In an Irish House

Famed designer Sybil Connolly has edited a magnificent collection of ancestral Irish homes in "In an Irish House." Each of the homes shown herein has stories told in first person by their current occupants, most of whom are the fifth, eighth, twelfth, or even the ninety-sixth generations of their families to live in the home--yes, the O'Conors of the home called Clonalis in County Roscommon are the ninety-sixth generation of O'Conors to live in the area (they trace their lineage back to 75 A.D.!). This book shows us magnificent architectural detail, ranging from Gothick to Italianate to Palladian and beyond; extraordinary oil paintings ranging from portraits of Queen Elizabeth I to local landscapes done by artists like Reynolds and Gainsborough; sumptuous furniture (including the only known extant set of Chippendale furniture still in private hands on p. 125); and lush grounds surrounded by craggy mountains, fast-running streams, and handsome mature trees. A family member from each of the homes tells the story of the home, from its architectural background and significance in the history of the country, to its quirks and oddities which are there to delight the current family. Each of the residents even provides several recipes, ranging from the elegant to the purely simple."In an Irish House" is a delight for anyone who loves the architecture of castles and other grand homes, and a treat for anyone who just likes to take a peek into the homes of people who really know how to live!