Richard Castle was the pre-eminent architect and landscape designer in Ireland from 1733 until his death in 1750. Yet there is still much to learn about his origins, training, office practice and engagement with craft practitioners. His commissions included the principal town and country houses of the period and public buildings in the capital and the provinces. His surviving domestic works include Powerscourt, Hazelwood, Iveagh House, Tyrone House, Westport House, Carton, Leinster House, Newman House (85 St Stephen’s Green), Belvedere House and Russborough, together with public projects such as Knockbreda Church and the Rotunda Hospital.

This one-day symposium draws together new and existing scholarship on Castle’s output and considers his legacy in terms of architecture, decoration and landscape. The first such event dedicated to Richard Castle, it includes speakers from Ireland, Europe and Britain and takes place in one of the architect’s finest and best-preserved buildings, Russborough House in County Wicklow.

9.30 Registration

10.00 - 10.25 Richard Castle, architect: what we know and what we need to know. Prof. Christine Casey, TCD.

10.25 - 10.50 The troubled life of Richard Castle. Dr. Barbara Freitag, DCU.

10.50 - 11.15 Drawings by Richard Castle at the Irish Architectural Archive. Simon Lincoln, IAA

11.15 - 11.40 Coffee Break

11.40 - 12.05 Richard Castle and 18th century woodworking crafts.
Nele Luttmann, TCD.

12.05 - 12.30 Staircases and stair halls in the work of Richard Castle: a study in 18th Century craftsmanship. Dr. Andrew Tierney, TCD.

12.30 - 1.00 Questions and Answers

1.00 - 2.00 Lunch

2.00 - 2.25 Craft practice in Richard Castle's early country houses.
Dr. Melanie Hayes, TCD.

2.25 - 2.50 Richard Castle in the context of British 18th century
architecture. Dr. Steven Brindle, English Heritage.

2.50 - 3.05 Comfort Break

3.05 - 3.30 Richard Castle's landcapes: design challenges and opportunities. Prof. Finola O'Kane Crimmins, UCD.

3.30 - 3.55 Richard Castle and the early designed landscape at Russborough. Christopher Gallagher, historic landscape consultant.

3.55 - 4.20 Questions and Answers

Tickets at www.russborough.ie €55 | €25 Student