Speech to the Alfred Beit Foundation
Russborough House, Co. Wicklow, 4th March 2014
Ladies and Gentlemen, A Dhaoine Uaisle,
Tá áthas orm a bheith anseo i Russborough tráthnóna. Is mian liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil le Judy Woodworth, cathaoirleach Fhondúireacht Alfred Beit, agus leis na hiontaobhaithe as ucht a gcuireadh caoin dom cuairt a thabhairt ar an áit álainn seo, agus libhse ar fad as ucht na fíorchaoin fáilte sin a d’fhear sibh romham. Ba mhór an onóir dom fresin cuireadh a fháil chun crann a chur anseo. Tá áthas orm é a chur in aice an chrainn a chur mo réamhtheachtaí, an tUachtarán Mhic Giolla Íosa.
[I am delighted to be here in Russborough this afternoon. May I thank Judy Woodworth, Chair of the Alfred Beit Foundation, and the trustees, for the kind invitation to visit this wonderful place. I also thank all of you for the warm welcome. I am honoured to have been invited to plant a tree here. I am pleased to plant it alongside that planted by my predecessor, President McAleese.]
Standing here in this splendid Saloon, one cannot fail but to be struck by the beautiful stucco ceiling above us, attributed as it is to the Swiss-Italian brothers Paolo and Fillippo Lafranchini, or indeed by the magnificent paintings and furniture that adorn this room.
The State Corridor in Áras an Uachtaráin also features panels cast from pieces by the Lafranchini brothers, the originals of which are in Riverstown House, in Cork.
Russborough is indeed a jewel in the crown of Ireland’s historic houses. Its importance lies not only in its contents, its architecture, its immediate demesne and its visual power derived from a unique mix of symmetry, poise and complexity, but also in what it now represents to us as a nation. Its setting within the wider landscape represents a harmonious union between art and nature.
Aptly described as “arguably the most beautiful house in Ireland”, the history of Russborough is a fascinating one, which was wonderfully captured in the recently published book, to which I contributed the foreword, Russborough: A Great Irish House, its Families and Collections by William Laffan and Kevin Mulligan.
Conceived during the Enlightenment, the project that is Russborough House has borne witness to nearly three hundred years of Irish history. Its story encapsulates an important part of our story as a nation. It does not just remind us of the often contentious relations between those who owned the soil and those who tilled it, but also symbolises the intertwined and often fractious narrative of these islands.
Yet, as we now realise, the significance of places such as Russborough is immense, not only in symbolic terms, as they constitute essential components of our history which itself defies any simplistic definition. While many of the great houses were once considered, in an unfortunately narrow view, as alien to our ‘true heritage’ and unworthy of preservation, a view which ignored the human labour, craft and genius of these buildings, there are now few who would not agree that the Irish country house is an intrinsic part of Ireland’s social, cultural and architectural heritage.
Over the course of Russborough’s existence, three families – the Leesons, the Dalys and the Beits – have successively served as its creators, guardians and saviours. The story of the Leesons is well known – how they went, within a generation, from being brewers to becoming ennobled, “catching manners” as they rose. Russborough not only manifested their dynastic and political ambitions, it also served as a remarkable setting for their great collection of paintings, furniture, silver, bronzes and sculpture. We are fortunate to be able to continue to enjoy this collection, gifted to the National Gallery of Ireland in 1901 by the last Countess of Milltown.
Those who lived and worked in Russborough over the years witnessed great changes – from the 1798 Rebellion, which, incidentally, was given discreet support by the Leeson family, to the war of independence. Russborough escaped the destruction of the Irish revolutionary period, during which so many of Ireland’s country houses were destroyed. Yet, like many others, it went on to become marooned in an unforgiving cultural, political and economic landscape after independence, and has only endured thanks to the efforts of, first the Daly family, who purchased the house in 1932, and then Sir Alfred and Lady Beit, who acquired it in 1952.
In 1977, in a remarkable act of generosity, Sir Alfred and Lady Beit transferred Russborough, and later, much of the Beit Collection, to be held in trust by the Alfred Beit Foundation for the Irish nation. The Beit Collection is one of the most important private art collections of the 20th century, highlighting the richness and diversity of our shared European heritage. A decade later, the couple donated a significant number of works of art to the National Gallery of Ireland, including masterpieces by Velázquez, Murillo, Steen, Vermeer and Raeburn.
The Beits’ contribution to Ireland’s heritage was recognised by my predecessor, former President Mary Robinson when, following the approval of the Government of Ireland, she conferred honorary Irish citizenship on them in May 1993, an event which I had the honour of attending, as Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht.
Today, Russborough has become a genuinely public space, shared and enjoyed by all. It is a place where inclusion and respect for our shared heritage is at its very core. As President of Ireland, may I express my gratitude to the Alfred Beit Foundation for taking care of this magnificent house and landscape, and making its wonderful contents accessible to the public. The work of the Foundation has ensured that Russborough not only forms part of our cultural patrimony, but also acts as a catalyst for regeneration, providing employment and so many other benefits to the community.
The events Russborough will host this year are indicative of how the role of the Irish country house has changed from being exclusive and exclusionary to being inclusive. Highlights include treasure hunts, horse and carriage rides, dog trials, musical recitals and a seminar on “how to spot a fake work of art” – although I trust that all those on display here today are genuine!
The demesne – with its magnificent plant collection, its beech maze and walled garden – attracts those who love gardens, while the recently opened greenway which links the town of Blessington to Russborough will enable visitors to appreciate magnificent scenery and wildlife. The annual candlelit walk which raises monies for the local church, and a fundraising walk for the local Gaelscoil, are two additional examples of how Russborough brings a community together.
2015 is, of course, the year of Irish Design. I am greatly pleased to be the patron of this initiative, which will promote all that is best about contemporary Irish crafts in their many different forms. I was pleased, therefore, to meet, in the Music Room, a group of talented artisans and craft workers, who will be showcasing their unique craftwork at an Irish Design event here later this year.
Sustaining and conserving a property of this size and stature is not an easy task. When we think back to the extensive damage by fire to the West Wing in 2010, the fragility of these great houses is only too obvious. Happily, though, there are many on-going projects involving the restoration and enhancement of Russborough. For example, the Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland has taken on the restoration of the four-acre walled garden, with the help of a team of dedicated volunteers. The restoration of the Japanese bridge, the ice-house and the lime-kiln are also an achievement, and I have every faith that the Alfred Beit Foundation will successfully manage to restore the other parts of the estate in need of rejuvenation.
Elizabeth Bowen once wrote of the Irish country house:
“I am struck by some quality that they all have – not so much isolation as mystery. Each house seems to live under its own spell, and that is the spell that falls on the visitor from the moment they pass in at the gates.”
We are fortunate indeed that Russborough continues to cast its spell over us, and I hope and trust it will continue to do so for many years to come.
Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir.