- Iveagh House
Iveagh House is both the headquarters of, and a common nickname for, the Department of Foreign Affairs in
Dublin .Iveagh House was originally two houses, nos 80 and 81
St Stephen's Green . No. 80 was designed by Richard Castle in 1736. After both houses were bought byBenjamin Guinness in 1862 he served as his own architect, combined the two houses and produced the building as it now stands. On thePortland stone facade pediment he placed his parents' arms: on the left theMilesian lion, with the red hand of Ulster above, for theMagennis clan ofCounty Down ; and on the right the arms of the Lee family, Dublin builders from about 1700. The building has nine bays, with the central three broken forward and pedimented. The interior of the building is hugely elaborate and decorative, with a staircase and ballroom lined with alabaster. The staircase also has ornate ironwork, marble columns and circular roof lights.The building was donated to the Irish state by Benjamin Guinness's son Rupert in 1939, and was renamed Iveagh House.
The Iveagh Gardens at the back of the house were given to
University College Dublin by Lord Iveagh in 1908, in connection with the formation of its campus on Earlsfort Terrace. The gardens have since been transferred to the OPW and are now used as a public park.External links
* [http://www.dfa.ie/ Department of Foreign Affairs]
* [http://www.foreignaffairs.gov.ie/virtualtour/default.asp Virtual Tour of Iveagh House]
* [http://www.paranormaldatabase.com/ireland/leinster.php Iveagh House - Haunted Cross]
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