A Future for Irish Historic Houses - Irish Heritage Trust

- Dunsany has historical associations with the 18 th Lord Dunsany, prolific
author, poet and significant figure in the Irish Revival, as well as his uncle
Sir Horace Plunkett, agricultural reformer and founder of the Irish Cooperative
movement who spent much of his time there.
- The house also has a collateral association with St. Oliver Plunkett. Some
of his belongings are on display in the house, including his watch and ring
and what is reputed to be his crozier.
- Dunsany houses a valuable collection of furniture, paintings, book and
prints. There is still a significant family archive, most of which dates from
c.1750.
Dunsany is one of the very few country houses in the possession of the original
families that was fortunate enough to have had a very wealthy owner (the 16 th Lord
Dunsany) in the 1930s and early 1940s. For this reason, it is possibly in a better
condition than one might expect of a house of its age. However, simply because of its
age and, indeed, size, restoration and conservation work at Dunsany is continuously
ongoing:
- All the roofs require constant attention. In the 1870s, changes were carried
out at Dunsany under the guidance of Sir Gilbert Scott. He was responsible
for removing the eighteenth-century lead from the house and replacing it
with ashfelt. The ashfelt has now cracked, allowing water to seep into the
concrete underneath and there is now the danger that the concrete could
collapse into the rooms below. The roof is thus an immediate problem but
one that is presently unaffordable due to the huge cost involved.
- Also during the Scott renovations, steel lintels were put into the windows
on a new extension, which have subsequently rusted and expanded putting
pressure on the surrounding brickwork. These lintels and surrounding
stone facings will have to be replaced.
- The previous generation of owners kept the main part of the house in
reasonably good condition but they allowed the wings to fall into
dereliction.
- There is a possibility that the rising damp problem in the house is much
more serious than it seems. Work is currently ongoing to deal with the
humidity problem that is building at the base of the walls. This requires the
installation of perforated pipes leading to the various shores, which is an
expensive process.
- Outside the aesthetically challenged galvanised stables erected in 1907
when the present owner’s grandfather became Master of Foxhounds to the
Meath Hunt are in an advanced state of dilapidation.
With considerable hard work and effort, Lord and Lady Dunsany have made the estate
financially self-sufficient and the prospect for the future is secure.
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