Áras to Uachtaráin
Áras an Uachtaráin [ ˈɑːɾəs ən ˈuəxt̪əɾɑːnʲ ] ( Irish for "the President's residence") is the official residence of the President of Ireland in Phoenix Park , Dublin .
Emergence
The original building was designed by park ranger and amateur architect Nathaniel Clements. Construction began in 1751. The government of the British Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (commonly referred to as Viceroy , Viceroy) bought the building as a summer residence in 1782 from Clements for £ 25,000 . The Viceregal Apartments in Dublin Castle were the official residence of the Viceroy . The building in the park was called the Viceregal Lodge (Viceroyal Mansion). The Lord Lieutenant lived there for most of the year since the 1820s. From January to March 17th ( St. Patrick's Day ), the so-called Irish Social Season , he lived in Dublin Castle. The English landscape architect Decimus Burton set up the gardens in the 1840s. An east wing was built on the occasion of Queen Victoria's visit in 1849. In 1852 the building was connected to the Dublin gas network, and in 1908 it was supplied with electricity. In 1911 the building was expanded again for a visit by King George V and his wife .
There were once three state residences in Phoenix Park. In addition to the Viceregal Lodge , these were the Chief Secretary's Lodge (now called Deerfield , used as the embassy of the United States) and the Under Secretary's Lodge (the later Apostolic Nunciature , today demolished).
The Phoenix Park Murders
In 1882, the Phoenix Park murders took place on the site . The Chief Secretary for Ireland , Lord Frederick Cavendish , and his Under-Secretary of State Thomas Henry Burke were attacked by several men and murdered by multiple stabs with scalpels as they returned from Dublin Castle to Viceregal Lodge were. The perpetrators were members of the Irish National Invincibles , a radical split from the Irish Republican Brotherhood . The then Lord Lieutenant John Spencer, 5th Earl Spencer heard the screams of the victims through the window of his residence.
Residence of the Governor General of the Irish Free State
With the formation of the Irish Free State in 1922, the office of Lord Lieutenant was abolished. The new state wanted to house the representative of the Crown, Governor General of the Irish Free State Tim Healy , in a new and smaller residence. However, because of threats from the opponents of the Anglo-Irish Treaty , the IRA , he was temporarily housed at the Viceregal Lodge . It remained the governor general's residence until 1932, when the third and final official, Domhnall Ua Buachalla, moved into a rented apartment building in the southern part of Dublin.
Residence of the President of Ireland
The building stood empty for a few years until the office of President of Ireland ( Uachtarán na hÉireann ) was created in 1937. In 1938 the first President Douglas Hyde moved in . There were plans to build a new presidential palace in place of the Viceregal Lodge . However, the outbreak of World War II saved the building, which has now been renamed Áras an Uachtaráin . In 1945 the building was already very much associated with the office of President, so that demolition was no longer an option, although the poor condition alone made it necessary to partially rebuild, especially the kitchens, servants' quarters and the chapel. Since then, further restoration work has been carried out.
The first President Douglas Hyde lived in the residential quarters on the first floor of the main building. Later presidents moved into the new wing, which was built for King George V's visit in 1911. In 1990 Mary Robinson moved back to the main building. Her successor, Mary McAleese, lived in the wing from 1911.
Although Áras an Uachtaráin is probably not as ostentatious as other official seats of European heads of state, with only a handful of representative rooms (the State Drawing Room , the small and large dining rooms, the President's office and library, a large ball room, and the Presidential Corridor with the busts former president, the so-called Francini Corridor ) and some bedrooms from the 18th and 19th centuries in the main building, it is a comparatively comfortable state residence.
All Taoisigh and government officials receive their deeds from the President in Áras an Uachtaráin, as do all judges, attorneys general, the Comptroller and Auditor General and senior officers in the Irish Armed Forces . It is also the venue for the Presidential Commission and State Council meetings .
Áras an Uachtaráin also houses the headquarters of the Garda Mounted Unit of the Garda Síochána .
The Office of Public Works completely furnishes the private rooms of the Áras an Uachtaráin for the presidential family.
Visitors
State guests are usually not accommodated in the Áras an Uachtaráin. Although it contains 92 rooms, many rooms are required for housing presidential records, household and official staff, including military aides-de-camp , the president's secretary, and press offices. In 2001, a guest residence was established nearby in a former Guinness family estate called Farmleigh .
Áras an Uachtaráin is open to guided groups of visitors every Saturday. Access is free.
Individual evidence
- ^ Outline History of Áras an Uachtaráin . In: Áras an Uachtaráin . Retrieved February 18, 2013.
- ^ Mammoth task of moving out done in military style . In: Irish Independent , November 10, 2011. Retrieved February 19, 2014.
Web links
- official website of the Áras an Uachtaráin
- Virtual tour through the representation rooms
- Visitor information at Heritage Ireland
Coordinates: 53 ° 21 '34.8 " N , 6 ° 19' 2.8" W.