IRL
Ireland
01 Rosalind Fanning and John Joyce during the Famous and Notables of Birr trail. 02 Members of the Birr/ Midlands chapter at Portumna Castle, County Galway
Birr/Midlands Chapter Elizbeth Fogarty 01
Our principal project for the year was the development of the FAN trail -famous and notables – of Birr. The Birr/Midlands Chapter continued in their efforts to organise the acquisition and installation of commemorative blue plaques around the town. This culminated in the launch of 25 plaques at an event in Birr on 29 June 2016 with guest of honour, actor and Birr native Des Keogh. The FAN tourist trail will enhance the experience of visitors to the town. Following the visit of Camilla McAleese, Board Member, IGS, who suggested that membership should be increased , it was decided to change the name of the Chapter to Birr/Midlands in an effort to expand the membership base. As a result, new letterheads were designed to reflect the change. At the annual meeting held in November, the Chapter Head emphasised that the repatriation of the Eyrecourt Staircase from its current home in Detroit should be a main objective over the coming years. It was hoped that the Chicago Chapter would lend its support. A very successful Christmas party took place at Birr Castle in December, graciously hosted by Lord and Lady Rosse with many new and potentially new members in attendance.
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After serving for 23 years as Secretary to the Chapter, Clodagh Dowley tendered her resignation. The Committee regretfully accepted and thanked her sincerely for her sterling service to the Chapter. In January a new secretary, Elizabeth Fogarty, was appointed. The idea of repatriation of the Eyrecourt Staircase came as a result of a meeting between Lord Rosse and Professor Loeber, Pittsburgh University and discussed the matter at the recent exhibition in the Art Institute of Chicago in 2015. The staircase, which had been a main feature of Eyrecourt House built by John Eyre in the late 1660s was purchased by William Randolph Hearst in the 1920s, destined for the Hearst mansion in California but was subsequently donated to the Detroit Institute of Arts where it remains in storage. In April a new member and native of Eyrecourt, Damien O’Connor, who was working on a dissertation on the Eyrecourt Staircase gave a presentation on the subject.
Events During the year Visit of Cork Chapter: 18 June. Birr/ Midlands chapter was delighted to welcome a group of visitors from the Cork Chapter who were treated to tours of the Castle, the Castle gardens and the town. Garden Party, Abbey Leix Estate, 25 June: Members were happy to participate in the garden party co-hosted by Sir David Davies and Birr/Midlands Chapter Blue plaques launch, Birr, 29 June Excursion to East Galway, 2 July : an enjoyable and well supported tour of East Galway Castles was organised by Treasurer, Gerry Browne. Visits to Portumna Castle and Workhouse, Oranmore Castle courtesy of Leonie Leslie and Yeats’ Castle at Thoor Ballylee were included in the programme. Elizabeth Fogarty, Chapter Secretary