Abbey Lea, A Killiney History. Killiney Historical Society presents a talk by Pippa McIntosh on 4th June 2024.

== Launching at the Dalkey Book Festival 13-16 June 2024 ==
Abbey Lea on Killiney Hill Road has been the residence of the Australian Ambassador to Ireland since 1965. The wife of the current Australian Ambassador to Ireland, Pippa McIntosh has spent the last 3 years researching the history of the house before it was purchased by the Australian Government and uncovered some fantastic stories about not only the house, but the local Ballybrack/Killiney/Dalkey/Shankill area as well. Pippa has written a book which will launch at this year’s Dalkey Book Festival.
From Harry Clarke procuring contacts and commissions at the house, discovering Oliver St John Gogarty’s poetry about raucous dinner parties, to the murder of the gardener on Strathmore Road by the IRA the night the Ballybrack RIC Barracks was burnt down (May 1920), this book provides researched context and insight into Killiney life from more than 100 years ago.
Members of the Killiney Historical Society may have heard Pippa speak about the home’s connection to famous Irish stained glass artist and illustrator Harry Clarke over recent years. Pippa will be presenting further details from her book at the Dalkey Book Festival on Saturday 15 June at 3:30pm at the Queens in Dalkey (the Vico upstairs).
Unfortunately, tickets to Pippa’s presentation at the Dalkey Book Festival are now sold out!
For those who missed out on tickets to the Dalkey Book Festival, you can hear Pippa’s presentation with the Killiney Historical Society at the Druid’s Chair Pub in Killiney Village, 8pm on Tuesday 4 June.
The book is available for presale ahead of the Dalkey Book Festival (€65), so if you’d like a signed copy, order via the below link and be sure to select ‘local pickup’ at checkout to receive free delivery to the Shankill/Ballybrack/Killiney/Dalkey area. Preordered books will be posted the week of the Dalkey Book Festival, 10 June 2024.
Pre-Order Your Copy Here
Category:Notice
Category:The Houses