Irish Social Season

Irish Social Season

The Irish Social Season was a period of aristocratic entertainment and social functions that stretched from January to St. Patrick's Day of a given year. During this period, the major and minor nobility left their country residences and lived in Georgian mansions in places like Ruthland (now Parnell Square), Mountjoy Square, Merrion Square and Fitzwilliam Square in Dublin. Those with less financial means lived in (or in some cases rented) smaller properties in streets nearby.

The focal point of the Social Season was the move of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (the King's representative) from his 'out of season' residence, the Viceregal Lodge (now the Irish Presidential Palace) to live in state in the Viceregal Apartments in Dublin Castle, where he and his wife hosted a series of levées, drawing rooms, banquets and balls in the Castle.

The period of the social season also coincided with the parliamentary sessions of the Irish House of Lords, which many of the peers in Dublin would be attending. However the Irish Parliament was abolished with the Act of Union which merged the Kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland in 1801.

With the abolition of the lord lieutenancy in 1922, the emergence of a new nationalist state (the Irish Free State) the same year, and the economic and social downturn that resulted from World War I, the Social Season dwindled and then died. Most of the aristrocratic homes in Merrion Square and Fitzwilliam Square were sold and are now used as corporate offices.

Among the Irish peers who would reside in Dublin during the 'Social Season' were

*Duke of Leinster "(Ireland's senior peer)"
*Marquess of Slane
*Duke of Ormonde
*Lord Powerscourt
*Earl of Fingall
*Earl of Headfort


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Irish Houses of Parliament — The Irish Houses of Parliament ( ga. Tithe na Parlaiminte, also known as the Irish Parliament House, today called the Bank of Ireland, College Green due to its modern day use as a branch of the bank) is the world s first purpose built two chamber …   Wikipedia

  • Irish Museum and Cultural Center — The Irish Museum and Cultural Center is the newest addition to the active Irish American community in Kansas City, Missouri, USA. It is a non profit organization which uses volunteer help. It opened in its current location in Union Station on… …   Wikipedia

  • Out of season (Ireland) — The term out of season was used to describe the living arrangements of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and which of his two official residences in Dublin he lived in. The term referred to the social season. During the Irish social season, which… …   Wikipedia

  • Irish Traveller — For other uses of the term see Traveler. Irish Travellers ( ga. Lucht siúil) are an itinerant people of Irish origin living in Ireland, Great Britain and the United States. It is estimated that 25,000 Travellers live in Ireland, between 200,000… …   Wikipedia

  • Irish Film and Television Awards — The Irish Film and Television Awards (IFTAs) were first awarded in 1999. Its sole aim is to celebrate Ireland s small yet talented film and television community. The ceremony is considered Ireland s most prestigious awards event. The Irish Film… …   Wikipedia

  • Irish Mountaineering Club — The Irish Mountaineering Club (in Irish, Cumann Sléibhteoireachta na hÉireann , usually called The IMC ) is a mountaineering club based in Dublin, Ireland. Its activities encompass all aspects of mountaineering, but its climbing activities are… …   Wikipedia

  • The Irish (in Countries Other Than Ireland) —     The Irish (in countries other than Ireland)     † Catholic Encyclopedia ► The Irish (in countries other than Ireland)     I. IN THE UNITED STATES     Who were the first Irish to land on the American continent and the time of their arrival are …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • The Simpsons (season 20) — The Simpsons Season 20 The Blu ray cover of this season s boxset. Country of origin United States …   Wikipedia

  • Boston Irish Wolfhounds — Rugby team teamname = Boston Irish Wolfhounds imagesize = 200px fullname = Boston Irish Wolfhounds Rugby Football Club nickname = Wolfhounds union = USA Rugby country url = www.biwrfc.com founded = 1989 ground = Irish Cultural Centre capacity = 2 …   Wikipedia

  • Michael Scott (Irish author) — This article is about Michael Scott (Irish author). For other uses, see Michael Scott (disambiguation). Michael Scott Born 28 September 1959 (1959 09 28) (age 52) Dublin, Ireland …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”