Farmleigh Gallery (5)
Farmleigh Gallery
The opening of Farmleigh Gallery in September 2005 marked a significant stage in the development of Farmleigh Estate’s facilities and its contribution to the cultural life of Dublin and Ireland. The existence of the Gallery supplements the substantial art collection in Farmleigh House itself, which is drawn from the OPW Government Art Collection, Guinness family artworks and loans from other art institutions including the National Gallery of Ireland. Once the Estate’s cow sheds, the Gallery building was stunningly transformed by Gerry Cahill Architects and the OPW to create an exhibition space which meets international curatorial and conservation standards. The Gallery’s programme has thus been opened up to attract significant exhibitions making it one of the most prominent exhibition spaces in Ireland.
Farmleigh Gallery works closely with national and international cultural and artistic bodies such as the Arts Council , Culture Ireland, Crafts Council of Ireland, Ceramics Ireland, the British Council and various embassies enabling the exhibition of works which are of artistic, cultural and historical importance. To date the Gallery has showcased many exhibitions one of the highlights being Venice At Farmleigh which showcased the work of Irish artist Gerard Byrne, alongside Turner-nominated Willie Doherty who represented Northern Ireland at the acclaimed Venice Biennale exhibition in 2007.
Farmleigh’s role in providing a residence for visiting Heads of State creates an opportunity for adding an international and public dimension to exhibitions at the Gallery. Past exhibitions include Treasures of Medieval Bulgaria (2005), Korean Art: Tradition, Modernity and Identity (2008) and Kaleidoscope: Contemporary Art from EU Member States which celebrated Ireland’s 2013 Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
House Interiors
Exquisite interiors with hidden doorways, ornate furnishings, a unique library, and a beautiful ballroom
Sculptures
Contemporary sculptures by renowned Irish and international artists located throughout the house and grounds
Gardens
Relaxing gardens and a working walled garden with glasshouses and a vinery
Animals
Native breeds of animals on the grounds of Farmleigh including Kerry cattle, Galway sheep, alpacas, horses, and rescue donkeys
