Welcome to my building site. Here is a glimpse inside a derelict Georgian house, less of the grandeur and more of the gas fire. Once home to Ireland’s great wigged and gowned, these houses were sub-divided into tenements in the late 19th century. The panels of colour hint at lives long gone. The layers beneath reveal taste and hardship, powder-puffs and penury. This four-storey town-house will be restored to residential use, re-fashioned into elegant apartments with terraced gardens – a piece of historic Dublin sustained for future enjoyment.
This is what I do – I research historic buildings and analyse the proposed interventions to comply with statutory requirements for protected structures. I specialise in conservation reports for architects and their clients. Contact me at deirdre@deirdreconroy.com

Carton House Bacchus Window Shutter

National Gallery of Ireland
Office of Public Works
Department of Education and Science
Dublin City Council
Bray Town Council
Wicklow County Council
Murray O’Laoire Architects
Knight of Glin (deceased), Glin Castle
NBK Architects
KBK Properties
MCD Entertainment
Bennett Development Ltd.
O’Connor Property Group
Carton Development Partnership

Earslfort Developments
EBS, Burlington Road, Dublin 4
Cathal Ryan Trust, Celbridge
Mr John Ronan, Enniskerry
Mr Michael O’Leary, Gigginstown House
Earl of Rosse, Birr Castle
Pyramid Project Management
Churchill House Press, Kerry
Kevin Kelly, Image Publications
Private Collections

A2 Architects, Dublin
Scott Tallon Walker, Dublin
Reddy & Associates, Dublin
Philip Gumuchdjian Architects, London
Cantrell Crowley Architects, Dublin
Bucholz McEvoy, Dublin
Peter Legge & Associates, Dublin
Bennett Development, Dublin
Bennett Construction, Mullingar
De Blacam & Meagher, Dublin
NBK Architects, Dublin
Murray O’Laoire Associates, Dublin
Jeremy Williams, Dublin
Morwenna Gerrard, Dublin

Fitzgerald Kavanagh, Dublin
Peter de Loughrey Architects, Dublin
Open Office Architects, Dublin
Miriam Dunn Architects, Dublin
McCreanor Architects, Lurgan
Martin Murray Architects, Naas
Kieran Lally & Associates, Dundalk
EMD Architects, Dublin
Philip Comerford Architects, Dublin
D & B Architects, Dublin
Colum O’Broin & Partners, Wicklow
Colgan Design Group, Tipperary
Bennett McCleary Architects, Dublin
Aoife Toumey & Assoc, Dublin
Angela Jupe Architects, Tipperary
Anello Architects, Dublin and Sicily
A1 Design, Dundalk

If your property is a protected structure and you are planning to adapt, extend or restore, you will need a conservation report. I am qualified with a Masters in Palladian Architecture and a Masters in Urban and Building Conservation, but I also bring a passionate interest in vernacular building, urban morphology, cultural heritage to bear on my analysis. Every building demands unique attention.
How is it done?
I examine the possibilities and requirements of the project presented by the architectural team, I conduct a photographic survey, research the building and its context through historic maps, deeds, local history, ultimately providing a specific document to inform and guide decision-makers on planning applications. I can also provide expert evidence on planning appeals to An Bord Pleanala. deirdre@deirdreconroy.com

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Deirdre in the National Gallery of Ireland selecting historic colours for 11 South Leinster Street

This is the Stone Hall at Carton House, included in Historic Irish Houses. I was the conservation and design consultant on the adaptation of the house to a hotel. These interiors are from Deirdre Conroy Design.

I have contributed to
Paintings of Ireland www.igs.ie
Historic Irish Houses www.Image.ie
Cries of Dublin www.churchillhousepress.com
Dictionary of Living Irish Artists. I regularly write for the Irish Independent and Sunday Independent: http://deirdreconroy.pressfolios.com/