The Insider: Stewards of Auld Sod's culture gather for annual Palm Beach Week
An evening of food, drink and fundraising closed the Irish Georgian Society's annual 'Irish Week In Palm Beach.'
The event, hosted by the society's board of directors, took place March 19 at Renato's.
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The evening included cocktails in the courtyard, dinner in the private dining room and an update from IGS board chairman Johnny Sullivan on the organization's ongoing project, the restoration of the Old Yacht Club in Cobh, County Cork.
The Italianate building was designed by architect Anthony Salvin to house the Royal Cork Yacht Club. Founded in 1720, the RCYC is the oldest yacht club in the world.
The project focuses on the restoration and needed repairs to the historic Old Yacht Club building and coincides with a government plan to invest upwards of 30 million euros in the renovation of the Cork Harbour waterfront.
The Old Yacht Club is currently the home of the Sirius Arts Centre, a multidisciplinary cultural organization. Its mission is to serve as an intermediary between art and the public by raising awareness of art and culture while offering professional development opportunities for both emerging and established artists.
Other events of the week included a March 17 reception at the Palm Beach Yacht Club and a March 18 luncheon at Café Boulud with guest speaker Terence Dooley, director Maynooth University's Centre for the Study of Historic Irish Houses and Estates.
Using Carton House in County Kildare as the focal point for his talk, Dooley discussed the rise of the country house in Ireland, its decline and its renewal in the later part of the 20th century.
Seen during the week: Luncheon hosts Tom and Denise Tormey; yacht club reception hosts Nancy and Glen Traylor; and Sir David Davies, Friederike Biggs, Lore Dodge, Kipper and Bud Hendrick, Ann and Bill Hamm, Sheila O’Malley Fuchs and Jay Krehbiel.
Proceeds from the week assist the Irish Georgian Society in its mission to protection Ireland’s architectural heritage, gardens and decorative arts through conservation projects, educational programs and advocating for the protection of endangered buildings.
The Hon. Desmond Guinness hosted the first IGS event in Palm Beach more than 50 years ago.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Irish Georgian Society members gather for annual Palm Beach Week