The Irish Country House

by Desmond FitzGerald, James Peill, James Fennell (Photographer)

A land of legend and lore, Ireland is also home to some of the most breathtaking residences in the world, ten of which are explored in this charming book. Take a once-in-a-lifetime tour through these historical homes and castles—all still owned and lived in by the original families—furnished with heirlooms and cherished hand-me-downs. From cabinets filled with monogrammed china to cabbage-rose slipcovered sofas nestled beneath tall Gothic windows, the lavish living rooms and bedrooms, print-lined hallways, and well-used mudrooms capture the distinctive personalities of their owners. 

"This is country house porn of the sweetest, most insinuating kind and will probably be a smash." — World of Interiors

"An intimate glimpse of life inside ten wonderful Irish country houses." —Min Hogg

Genres: Architecture, Interior Design, Nonfiction

192 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2010

About the author

Desmond John Villiers FitzGerald, 29th Knight of Glin, was an Irish hereditary knight and president of the Irish Georgian Society.

FitzGerald was the last Black Knight; as he had no sons and the title cannot be passed to a daughter, the title was extinguished with his death.

Reviews

[Drew Canole · Rating 3 out of 5]

A perfect coffee table book full of evocative photos on classic country homes in Ireland. So many beautiful heirlooms, cabinets, china, sofas. I read this while staying at an old country home in Ireland. Not quite as nice as the ones in this book, but I enjoyed my stay.

[R.B. Lemberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous, warm, and wonderfully written, this enchanting book by the last Knight of Glin made me dream about a trip to Ireland.

[Lesley Looper · Rating 4 out of 5]

In these photographs, I was struck by the intricacies of things like the ceilings, the wallpaper, the statues. Formal decorating is the norm in this collection. I found myself lingering over photographs with shelves of books.