20 August 2026
Presented as part of National Heritage Week 2026, this special event explores how some of Russborough’s most important historic interiors are being protected for the future.
Russborough is home to some of the finest eighteenth-century walnut and oak parquet floors in Ireland. Often unnoticed by visitors, these remarkable floors are an important part of the house’s surviving historic fabric and are the focus of a major conservation project in 2026.
Join Sven Habermann of Conservation Letterfrack for a unique opportunity to examine these exceptional floors up close. Through a detailed, hands-on exploration, Sven will explain how historic timber floors are investigated, recorded and conserved, and the specialist skills required to preserve centuries-old craftsmanship.
The event will also look at the planning behind the project, from assessing the floors’ condition and identifying earlier repairs to developing an appropriate conservation methodology. Along the way, participants will gain a rare insight into the hidden complexities of caring for one of Ireland’s finest country houses.
The theme of National Heritage Week 2026, Heritage at Risk, encourages us to explore the built, natural and cultural heritage that is endangered and to consider how vulnerable sites, artefacts and practices can be reimagined, revived and safeguarded. Russborough’s historic floors offer a powerful example of this work in action, revealing how careful research, traditional skills and specialist conservation can protect fragile interiors for future generations.
This free event forms part of a conservation project supported by The Heritage Council under its 2026 grants programme.
Places are limited and advance booking is essential. Book now to secure your place.
20 August, 4pm–5pm
Russborough
Blessington, Co. Wicklow
W91 W284