Farmleigh
Encyclopedia
Farmleigh is the official Irish State
guest house. It was formerly one of the Dublin residences
of the Guinness family
. It is situated on an elevated position above the River Liffey
to the north-west of the Phoenix Park
. The estate of 78 acre (32 ha) consists of extensive private gardens with stands of mature cypress, pine and oak trees, a boating pond, walled garden, sunken garden, out offices and a herd of rare native Kerry cattle
. It was purchased from the 4th Earl of Iveagh
in 1999 for €29.2 million. A state body—the Office of Public Works
(OPW)—spent in the region of €23 million restoring the house, gardens and curvilinear glasshouses, bringing the total cost to the state to €52.2 million. Farmleigh was opened to the public in July 2001.
house built in the 18th century. It was purchased by Edward Cecil Guinness
when he married his cousin Adelaide Guinness in 1873. He was a great-grandson of Arthur Guinness
and was created Baron Iveagh in 1891 and Earl of Iveagh
in 1919. A major renovation programme took place between 1881 and 1884 that extended the house to the west and added a third floor designed by Irish architect James Franklin Fuller
. A ballroom was added in 1896, designed by the Scottish architect William Young. The conservatory was added in 1901.
Visitors to Farmleigh gain some insight into the character of Edward Cecil Guinness, 1st Lord Iveagh, from the landscaped gardens, the classical architecture, and the symmetrical, sober layout. There are also many tapestries on display, which Guinness collected as historic and unusual textiles while travelling through Europe
as a young man. The earls' library, on loan to the state, contains some of the earliest books printed in Ireland
.
It is located in the civil parish
of Castleknock
, the Governor-General of New Zealand
, and Queen Elizabeth II. However, the estate only hosted seven visiting dignitaries in 2006 (the most in one year), six in 2008, and only two the following year. Also in 2009, 246,000 members of the public visited the estate.
Farmleigh has also been used as the venue for the RTÉ
proms, a public concert series that takes place each summer in a large marquee erected on the grounds.
In 2006 it was announced by the OPW
that the Steward's Lodge which is located in the grounds of Farmleigh had been renovated. It was speculated at the time that the lodge was to become an official residence
of the Taoiseach
. Former Taoiseach Brian Cowen
used the lodge for this purpose on occasion, staying at the lodge while in Dublin. His successor, Enda Kenny
, became the first full-time resident at the Steward's Lodge.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
guest house. It was formerly one of the Dublin residences
House
A house is a building or structure that has the ability to be occupied for dwelling by human beings or other creatures. The term house includes many kinds of different dwellings ranging from rudimentary huts of nomadic tribes to free standing individual structures...
of the Guinness family
Guinness family
The Guinness family is an extensive aristocratic Irish Protestant family noted for their accomplishments in brewing, banking, politics and religious ministry...
. It is situated on an elevated position above the River Liffey
River Liffey
The Liffey is a river in Ireland, which flows through the centre of Dublin. Its major tributaries include the River Dodder, the River Poddle and the River Camac. The river supplies much of Dublin's water, and a range of recreational opportunities.-Name:The river was previously named An Ruirthech,...
to the north-west of the Phoenix Park
Phoenix Park
Phoenix Park is an urban park in Dublin, Ireland, lying 2–4 km west of the city centre, north of the River Liffey. Its 16 km perimeter wall encloses , one of the largest walled city parks in Europe. It includes large areas of grassland and tree-lined avenues, and since the seventeenth...
. The estate of 78 acre (32 ha) consists of extensive private gardens with stands of mature cypress, pine and oak trees, a boating pond, walled garden, sunken garden, out offices and a herd of rare native Kerry cattle
Kerry cattle
Kerry cattle are a rare breed of dairy cattle, native to Ireland. They are believed to be one of the oldest breeds in Europe. Their coat is almost entirely black, with a little white on the udder. The horns are whitish with dark tips...
. It was purchased from the 4th Earl of Iveagh
Arthur Guinness, 4th Earl of Iveagh
Arthur Edward Rory Guinness, 4th Earl of Iveagh, DL , is a member of the Guinness family. He is the son of Arthur Francis Benjamin Guinness, 3rd Earl of Iveagh, and Miranda Guinness...
in 1999 for €29.2 million. A state body—the Office of Public Works
Office of Public Works
The Office of Public Works is a State Agency of the Department of Finance in the Republic of Ireland...
(OPW)—spent in the region of €23 million restoring the house, gardens and curvilinear glasshouses, bringing the total cost to the state to €52.2 million. Farmleigh was opened to the public in July 2001.
