house was built of, or if everything was rendered at the time, or clad in stone.It’s just the inauguration that raised this issue, which I had the pleasure of partially attending on a lovely morning off last Thursday – I was going along directly opposite the Four Courts listening to the proceedings in the Castle on the radio just as the 21 gun salute to the President went off at Collins Barracks. It was a great moment with the guns resounding around the city & the Four Courts, hearing the applause of the Hall, and watching the white plumes of smoke rising over Arran Quay…as the golden autumnal canopies of the trees draped over the rustic granite walls… 😀
And for once not even the traffic noise drowned it out.I decided to see if I could get into the Castle – needless to say Castle St was barricaded up, but the Palace St entrance was still open, just swarming with military people. They didn’t bat an eyelid though so I got in. All the Revenue suits were standing around outside smirking at the proceedings, not least at the Lower Castle Yard which was transformed into a Mercedes car plant – never seen anything like it.
There was a great atmosphere in the Upper Yard, the perfect foil for the occasion, but there were only about 10 members of the public watching from the cross-block archway, which was as far as you could get. You could still easily have got a pot shot at her if you wanted…The army made a mess of marching in time once they got into the Lower Yard out of sight of the cameras; they struggled to say the least trying to get down the hill in a dignified fashion 🙂
It’s interesting that the inauguration takes place literally on the very spot where the gilded thrones of the Viceroy & consort once stood for balls in St Patrick’s Hall – wonder what they would have thought if you told them that 200 years ago, and oh – the President will be living in your house as well, thank you very much 🙂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?
That goes without saying 🙂
Certainly the idea of demolishing the building seems to be a bit far-fetched, esp as efforts were already underway to secure Duiblin Castle and other key state ceremonial assets.
I think the last two Presidents have really made an effort to clean up the ‘Aras’ I have to say i was very proud the day of succession for the new member states. The building looked magnificant. The interior has been given a good refurbishment too!
That must be what they mean about ‘women around the place’!! (only kidding.) They have been two great ambassadors for the island of Ireland
The garden is also to undergo a restroation to an 1830’s design faithfully re-drafted by the OPW architects
Good news. Often laughed at vast tree standing in one of the grassed quadrants to the garden front of the building – looks quite bizarre on its own, disrupting the ordered scheme. Presumably the quadrants are a modern innovation….
Agreed about what the last two Presidents have done for the place – as far as I know the place was falling part when Mary Robinson moved in, despite the earlier restorations. It was viewed as a musty old nursing home for old men beforehand – the ‘send him out to the Park’ phrase being very much so part of that :).
Mary Robinson actually living in the residence itself rather than the 20s wing tacked on the side that Mary McAleese is living in made all the difference no doubt. If I was her I’d pack all the kids off to boarding school so I could move back in to the House proper 😀
The garden front is really magnificent, especially with Johnston’s beautifully proportioned dead grey portico standing out from the gleaming white walls, and the proud chimneys lending it an air of distinguished austerity 🙂
In contrast to the original front which as Sue says unfortunately looks rather like a hospital…Graham you obviously have not been on the tour of the house yet as the OPW guides tell an interesting story about the trees at the front of the house. Orginally there were two trees planted by Prince Albert & Queen Victoria. I believe that Prince Albert’s died over a period of time. The second tree was planted by none other that the Pope John Paul II during his visit to Ireland.
The orginal Clement house was a Red brick house I believe. At the back of the house (the current front door) there was orginally no porch but a very interesting fanlight door which has been retained as part of the inner hall along with a barrel ceiling.
