RUSSBOROUGH AT CHRISTMAS

RUSSBOROUGH House’s historic halls will be exquisitely decked for the festive season, transforming the house tour into a Christmastide treat.

This year the historic house in Blessington will be decked out in all sorts of Christmas finery. Decorations will add plenty of festive cheer to Russborough House and the beautiful grounds surrounding it. The first decorations will be put up on Saturday, November 10.

The Hugh Tinney Tour will reach Russborough on Sunday, November 11. Tickets are on sale now for a magical evening of music, as well as being some of the first to see the big house decorated for Christmas.

By visiting Russborough over the coming months, guests can combine Christmas with culture, history and art all in one outing. They will earn about Christmas traditions in the time of the Beits and the Milltowns; see the meticulous lists kept by Lady Beit from year to year of gifts she gave to the local children so as not to give duplicate presents; and discover what might have been served for Christmas dinner in the time of the Milltowns – such as roast stubble goose with boiled turnips.

The dining room table will be set in Sèvres splendour and priceless silver while the Main Hall next door is dressed for dinner by resident craftworkers for the parkland animals. Guests can also view the new display of the silver collected by all three families who resided in the house: the Milltowns, the Dalys and the Beits. Russborough’s shop will be brimful of Christmas goodies and the Tearooms also has a festive menu in place.