Russborough is built of silver-grey granite which came from a quarry at Golden Hill, situated just outside Blessington. The front façade is the longest in Ireland, 700 feet end to end. Seven bays are given to the central block which is joined to wings by colonnades. In the front of the colonnades there are statues which are almost certainly original to the house, having been brought back from Italy by Joseph Leeson.

Decorative urns embellish the roof-line of the central block, colonnades and wings, and at the front steps two lions display the heraldic shields of the Milltowns.

The house itself, which possesses a most welcoming and homely atmosphere, gradually comes into view as one approaches from the east along a formal beech avenue.

Russborough’s interior is highly ornamented and wonderful to behold. The main rooms downstairs in the central block are adorned with magnificent baroque plasterwork. Stylistically, the ceilings in the music room, saloon and library are almost certainly by the Lafranchini brothers.

The entrance hall with its Doric frieze and controlled geometrical design of the ceiling contrasts considerably with the main staircase hallway where the rococo plasterwork abounds with irrepressible enthusiasm. The doors, dados, and main staircase are hand-carved from Cuban and San Domingo mahogany. The chimney-pieces are all original to the house.

Italian marble and Kilkenny polished limestone grace several rooms with Thomas Carter of London chimney-pieces enhancing the tapestry room, music room and saloon.

In 1763 Joseph Leeson was awarded the title, Earl of Milltown. The house stayed in the Milltown family until it passed from the 6th Earl to a nephew, Sir Edmund Turton, whose widow subsequently sold the house to Colonel Denis and Mrs Daly in 1931.

Sir Alfred and Lady Beit bought Russborough in 1952, chiefly to hold their art collection. The major paintings belonging to the Beit Collection (Vermeer, Metsu, Goya etc.) are on view in the National Gallery of Ireland. (see Returned Paintings below)

In 1976, Sir Alfred and Lady Beit most generously gifted the house and the renowned art collection to the people of Ireland by establishing the Alfred Beit Foundation. In 1978 the house opened its doors to the public.

This pleasant and serene room provides a beautiful setting for afternoon tea! Between the windows is an 18th century mirror from the original Milltown collection. The plasterwork cartouches were made especially to surround marine scenes by Joseph Vernet, commissioned by Joseph Leeson in 1749. The paintings represent morning, afternoon, evening and night.

There is a George II console table which displays 2 early Meissen vases, and a painting of Sir Alfred and Lady Beit by Derek Hill. The stone statue of Mary Magdelene is early 16th century Burgundian and beside the chimney-piece is a Victorian table which was used to shield ladies’ faces from the heat of the fire. The top is made of papier-mache and is decorated with mother of pearl. This is a room that must be visited to appricaite its full effect.

This is the main room in the house, and is now regularly used for music concerts throughout the year. The ceiling is by the Lafranchini brothers, decorated with cherubs and has a chandelier which is by Perry of London. The walls are of Genoese velvet which dates from 1870, and the floor is mahogany with a satinwood inlay in the centre. Many of the paintings are hung here. The tall windows look out onto the fields and woods behind the house

This is where Sir Alfred and Lady Beit spent much of their time, relaxing in the pleasant surroundings including a huge Library of books. The ceiling is by the Lafranchini brothers, where a 19th century Austrian chandelier is hung. There are two William IV Brazilian rosewood tables, and the writing desk is by Vile. Vile and Cobb were cabinet makers to George II and George III. The carpet is from the Real Fabrica de Tapices in Madrid. It is decorated with oranges and salamanders, part of the Beit crest.

Paintings include:
Antoine Vestier – Princess de Lamballe, Sir Gerald Kelly – Sir Alfred Beit, Sir John Lavery – Countess of Airlie, Derek Hill – Lady Beit on horseback.

This room is carefully designed to enhance the sound of the pianos, a Steinway and a Bluthner, which are encased in matching inlaid rosewood. Sir Alfred used to regularly play here, and most of his music sheets are still in first class condition. On the pianos, the candelabras are Waterford crystal, dated 1810. Two music stands are by Robert Lutyens, the son of the architect Sir Edwin Lutyens.

The ceiling is by the Lafranchini brothers, famous stuccodores from Ticino, the Italian speaking part of Switzerland. The wall covering is silk poplin by Elliots of Dublin.

Paintings include:
Duncan Grant - An Italian Church, De Chavannes - Marseille 1867, Walter Sickert - Christine at Bath, Edward McGuire - Sir Alfred and Lady Beit against Russborough, George Morland - Winter scene outside the Inn, Anthonie Palamedsz - Musical Party, Hendrik Steenwyck II - Interior of a church, Patrick Nasmyth - Ships offshore, David Roberts - Interior of a church, David Roberts - Crystal Palace, Richard Wyndham - Wilton House, Salisbury, Emile Cagniert - A Parisian scene, Derek Hill - Two Musicians

In April 2008, a substantial selection of the Sir Alfred Beit Collection of paintings returned to Russborough and are now once again part of the tour. Amongst the finest of the paintings returned are the four Claude Joseph Vernet paintings entitled 'Morning', 'Midday' 'Sunset' and 'Night'. These paintings were commissioned for Russborough in the 1750s and have remained in the house for most of the last 260 years!. The remainder and most valuable paintings are displayed in the National Gallery. View paintings...

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