History
Farmleigh was once a small GeorgianGeorgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
house built in the 18th century. It was purchased by Edward Cecil Guinness
Edward Guinness, 1st Earl of Iveagh
Edward Cecil Guinness, 1st Earl of Iveagh, KP, GCVO, FRS was an Irish philanthropist and businessman.-Public life:...
when he married his cousin Adelaide Guinness in 1873. He was a great-grandson of Arthur Guinness
Arthur Guinness
Arthur Guinness was an Irish brewer and the founder of the Guinness brewery business and family.He was also an entrepreneur, visionary and philanthropist....
and was created Baron Iveagh in 1891 and Earl of Iveagh
Earl of Iveagh
Earl of Iveagh is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1919 for the businessman and philanthropist Edward Guinness, 1st Viscount Iveagh. He was the third son of Sir Benjamin Guinness, 1st Baronet, of Ashford, and the great-grandson of Arthur Guinness, the founder of the...
in 1919. A major renovation programme took place between 1881 and 1884 that extended the house to the west and added a third floor designed by Irish architect James Franklin Fuller
James Franklin Fuller
James Franklin Fuller was an Irish actor, architect and novelist.-Life:Fuller was born in Derryquin, Sneem, County Kerry, the only son of Thomas Harnett Fuller of Glashnacree, County Kerry, by his first wife, Frances Diana, a daughter of Christopher Bland of Derryquin Castle...
. A ballroom was added in 1896, designed by the Scottish architect William Young. The conservatory was added in 1901.
Visitors to Farmleigh gain some insight into the character of Edward Cecil Guinness, 1st Lord Iveagh, from the landscaped gardens, the classical architecture, and the symmetrical, sober layout. There are also many tapestries on display, which Guinness collected as historic and unusual textiles while travelling through Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
as a young man. The earls' library, on loan to the state, contains some of the earliest books printed in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.
It is located in the civil parish
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
of Castleknock
Castleknock
Castleknock is a suburb of Dublin, Ireland. It is in the west of the modern administrative county of Fingal within the traditional county of Dublin. It is located west of the centre of Dublin....
Current use
The estate was purchased from the Guinness family by the state in 1999. The official reason for the €29.2 million purchase, and subsequent expenditure of €23 million in refurbishment, was that it would be used for state purposes. Specifically, it is designated as "an official State guest house for visiting heads of State and dignitaries. Some notable visitors have been hosted at Farmleigh including the Chinese Prime Minister, the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, the King of Malaysia, British Prime Minister Tony BlairTony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
, the Governor-General of New Zealand
Governor-General of New Zealand
The Governor-General of New Zealand is the representative of the monarch of New Zealand . The Governor-General acts as the Queen's vice-regal representative in New Zealand and is often viewed as the de facto head of state....
, and Queen Elizabeth II. However, the estate only hosted seven visiting dignitaries in 2006 (the most in one year), six in 2008, and only two the following year. Also in 2009, 246,000 members of the public visited the estate.
Farmleigh has also been used as the venue for the RTÉ
Raidió Teilifís Éireann
Raidió Teilifís Éireann is a semi-state company and the public service broadcaster of Ireland. It both produces programmes and broadcasts them on television, radio and the Internet. The radio service began on January 1, 1926, while regular television broadcasts began on December 31, 1961, making...
proms, a public concert series that takes place each summer in a large marquee erected on the grounds.
In 2006 it was announced by the OPW
Office of Public Works
The Office of Public Works is a State Agency of the Department of Finance in the Republic of Ireland...
that the Steward's Lodge which is located in the grounds of Farmleigh had been renovated. It was speculated at the time that the lodge was to become an official residence
Official residence
An official residence is the residence at which heads of state, heads of government, gubernatorial or other senior figures officially reside...
of the Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
. Former Taoiseach Brian Cowen
Brian Cowen
Brian Cowen is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 7 May 2008 to 9 March 2011. He was head of a coalition government led by Fianna Fáil which until 23 January 2011 had the support of the Green Party and independent TDs.Cowen was also leader of Fianna Fáil from 7 May...
used the lodge for this purpose on occasion, staying at the lodge while in Dublin. His successor, Enda Kenny
Enda Kenny
Enda Kenny is an Irish Fine Gael politician, and has been the Taoiseach since 2011. He has led Fine Gael since 2002. He served as Minister for Tourism and Trade from 1994 to 1997. He is also a two-term Vice President of the European People's Party.Kenny has been a Teachta Dála for Mayo since...
, became the first full-time resident at the Steward's Lodge.