The house was built and the landscape laid out by Joseph Leeson, First Earl of Miltown, in the 1740s. In 1952, it was acquired by Sir Alfred and Lady Clementine Beit who lovingly set about restoring the house which they made their home for the rest of their lives. Having restored the house and installed their wonderful collections of furniture and art, Sir Alfred and Lady Clementine then opened their home to the public. Both the Miltowns and the Beits donated a substantial part of their collections to the National Gallery of Ireland and any visit to Russborough may be complemented with a tour of our National Gallery.

The Alfred Beit Foundation now administers and cares for Russborough. It holds this national treasure for the benefit of all who visit and enjoy its spectacular offering.

The imposing gateway and drive set the tone for what has been described as Ireland's most beautiful home. Five hundred years after the birth of Andrea Palladio in Padua, we in Ireland are indeed fortunate to have such a wonderful example of Palladian architecture. This style was the predominant style of the early to mid 18th century where the house was generally (as in the case of Russborough) situated on rising ground with parkland below. The classical ancient roman architecture was used by Palladio to create a new modern style with a large central portico and strong vertical lines on the exterior. Here the house, designed by the German architect Richard Cassels, is built with local Wicklow granite.

The magnificent exterior is matched or even surpassed by the interior of the house with its ornate and well proportioned rooms. At Russborough, there are wonderful ceilings, some by the Lafranchini brothers, inlaid floors, mahogany doors and a staircase built from the trees of the West Indies. Come to see the house and contents (take the guided tour), but there is much much more. Russborough offers you landscapes with views to thrill, walks to stimulate, a beech maze which challenges all ages and wonderful opportunities to enjoy a day out with the family. The Russborough shop is full of interesting and beautiful gifts and you should not miss the opportunity to savour the flavours of the Kitchen Garden Cafe with its emphasis on wholesome and fresh food.

At different times we hold musical evenings (classical, jazz, traditional) as well as theatre and operatic events. Russborough is a vibrant part of the local community in Blessington offering art and photographic exhibitions, a farmers market and other displays such as vintage cars (for details of events please contact us). Our aim is to make everyone's visit a truly enjoyable and memorable occasion. We at the Alfred Beit Foundation seek to ensure that it is enjoyed not just by the present generation but that it will be accessible for generations to come. There are many ongoing projects involving restoration and enhancement of visitor facilities including:

An Exhibition Centre in the basement of the main house
Improved access to the house and lands
The restoration of the West Wing
The restoration and enhancement of the gardens.

In this we gratefully acknowledge the help of the State and generous donations from both private individuals and charitable institutions.

Enjoy your visit. Our knowledgeable staff are always there to help you and we hope to see you many times.

Marcus Beresford - Chairman