A new exhibition of costumes from Ireland’s film and television industry has opened at beautiful Russborough House in County Wicklow.
The Art of Costume exhibition explores the relationship between actors and costumes, and the growth of the Irish film industry.
Running until October 16, it features 17 costumes from 12 film and television productions, including Liam Neeson’s army uniform and big coat from the 1996 film Michael Collins, vintage pieces worn by Marianne and Connell in Normal People and pieces from the Oscar-winning film The Favourite.
On display also is the blue dressing gown from The Guard worn by actor Brendan Gleeson who opened the exhibition.
Emmy-nominated costume designer Eimer Ní Mhaoldomhnaigh, and costume practitioner Veerle Dehaene have provided the costumes for the exciting new exhibition.
Eimer is one of Ireland’s most established costume designers, having worked with directors such as Neil Jordan, Jim Sheridan, Ken Loach and Reed Morano and with actors such as Emma Thompson, Amy Adams, Brendan Gleeson, Mel Gibson and Jude Law.
Veerle is a highly accomplished costume practitioner and has worked on projects such as The Tudors and Riverdance.
The women set up the Irish Costume Archive Project (ICAP) to collect, preserve and exhibit Ireland’s film and television design heritage and currently work in a voluntary capacity to safeguard around 300 costumes which they consider to be an important part of Ireland’s cultural heritage.
Currently, the collection consists of costumes from iconic Irish films dating back to the late 1980s.
The opulent interior of Russborough House, a magnificent Palladian manor, is the perfect setting for the exhibition which now forms part of the guided tour on offer there.
The tour takes visitors through the beautifully furnished rooms which feature ornate plasterwork on the ceilings, designed by the famous Lafranchini brothers.
It also includes a viewing of the impressive private art collection with works from Gainsborough, Singer Sargent and van Ostade as well as an interactive exhibition that tells the story of the three families who inhabited Russborough since 1751.
The eighteenth-century house is considered to be one of the most beautiful manor houses in Ireland. It sits in a 200-acre estate with fabulous views over Blessington Lake to the Wicklow Mountains beyond.
