Moondance Productions have been granted exclusive access to follow a number of multi-million-euro historical building restoration projects around the country, through the eyes of those spearheading the projects. Focusing on the race to return the interiors of these buildings to their former glory, Great Irish Interiors reveals fascinating and previously unseen work done by historical interiors experts as they source, beg, borrow and steal furniture, artwork and precious artefacts for their sites in time to open these stunning buildings to the public for the tourist season.
Each programme focuses on either private or publicly funded massive restoration projects such as Doneraile Court, Emo Court and Kylemore Abbey. We follow the Historical Interiors experts whose task it is make the inside of these buildings look like what they did in the height of their glory. With the Historical Interiors experts often just working from archives and very little photographic evidence, they have to be creative, but accurate. Great Irish Interiors will involve hitting the road with them and seeking out the furniture and interiors that once belonged to these houses, through auctions, online research, searching warehouses and appealing to local communities. These interiors experts will do whatever it takes to get their building to match up to the photographic evidence that remains.
This series is unique as the focus is firmly on the interiors, it is all about the chase, sourcing the right artwork, paint and wallpaper, furniture and reclaiming special treasures that tell the story of these great houses.
EPISODE 1: DONERAILE COURT (CORK)
Partners in crime in all things historic interiors, Mary Heffernan, Historic Properties Manager of the OPW and Christopher Moore, a Historic House Interiors Specialist, race to renovate one of Ireland’s most coveted stately homes, Doneraile Court in Cork.
EPISODE 2: KYLEMORE ABBEY (GALWAY)
This episode follows the intricate and painstaking restoration of previously unseen rooms at the majestic Victorian Palace and Kylemore Abbey in Connemara which were once home to the kitchens and day rooms of the Benedictine Community and their international girl’s boarding school.
EPISODE 3: EMO COURT (LAOIS)
Emo Court is described as the jewel in Co Laois’s historical crown. This neo-classical mansion dates from the 18th century and was designed by James Gandon for the Earls of Portarlington. Although it is in better nick than Doneraile Court, this huge mansion is a beast of a project, and it needs a lot of TLC.
EPISODE 4: RUSSBOROUGH HOUSE (WICKLOW)
Russborough House is home to one of Ireland’s most famed and coveted Art collections. It includes priceless works by Goya, Vermeer, Peter-Paul Rubens and Vernet. Pauline Swords, the curator, is overseeing the conservation and return of some of Russborough’s most famous masterpieces.
EPISODE 5: JOHNSTOWN CASTLE (WEXFORD)
Located just outside Wexford town in Ireland’s sunny south-east, Johnstown Castle is a stunning example of the Gothic revival architecture of the 19th century. We join curator Matt Wheeler and his team as he pieces together the castle’s 800-year history, bringing Johnstown into the 21st century.
EPISODE 6: CASTLETOWN HOUSE (KILDARE)
Built in 1722, Castletown House, Co. Kildare, was the first palladian mansion in Ireland. Now under the care of the OPW, Mary Heffernan and a team of experts are exploring the history of the Conolly family, while supervising the return of several paintings and items that have been absent from Castletown for decades.
EPISODE 7: STROKESTOWN HOUSE (ROSCOMMON)
A house with a chequered history, Strokestown House was the seat of the Pakenham-Mahon family. Now, curator John O’Driscoll and his team face the challenge of upgrading its heating system so that they can preserve the house’s remarkable contents.
EPISODE 8: KILKENNY CASTLE (KILKENNY)
Originally built by Strongbow, in 1173, Kilkenny Castle was eventually the ancestral home of the Butlers of Ormonde. Now, they’re updating the visitor experience, and a team, led by Mary Heffernan, is working feverishly to conserve, update and reinvigorate the visitor experience at what is one of Ireland’s most beautiful buildings.
EPISODE 9: GLEBE HOUSE (DONEGAL)
Glebe House and Gallery in Co. Donegal was the home of the renowned artist Derek Hill. Now under the care of the OPW, Glebe’s curator and director, Adrian Kelly brings us on a journey through the artist’s extensive collection.
EPISODE 10: FARMLEIGH HOUSE (DUBLIN)
Once a Dublin residence of the fabled Guinness family, Farmleigh, just on the outskirts of Dublin’s Phoenix Park, is the official Irish state guesthouse. This year, Mary Heffernan of the OPW and her team are gearing up for one of their busiest seasons yet.