Extensive renovations have been carried out in the fabulous building known as the Bachelor’s Quarters used by the National Parks and Wildlife Service administration staff at the historic Muckross House in Killarney.
The carpets are direct copies of the original materials used throughout the house as staff took into consideration the quality of the materials required for this project.
Pictures: Drew Dineen
This included the fact that they were restricted from selecting a carpet with natural fibres as this may attract moths which would potentially damage the original soft furnishings. The chosen carpets were from the Ultimate Impressions collection from the Navan.
“It is extremely important to consider the heritage of the building and to retain and maintain the ethos of the house itself,” said Killarney National Park executive officer Marie Brosnan.
“We also had to keep in mind that should the Bachelor’s Quarters be a part of the tour in the future, it was important to select a carpet that is as close to the original as possible”.
Picture: Valerie O’Sullivan
Kerry company Corcoran’s Furniture & Carpets Ltd supplied the carpets for the renovation of the Bachelor’s Quarters of this magnificent building, which is currently used as offices by NPWS administration and management and is not open to the public.
Staff say since the carpet has been laid down it has made a dramatic difference to the acoustics and general ambience of the property. It covers three flights of stairs, 39 steps in total, as well as a sprawling landing area that gives access to working offices and a door that gives access to the upper floor of Muckross House.
The plush new carpet adorning the Bachelor’s Quarters also sweeps downstairs, leading to private access doors that lead to the outdoor stables, a billiards room and the main entrance hall of the house.
Due to the historic significance of Muckross House, the upgrade will be documented by Muckross House Research Library so that this upgrade will be recorded historically as part of the general history of the estate.
Picture: Valerie O’Sullivan
THE HOUSE WITH 62 CHIMNEYS THAT HOSTED A QUEEN
Built between 1938 and 1843 for Colonel Henry Herbert, to a design by the Scottish architect, William Burn., Muckross House is one of the Kingdom’s finest assets. With 65 rooms, it boasts of tall chimney, oriels, stepped gables, finals and mullioned windows.
Today’s visitors enter the building via a port cochere added by the Cork architect William Atkins circa. 1870.
Extensive improvements were undertaken in the 1850s in preparation for the visit of Queen Victoria who stayed in Muckross House on 27/28 August 1861 but this caused financial difficulty for the Herbert family, the owners of the house at that time.
The house has 62 chimneys and the roof presents interesting chimney treatments and much brickwork. Window features include single-storey canted oriel windows, two-storey box bay windows and a series of two-storey canted bay, traditional windows to the south west.
Picture: Valerie O’Sullivan
Renovated in 1870, a single-storey prostyle diastyle sandstone ashlar porte cochere was added to entrance bay, with octagonal piers. This provided a grand covered entrance through which a horse and cart, or vehicle, could pass, providing an impressive impact and shelter for those arriving and departing the house.
The front entryway has a plethora of mounted trophy heads, including an enormous rack of antlers from the now extinct Irish elk found preserved in a local bog.
Materials such as brick work, complex roofs with many gables and decorative ornamentation, reflect the fashion of this era. Timber casements below stone and the use of sandstone is prominent.
Picture: Valerie O’Sullivan
Multiple paned fixed lights are used from the ground floor and to all first-floor windows of the garden front. The use of rich oriel and bay windows and the use of 62 feature chimneys and much brickwork are all materials that add to the elegance of Muckross House.
Cast-iron gas lamp holders and cast-iron gates are seen at the gateway to the service courtyard. Additionally, the stable quarters, build c.1845 features a rubble stone-build outbuilding with segmental-headed integral carriage arches.
Architectural features include the presence of tall chimneys, elaborate gables, ornamental brackets and embellished roofing detail.
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