Editing Architecture of Ireland (section)

==Georgian Ireland==
[[File:Fourcrtsfrnt.jpg|right|thumb|240px|The Four Courts by James Gandon]]
In the later half of the 18th century, one of the most important architects in the country was the London-born [[James Gandon]]. Gandon came to Ireland in 1781 at the invitation of [[John Dawson, 1st Earl of Portarlington|Lord Carlow]] and [[John Beresford (statesman)|John Beresford]], the Irish commissioner of revenue. Gandon's buildings in Dublin include [[the Custom House]], the [[Four Courts]], the [[King's Inns]] and the eastern extension to the Irish parliament building in College Green. By this time the Palladian style had evolved further, and the strict rules of mathematical ratio and axis dictated by Palladio had been all but abandoned. This subsequent evolution is generally referred to as [[Georgian architecture]]. It is in this style that large parts of Dublin were rebuilt, causing the city to be referred to as [[Georgian Dublin]].

[[File:Glenveagh Castle-02-2017-gje.jpg|thumb|[[Glenveagh Castle]], an example of [[Scots Baronial]] architecture from this period]]
[[Francis Johnston (architect)|Francis Johnston]] was the third great Irish architect of this period. Johnston served as Architect to the Board of Works for a time and was thus responsible for much of the planning of [[Georgian Dublin]]. He also left a number of very fine buildings, including St. George's Church, Hardwicke Place and the Viceregal Lodge in the [[Phoenix Park]]. This latter now serves as [[Áras an Uachtaráin]], the official residence of the President of Ireland, and is one possible model for the [[White House]] in Washington. Leinster House also claims this distinction, and the [[Neoclassical architecture|Neoclassical]] [[Castle Coole]] in [[County Fermanagh]] designed by [[James Wyatt]] bears an even greater similarity.

[[File:Henrietta Street 7680190900.jpg|thumb|left|A Georgian door on Henrietta Street, which contains some of the oldest and largest Georgian houses in Dublin. These became tenements in the 19th century.]]
In addition to these large-scale buildings, the defining characteristic of Georgian city planning was terraces, squares of elegant family homes even with parks, one of them being St. Stephen's Green, one of Dublin's largest parks.<ref>{{cite web |title=st. stephans green |url=https://www.dublincity.ie |website=Dublin City Council |access-date=22 November 2024}}</ref> In Ireland, many of these became tenements during the course of the 19th century and a significant proportion were demolished as part of various 20th-century [[slum clearance]] programmes. However, many squares and terraces survive in both Dublin and Limerick. Of particular interest are [[Pery Square]] in the latter city and [[Merrion Square]], one of Dublin's most iconic square,<ref>{{cite web |title=Merrion Square |url=https://www.dublincity.ie/ |website=Dublin City Council |access-date=22 November 2024}}</ref> in the former. Some smaller towns in Ireland also have Georgian architecture of interest, such as the fine Georgian squares and terraces of [[Mountmellick]], [[County Laois]], and [[Birr, County Offaly|Birr]], [[County Offaly]], which is a designated Irish Heritage Town.

Near the end of [[George III]]'s reign, one of Ireland's most famous Georgian buildings was completed. The [[General Post Office (Dublin)|GPO]] was built in 1814 and located on Dublin's main street, [[O'Connell Street]]. Designed by [[Francis Johnston (architect)|Francis Johnston]], the building's most striking feature is its hexastyle Ionic portico. Above the building are three statues representing [[Fidelity]], [[Hibernia]] and [[Mercury (mythology)|Mercury]]. The interior is made up largely of a postal hall with a high ceiling. The building has been largely rebuilt since its original construction, mainly due to severe damage incurred in the [[Easter Rising]] in 1916.

To enhance the new buildings and cope with larger traffic volumes, the [[Wide Streets Commission]] was established in 1757. It bought houses by [[compulsory purchase]] to widen streets or to create new ones.