Travel to Northern Ireland and Ballyfin with the ICAA this Fall

The ICAA is pleased to partner with Classical Excursions to present this exclusive tour of the great country houses and gardens of Northern Ireland. The tour will feature Mark Donnelly, a noted expert on Irish decorative arts and antiques, and features visits to some of the area's finest estates, as well as stays at the privately owned Ballywalter Park, an Italianate Palazzo built in 1846 and now the family home of Lord Dunleath, and the privately-owned Belle Isle Castle, home of Lord Nicholas Hamilton.

Some of the many exclusive highlights on the tour include:

• A private tour, including lunch, of the private apartments of Mount Stewart with Lady Rose Lauritzen. Built in 1804, the first architect of Mount Stewart was George Dance, the teacher of Sir John Soane. Filled with magnificent antiques, the Regency-styled house contains 22 chairs used at the Congress of Vienna and given to Mt. Stewart’s owner, Lord Castlereagh, British Foreign Secretary and member of the Londonderry family.

• A tour, hosted by Lord Belmore, of Castle Coole, Enniskillen, in County Fermanagh, which is considered the finest neoclassical country house in Ireland. The Castle features Portland stone masonry, and still retains its original Regency furniture. Lord Belmore will show participants the original architectural drawings of James Wyatt, who designed the Castle, from his personal collection.

• A two night stay at the privately owned Ballywalter Park, hosted by Lord Dunleath. Built in 1846 for Andrew Mullholland and designed by the prominent Belfast architect, Sir Charles Lanyon, the house is the best-preserved example of the Italianate palazzo style in Ireland.

This tour will occur October 15 - 22, 2022. Learn more.

The ICAA is pleased to partner with Classical Excursions to present this tour to the Republic of Ireland, which will feature a stay at elegant, world-renowned Ballyfin. This excursion will be led by Robert O'Byrne, one of Ireland's best-known writers on architecture and design as well as a Board Member of the Irish Georgian Society. During the course of the program, participants will experience private lunches and dinners at beautiful homes while enjoying the splendor of the Irish countryside.

Some of the many exclusive highlights on the tour include:

• A stay with exclusive use at Ballyfin, now a five-star luxury country hotel. Ballyfin was originally built in the 1820s as a private estate by Richard Morrison and William Vitruvius Morrison. The house is considered highly important in the realm of 19th century neoclassical architecture, famed for its elaborate Empire-style interiors.

• Lunch with the Earl and Countess of Rosse at Birr Castle. The castle has been home to the Parsons family for 400 years and contains much of the original furniture and paintings collected throughout generations.

• A three night stay at the privately owned Ballywalter Park, hosted by Lord Dunleath. Built in 1846 for Andrew Mullholland and designed by the prominent Belfast architect, Sir Charles Lanyon, the house is the best-preserved example of the Italianate palazzo style in Ireland.

• A visit and lunch at Curraghmore Estate, home to the 9th Marquess of Waterford and his wife. It is considered one of the great houses of Ireland, and has been home to the same family for the past 800 years, and features treasures as would be expected of a property occupied by successive generations for so long.

This tour will occur October 22 - 29, 2022. Learn more.