Took a trip to Russburough today to take in the christmassy atmosphere of a Palladian house.
A wonderful tour guide brought us through the unique Russborough – designed and built to an unrivalled standard, and surviving almost unaltered since the 18th century to today because of the extraordinary love of 3 families who owned it.
The Leeson family who organised the building and started the acquisition of an impressive collection of paintings, sculpture and furnishings.
In 1931, the house was bought by Captain Denis Daly and his wife Maeb, for €9000. Their two daughters Anne and Avia were the last children to call Russborough home.
In 1952, the house and estate were sold to the Sir Alfred and Lady Clementine Beit, owners of a world-class European fine and decorative arts collection. They installed the Beit Collection (world-renowned works by leading Dutch, British and Spanish artists including Jan Vermeer, Henry Raeburn, and Francisco de Goya) into their new home.
The house opened to the public in 1976.
I hope my photos give you a feeling for being in Russborough today.
