Have you ever wondered what it’s like to live in an ambassador’s residence? Is it all about glittering receptions and pyramids of Ferrero Rocher everywhere you turn?
Canada’s newest ambassador to Ireland, Dennis King, is happy to satisfy that curiosity by throwing open the doors of his Ranelagh residence, Glanmire, as part of this year’s Open House Dublin festival.
It won’t be the first time he has opened the gate to curious onlookers.
“People stop at the gate and take photos so I’ll pop out all the time and open the gate and say, ‘Oh, come on in. Do you want to get your picture taken in front?’” he says.
“I’m trying to open it up a little bit. I mean, this is a piece of Canada, but it’s also a great piece of Irish history, and history is something that we all should experience and we all should share.”
The house on Oakley Road was built between 1848 and 1851, but designed in the earlier Regency style, with its tall sash windows and symmetrical proportions. It has a storied history. Long before the house was built, this townland of Cullenswood was the site of a 13th century massacre, when between 300-500 settlers from Bristol were ambushed and killed by native Irish people.
Glanmire was built on land belonging to Cullenswood House, and in 1908, Patrick Pearse bought both properties and founded Scoil Éan
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