From the Ãras website
There was major resistance to the use of Vice Regal Lodge as the official residence of the President. The power of the old associations still resonated throughout Irish society. Various houses were considered but found wanting. Particular attention was devoted to St. Anne’s in Clontarf, the former residence of Lady Ardilaun then occupied by Bishop Plunkett but when it was found that Dublin Corporation were negotiating with him for the acquisition of its gardens as a public park, the search continued elsewhere “Ashton” in Castleknock was considered and “South Hill” at Milltown but there was always some difficulty.Finally, and with enormous reluctance, it was decided that Vice Regal Lodge would have to be used probably on a temporary basis. Its name was changed to Aras as Uachtarain and, in 1939, President Hyde planted a tree in the grounds, a symbolic act that initiated the new era that the house was about to experience as it became the permanent official residence of the Presidents of Ireland.
I for one am delighted that the Presidency remained in the Aras, alohough alas St Anne’s in clontaf met its own Waterloo. I think all that you have to do is visit nearby Ashtown Castle where they started to knock the third major house in the Park (20th century Papel Nunico’s house) only to discover a castle in the middle of it. Does anyone have a picture of this house?
I think it is a pity that there isn’t further promotion of the buildings within the Phoenix park as now there is almost an archectitural trail with the Aras, Ashtown & Farmleigh. Hoping some day the OPW will eventually restore the Magazine Fort buildings in the Park too. There are also some wonderful lodges throughout the park which I always think would make wonderful tea rooms.
One final interesting fact about the Irish Presidency that is not well published. DeValera apparently approached, the O’Brien, Lord Inchiquin, the apparent direct dessendant of Brian Boru, the last High King of Ireland to become the honorary leader of the Free State in the 1930s. Apparently he politely declined.
🙂
How very interesting, thanks for all that.
Yes the original red brick house was a very handsome mid-Georgian building – think I have a picture somewhere of it.
It’s a pity that while the garden front benefited greatly it would seem from the alterations and additions made, the original house facade did not – including as you say Johnston’s portico, which looks a bit strange now smothered in white, and how it covers the fanlight etc.
Great story about the Victoria and Albert trees – how ironic Albert died off 😀
Is it the single tree centered off the garden portico at the far end of the formal gardens that is the surviving Victoria tree?Agreed about the Viceregal being chosen as the residence in the end, it’s great to have so much history attached to it. Surprising in a way that there was opposition to it being used for the Presidency considering there seems to have been great satisfaction in taking over Dublin Castle and other traditionally Bristish strongholds – one would have assumed the taking of the Lodge would have been executed with great relish :).
Just on Clements, I remember watching a programme on the BBC about a year ago, and the Phoenix Park and the Viceregal Lodge were mentioned for some reason – it really stood out as you don’t hear places like that being mentioned very often on British telly – but at the end, the very final credit for the executive producer was for a man none other than Nathaniel Clements!
Spooky…(I hope to visit the Ãras during the summer as you mention it :))
Interesting idea about the architectural trail of buildings in the Phoenix Park.. I always think the park in general is bursting with potential that’s absolutely abysmally exploited. Dublinspirations had some interesting ideas for the place (including a beach!) I think it’s a great location for the Aras.
Some great buildings…
http://www.irish-architecture.com/buildings_ireland/dublin/northcity/phoenix_park/index.htmland some very unkown to most visitors
Royal Hibernian Military School Chapel
http://www.irish-architecture.com/buildings_ireland/dublin/northcity/phoenix_park/royal_hibernian_military_school_chapel.htmlYes some really lovely stuff in there, including Gandon’s most forgotton building – perhaps with good reason 🙂
An architectural trail is an interesting idea – does the Ashtown Centre cover this area at all, or is it primarily reserved for nature etc? Perhaps it could be done as part of the centre’s remit of explaining the park and its history.
Forgot this – from the official site:
“The President must reside in or near Dublin”
So the President doesn’t necessarily have to live in the Ãras!
And if you can be bothered to look up the Consitiution, it confims this – stating:
“The President shall have an official residence in or near the City of Dublin.”
However, ‘near’ is not defined…
Despite what one may think of the President living in such a stately pile, when you see the amount of tiring hand-shaking ‘engagements’ he/she has to endure weekly, it is clear that an appropriate ‘base’ is needed, that if nothing else is simply large and adaptable enough to cater for the varied nature and amount of guests being recieved.
