Jun 21–Aug 25, 2017

Buildings of the Irish Town and Countryside

Address
45 Merrion Square, Dublin 2 Map
Hours
Tue–Fri 10am–5pm
E-Mail

An exhibition of Maura Shaffrey’s drawings from the books The Buildings of Irish Towns and Irish Countryside Buildings following their recent donation to the Irish Architectural Archive

‘Buildings are an expression of civilisation and values.’ Patrick and Maura Shaffrey, Preface to Buildings of Irish Towns, 1983

Maura Shaffrey (1940-1997) was one of Ireland’s leading conservation architects. Her passionate interest in historic buildings permeated all of her work. She was among the best-informed Irish architects in this area, having completed a post-graduate degree in the Institute of Advance Architectural Studies, University of York, on the conservation of O’Connell Street, Dublin. With her husband Patrick, she established Shaffrey Associates in 1967 and the firm retains to this day an ethos built on their commitment to principles of conservation and sustainability.
Maura was company secretary of the Irish Architectural Archive, convenor of the planning sub-committee of the Irish branch of ICOMOS, the International Council on Monuments and Sites, and a long-standing member of An Taisce. Her major projects included the King House, Boyle, Co. Roscommon, Ardfert Cathedral, Co. Kerry (winner of the RIAI Triennial Silver Conservation Medal 1999-2001) and Wicklow Head Lighthouse.
Buildings of Irish Towns by Patrick and Maura Shaffrey was published in 1983 and was followed in 1985 by Irish Countryside Buildings. These two books constitute an extraordinary record of ordinary buildings. Paddy and Maura recognised the value and dignity of the commonplace, the everyday, and in these publications they celebrated a vernacular architecture which had been for too long overlooked and unappreciated. Along the way they discovered an array of remarkable architectural gems, both public and private, across the island of Ireland.
Buildings of Irish Towns by Patrick and Maura Shaffrey was published in 1983 and was followed in 1985 by Irish Countryside Buildings. These two books constitute an extraordinary record of ordinary buildings. Paddy and Maura recognised the value and dignity of the commonplace, the everyday, and in these publications they celebrated a vernacular architecture which had been for too long overlooked and unappreciated. Along the way they discovered an array of remarkable architectural gems, both public and private, across the island of Ireland.