This week sees the re-opening of one of the most important Georgian buildings in Dublin. The City Assembly House on South William Street once served as City Hall when Daniel O'Connell was Lord Mayor.

The 18th century building had operated as the Dublin Civic Museum for a time until it closed in 2003.

Now it has been restored by the Irish Georgian Society (IGS) and is set to re-open as a cultural and artistic venue.

Restoration works began in early October and involved pealing away layers to reveal more about the structure. The IGS said this presented a clearer picture as to how the exhibition room, and other parts of the building, changed over time.

The base of the main staircase has opened up after a below-stairs cupboard was removed

Newly-found remnants of stone paving at the base of the stairs which may have extended across the stairhall and entrance hall

Newly-discovered hearth stone & original flooring in exhibition room

The Irish Georgian Society is a membership organisation who seeks to promote awareness and the protection of Irish architectural heritage and decorative arts.

The Society was founded in 1958 by Desmond Guinness and his wife Mariga. Notable achievements of the Society include the saving of threatened great buildings such as Castletown, County Kildare; Damer House, County Tipperary; Doneraile Court, County Cork; Roundwood, Co. Laois; Tailors’ Hall, Dublin and 13 Henrietta Street, Dublin.

Recent and current projects include the restoration of mid-eighteenth century panelled rooms at Ledwithstown, County Longford; the repair of the early 19th-century south tower roof at Barmeath Castle, Co. Louth and the restoration of the pavilion cupolas of Kilshannig, Co. Cork.

Images: The Irish Georgian Society