Robert O’Byrne is a writer and lecturer specialising in the fine and decorative arts. He is the author of more than a dozen books, among them Luggala Days: The Story of a Guinness House (Cico Books) and The Last Knight: A Tribute to Desmond FitzGerald, 29th Knight of Glin (Lilliput Press). A former Vice-President of the Irish Georgian Society and trustee of the Alfred Beit Foundation, he is currently a trustee of the Apollo Foundation. Among other work he writes a monthly column for Apollo magazine (http://www.apollo-magazine.com), and also contributes to each issue of the quarterly Irish Arts Review (http://www.irishartsreview.com). All opinions expressed herein on Ireland, her landscape, architecture and artefacts are his own.
I can report he is now firmly anchored in the correct place and, I can see, has already been active; prodigiously posting comments. I am in no doubt that these will provide abundant material for debate at our next soiree!
I note from the Irish Times that a pair of spectacles belonging to W B Yeats have sold for an eye popping 10,000 EURO. We were wondering if the Irish Aesthete has acquired these as he has a tendency to be found sporting such delightful round frames?
If only (sadly the budget doesn’t stretch to a pince nez of that price…)
Understood. However 10K for Yeats’ old specs seems a paltry sum compared to other frenzied sale room activity this week. The absurd sum paid for Salvator Mundi (contrast it with the thirty pieces of silver) leaves me at once astounded and perplexed- I thought there was little market for Christian art. I need to de-code Da Vinci.
Hi there, is it possible to sign up for alerts whenever there’s a new post? I’ve only discovered this site today and have just spent the last two hours trawling through your archives!
Thank you for getting in touch. There ought to be a ‘Follow’ button on the opening page of the site and if you use that, you will be informed of new posts automatically. I hope this works and thank you for your interest…
Dear Mr O’ Byrne,
We are currently involved in a conservation led restoration of one of 6 of O’ Dochartaigh connected Castles in Uslter – O’ Doherty’s Keep which is located at Tullyarvan, Buncrana, County Donegal. May I ask if you have ever covered O’ Doherty’s Keep and it’s history in your writings or if not could you direct me to useful sources of such historical material?
Best regards,
Ronan O’ Doherty.
Thank you for getting in touch. Although I know of O’Doherty’s Keep I have not visited the site, nor written about it.
A good first port of call for you would be the Irish Architectural Archive, which is likely to have useful material for you.
Next time I am in Donegal I shall try to make a point of visiting the keep…
Dear Mr O’ Byrne,
Thank you very much for your reply snd information which I will certainly follow up on. Please let us know if you happen to visit the Keep at any time.
Yours sincerely,
Ronan O’ Doherty.
Robert, thank you for referencing Voices from the Great Houses Cork and Kerry in your fine piece on Dromore Castle. It was a pleasure to meet and record Jane Waller on her family history
Dear Robert,
I now live in France and have only just found your site with its reference to a piece on Dromore castle. Previously, I lived near Askeaton and Dromore and would be most interested to see your article if this would be possible.
Best wishes,
David Hewson
Thank you for getting in touch. You can see what I wrote about Dromore by looking at https://theirishaesthete.com/2013/12/30/une-folie-de-grandeur/ and also https://theirishaesthete.com/2014/03/03/more-and-more-dromore/
I hope this will be of interest to you…
I apologize, Robert. Did I miss a recent article on Dromore Castle(the Pery Castle, that is.)?
Please see my response to David Hewson, with the links to two pieces on Dromore (there are also a couple of shorter texts from that period). I hope these will be of interest…
Dear Robert, Any idea where I might purchase a copy of “After a Fashion ….” The Little Museum stock has been devoured?
Thanks for getting in touch: I left a few additional copies in the Little Museum on Tuesday – are they gone? Please let me know and I might (no promises) be able to secure one or two more…
I popped in Friday afternoon and they were gone ….
I have sent you an email…
Hello Robert,
I contact you in relation to an exhibition on Sybil Connolly we are working on at The Hunt Museum. This is due to open on April 19th. I am developing the public programming around the exhibition. Might it be possible to speak to you about this?
Many thanks,
Maria
Where is the Hunt Museum?
I sent you an email last evening…
What a wonderful website this is!! Thank you so much. I have just spent a long time looking through the Meath pages and I am speechless. Wonderful work. May I ask if you could look at a photo of a Tower house in Meath and see if you have ever come across it? I could send it to you by email. Thank you.
Thank you for getting in touch, and for your kind comments which are much appreciated. I see you are now following me on Facebook, so you ought to be able to send me the image that way? Please let me know if this is possible…
Robert: I, also, wish to add my comments to your comments about the Antiquities of Ireland. I am across the Pond, in Maine, and was introduced to your Blog in preparation for my family genealogy work back in 2013. I picked your brain, and files on Dromore (Limerick).
Your posts are fascinating and each is consumed by not myself but also my Interior decorator wife. You, sir, are an inspiration to save for another plane ticket. Many thanks.
John
Thank you for getting in touch, and for the kind comments – very glad both you and your wife enjoy what you find here: please spread the word, always delighted to find more readers…
Dear Robert,
My name is Benedict. I love your work and your wonderful blog! I would very much like to ask you for help, could you share your email? Please don’t ignore it.
All good wishes,
B.
Good morning Robert
Staying in an hotel in Christchurch and tuned in to see you on a programme about Irish Castles. Hope all is well. Regards Dominic Owen
Dear Dominic
How amusing: fame at last, in old age…
Trust this finds all well with you, do let me know if you are over in these parts again
R
Good of you to get back. Love what you are doing with your Instagram and blog. Hope Cathal is well. Dominic
Greetings, I wonder if you have any information about Cork House, the Dublin mansion of Lord Cork c. 1652. I understand he rebuilt the NW tower and the mansion was contiguous to it. Looking at several old maps and artistic representations, I’m a little confused: Cork Tower was supposedly named for Boyle’s contributions to the rebuilding of the tower, but it seems Castle Street is closer to the NW tower location, and Cork Hill curves in front of the NE tower (Storehouse?). I am working on a historical piece, and would like to be as accurate as possible how Cork House was situated relative to the Castle. If there are any descriptions of Cork House to be had, I would be forever grateful.
I’m afraid nothing immediately comes to mind. If I come across anything relevant, I shall let you know…