The Guinness that I am referring to is none other than
Desmond Guinness! He is descended
from the 18th-century brewer that stout drinkers the world over hold in high esteem. Desmond Guinness
is a man of style and grace! When I think of luxury in Ireland the Guinness
family and the Leixlip Castle come to mind. When Desmond and Mariga Guinness
first lived at Leixlip in the 1950’s they became the unlikely champions of
Irish Architecture. Mrs. Guinness (Mariga) was the daughter of a German prince
and had grown up traveling the world and Asia, having no real link to Ireland.,
and although Mr. Guinness had Irish roosts extending back over two centuries,
he had been raised and educated in England. However, being a Guinness he felt
an allegiance to Ireland, and its architecture and in 1958 announced plans to
re-establish the Irish Georgian Society. This was a group that had photographic
records of some of Dublin’s best Georgian buildings earlier in the century. Mr.
Guinness wrote in the Irish Times, that this new version of the society would,
”fight for the protection of what was left of the Georgian Architecture in
Ireland.” The following month
after this announcement they began restoring a building of their own, Leixlip
castle. This was a dilapidated 12th century fortress in west Dublin, which became their home and the
group’s headquarters.
After 50years and series of celebrations, and an amazing
illustrated book, the Irish Georgian society under Desmond Guinness has been
credited with restoring several architectural landmarks across Ireland,
examples being “ the union hall
for Dublin Tailors,“ and “the country’s oldest Palladian house. “ This groupd
has helped bring national attention and a change of heart towards Irish
architecture.
Leixlip Castle itself has its own place in the Society’s
lore, it served as a clubhouse and entertainment attraction for many famous
people, such as Mick Jagger and Marianne Faithful! Over the years , the
Guinesses filled their home with pieces primarily reaped from native soil. Mr.
Guinness, received an award in 2006 from Queen Sofia of Spain on behalf of Europa
Nostra, a pan- European cultural heritage group, which cited his “fifty years”
of unrelenting voluntary efforts” on the behalf of Irelands Architectural
heritage.
Now without further a due , please enjoy the photographs of
this amazing man, and his still extremely beautiful, stylish Leixlip Castle!
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| Desmond Guinness a true man of style, how I love this Ikat jacket he had chosen for this photograph! |
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| Mariga Guinness, lovely and a true lover of classic interiors! |
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| This room is fantastic, the paint color the tapestries the haphazard wood pile in the corner, I love it!! |
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| The use of accessories are done so well, again bright colors for upholstery! |
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| How about this amazing dollhouse and chest of drawers, it lends amazing architecture to this room! |
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| Quintessential horse folk! |
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