Having foreign dignitaries being recieved in a 3-bed semi sitting room in Blanchardstown is hardly an option 🙂
Interesting though that the President can choose to live elsewhere, even if they’d have to commute like everyone else to the Ãras two or three days a week.Also just of interest from the Constitution:
2. The President shall receive such emoluments and allowances as may be determined by law.
3. The emoluments and allowances of the President shall not be diminished during his term of office.Actually it is 100% correct. In 1937 and 1938 plans were made to demolish the Aras and base the President either in a house in Castleknock, St Anne’s in Raheny or in the American Ambassador’s residence in the Park. The files on the planned demolition exist – I have read them. But the ‘alternatives’ fell through for various reasons. (The ambassador’s residence was condemned as old fashioned and needing extensive demolition work. The Castleknock one had no electricity, and a bishop refused to vacate St Anne’s to let the president move in.) With weeks to go the Lodge was made the ‘temporary’ Aras. It was so temporary large parts of it, including the ballroom, were locked away out of bounds for the President.
But the Minister for Finance wasn’t enthusiastic about the cost of building a new presidential bungalow in the Aras grounds and landscaping the location of the old Aras. He only gave I think £10 in the 1939 estimates. Then Hitler invaded Poland and the demolition plans were put on hold for the Emergency. By 1945 the building was in such a bad state that it was almost falling down anyway: the reason why presidents until Robinson was living in the wings was because, when they surveyed the house in 1942 to see how it would cope with bombing they judged it so unsafe they had to tell Hyde to move out of the main building that day (while wheeling his wheelchair very slowly in case a sudden movement brought the place down!) lest it fall down on him. In 1945 it was decided to renovate the building and abandon the plans for a presidential bungalow. But Michael McDunphy, the arrogant and difficult Secretary to the President, threw a tantrum (something he was famous for!) and demanded the Aras be knocked. He was annoyed as he had begun to collect art works for the new Aras and hated the old one, thinking it too old-fashioned and too British. But the building was in such a bad state in 1945 the oratory, the kitchens and large chunks of the place had to be knocked.
So Wikipedia is 100% right on that one.
BTW re the idea that the state in the 1930s was sensitive to Irish architecture – not so. I’ve read files where they made plans to demolish all the houses around Merrion Square!!! And they considered converting the GPO into a Catholic Cathedral. As late as the early 1960s Irish ministers were still advocating the demolition of all georgian buildings in Dublin while road engineers drew up plans for a motorway along the quays, with a flyover curving around the outside if the Four Courts!!! 😮
BTW the residential wing presidents Hyde to Hillery and now McAleese live in was built in 1911, not the 1920s, for the visit of King George V and Queen Mary. Presidents like it because it is private and the rooms quite small and on a human scale. Robinson however didn’t like the rooms and in any case the west wing badly needed repair. So she moved back to the old Viceregal Suite that had not been lived in since Hyde had to be hurriedly removed in 1942. The OPW then repaired the wing. McAleese moved back there because she thought it was a better family home for her family and in-laws (who live with her also) than the more formal Viceregal suite.
The building is also supposed to have a ghost of a child, allegedly Winston Churchill, who spent the happiest days of his life there, as a young boy living with his grandfather, the Duke of Marlborough, who was Lord Lieutenant. 😮
Final bit of info – when President Hyde moved in there in 1938, there was hardly a stick of furniture, in fact hardly anything except a bizarre set of portraits of King George III. When Sean T. O’Ceallaigh moved in there in 1945 there were not enough dinner plates, all the cups were chipped and there was barely enough bedclothes for the President’s family. And the kitchen was so dangerous it could not be entered. When Mrs O’Ceallaigh decided to host a garden party her staff panicked. “We don’t have a working kitchen, tableclothes, plates, cutlery, anything. How are we going to host a garden party?” one noted in a file. “We can’t even make coffee. There is nothing to make it in.” :rolleyes:
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