Emo 2010 Trip

		Emo 2010 Trip

03-May-2012

Report and photos from trip to Emo Court House, Co. Laois, 2010.

On Saturday 7^th August we went to Emo Court in Co. Laois, this impressive neo classical period house once the home of the Earl of Portarlington and family home of the Dawson Damer’s of which Dawson Street in Dublin is named after. Now the property of the Irish State having been given to them by the last owner Cholmeley Harrison. The house and approximately 270 acres are now in the care of the Office of Public Works.

You could not fail to be impressed with this fine stately home designed by the famous architect James Gandon who was responsible for many fine buildings in Dublin including the Customs House and the Four Courts. From 1930 to 1969 the house was owned by the Jesuit Order of Priests and was used as a seminary. The Jesuits made a number of changes to its interior to suit their requirements however, it must be said that had they not purchased it, it would most likely have fallen into disrepair as so many of the large houses did at that time. When the house was purchased by Cholmeley Harrison in 1969 for what is reputed to be £42,000 he carried out extensive restoration and returned the house to its former glory.

After what was an excellent tour of the house by our guide Ruari we had lunch in the adjoining tea rooms, even this area had its history these rooms were formally the bedroom and studio of Fr. Brown whose photography and photographic publications have been of great benefit to researchers, his photographs of the Titanic being but one example. Ironically Fr. Brown was given a passage to sail on the Titanic but his Bishop would not allow him to travel. Following a walk around the gardens we headed off.

We drove to our hotel in Naas on part of the Gordon Bennett route and arrived at The Killashee House Hotel around 5pm. The hotel was lovely and we had a very enjoyable dinner that evening. Relaxed and refreshed the following morning we drove the route of the 1903 Gordon Bennett race and had some photographs taken at the start/finish section driving back through the Curragh Military Base and on to Newbridge Silver where we had a light lunch and visited the Style Icons Museum at Newbridge Silverware.

We headed off about 3.30pm, it was a most enjoyable weekend and sincere thanks to Barrie Graham who unfortunately could not join us as himself and Noelle were on holidays in his native Scotland and to John O’Driscoll for all the help and organisation and thank you to everyone for attending.

John F Sheehan.