28th Aug 2022- Iveagh Gardens

 




On Sunday the 28th Aug, Dublin Sketchers will sketch around Iveagh Gardens from 2pm and meet for drinks at 4pm in Costa Coffee, (14-16 Redmond's Hill, Dublin 2, D02 K237). There are lots of good spots to draw from.   


Interesting fact about the place 


Éamon de Valera, who was then both Taoiseach and also chancellor of University College Dublin, initiated inquiries with The 2nd Earl of Iveagh as to whether he would sell Iveagh House and the gardens complex to the Irish state. On 8 June 1937, this request was declined. However, on 4 May 1939 Lord Iveagh wrote to Éamon de Valera offering the Iveagh complex by way of gift to the nation. Lord Iveagh had been concerned as to the future use of the site, and specified in his letter of offer to Éamon de Valera that the Iveagh Gardens remain "unbuilt on", as a "lung" for Dublin. On 17 May 1939 this gift was accepted by the Government and Éamon de Valera wrote to Rupert, Lord Iveagh. In 1941, the Gardens were re-united with the college buildings of Earlsfort Terrace. However, there is, as of 2020, no public access to the former college buildings which are now buildings of the National Concert Hall and the planned children's science museum, Experimentation Station.

With the growth of student numbers at the university buildings, consideration was given in 1961 to building on the Iveagh Gardens. However, this did not occur and the university moved instead to Belfield, thereby saving the gardens. [source: wikipedia]


If it’s your first time out and you can’t spot anyone at 2pm, just choose something to sketch and get stuck in. Keep your eyes open for anyone carrying a sketchbook and say hello. It's a friendly crowd who you’ll get to know over a drink from 4pm. Don't worry if you're late, most of us usually are! You need to bring your own paper and pens/pencils etc.


If you would like your sketch to be added to the website, email it to dublinsketchers @ gmail .com or post it to the Dublin Sketchers Social WhatsApp group if you are on that. Please edit your image so that it is low res and properly oriented for posting to the website.


Hope to see you there!