Conserve Your Dublin Period House, the popular series run by the Irish Georgian Society, is extending its expertise online. Its talks take place on Zoom this year, at 1pm each Tuesday between March 9th and May 25th.
The 2021 series begins with insights into the evolution of Dublin’s domestic architecture. Dublin City Council’s heritage officer, Charles Duggan, will talk about the different styles of properties in the capital and why they came to be designed that way.
For those at the doer-upper stage of life, or even just dreaming of buying such a property, the Maintenance and Controlling Damp talk, on March 23rd, is a diary date worth noting. This practical walk through the subject is by Frank Keohane, whose building-conservation expertise is available in a conservation manual, Irish Period Houses, published by Dublin Civic Trust (and available to buy online from the Irish Georgian Society for €45).
Anyone considering extending their home should tune into Sensitively Extending Your Protected Structure, on March 30th, a presentation by Dublin City Council conservation officer Mary McDonald. Crucially, it will cover any potential headaches with your plans before you even have them drafted.
Windows, often considered the eyes of a building, will be addressed by Dr Nessa Roche in her presentation, Historic Windows: Their History, Significance and Conservation, on April 6th. The senior architectural adviser at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage's built-heritage advisory unit is also the author of A Guide to the Repair of Historic Windows, one of the titles in the department's advice series, which is well worth a look.
The talks also cover ironworks, roofing, brickwork and pointing, and should also be of interest to anyone considering an application to the Living City Initiative, which gives tax breaks to people who live in historic inner-city areas.
Each lecture costs €15 to attend via Zoom, and it’s available to view for up to seven days after broadcast. You can save €55 by signing up for the whole 12-week course for €125.
