# Borris House > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Borris_House > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Borris_House.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borris_House > Source revision: 1343737576 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox building | name = Borris House | native_name = | image = File:BorrisCarlow 122.jpg | image_alt = | caption = The main gates of Borris House | pushpin_map = | pushpin_map_alt = | map_caption = | altitude = | building_type = Country House | architectural_style = [Tudor Revival](/source/Tudor_Revival_architecture) | structural_system = | cost = | client = | owner = [McMorrough-Kavanagh family](/source/Caomh%C3%A1nach) | current_tenants = | landlord = | location = [Borris, County Carlow](/source/Borris%2C_County_Carlow), Ireland | construction_start_date = | completion_date = 1731 | inauguration_date = | renovation_date = 1820 | ren_cost = | height = | diameter = | main_contractor = | architect = | architecture_firm = | structural_engineer = | services_engineer = | civil_engineer = | other_designers = | quantity_surveyor = | website = https://borrishouse.ie/ | references = }} '''Borris House''' is an Irish [country house](/source/Estate_(land)) near [Borris, County Carlow](/source/Borris%2C_County_Carlow).{{Cite web|date=2019-01-02|title=Borris House – The Estate {{!}} Borris House|url=https://borrishouse.ie/the-estate/|access-date=2021-02-08|language=en-US}} It is the ancestral home of the [McMorrough-Kavanagh family](/source/Caomh%C3%A1nach).{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Borris House|url=https://www.discoverireland.ie/carlow/borris-house|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026010359/https://www.discoverireland.ie/carlow/borris-house |archive-date=2020-10-26 |access-date=2021-02-08|website=www.discoverireland.ie}} == History == Borris House was constructed in [Tudor style](/source/Tudor_architecture) in 1731 by Morgan Kavanagh of the [MacMurrough Kavanagh dynasty](/source/MacMurrough_Kavanagh_dynasty).{{Cite web|url=https://www.discoverireland.ie/carlow/borris-house|title=Borris House|website=Discover Ireland|accessdate=2 April 2025}} During the [Irish Rebellion of 1798](/source/Irish_Rebellion_of_1798), the house was regularly attacked by Irish republican rebels. The first attack occurred on 24 May 1798 when 5,000 rebels attacked the house. It was defended by a Borris [yeomanry](/source/yeomanry) unit commanded by Walter Kavanagh, which repelled the attack with 50 casualties. A further attack on 12 June was aimed at the houses of the yeomanry as well though this time the yeomanry were backed up by soldiers from the [Prince of Wales's Own Donegal Militia](/source/Prince_of_Wales's_Own_Donegal_Militia). The rebels fired a howitzer at the house and caused damage to the walls but were unable to break them down and were obliged to retreat.{{Cite book |page=321 |title=The History and Antiquities of the County of Carlow |year=1833 |publisher=R. M. Times |first=John |last=Ryan |isbn=9781296534622}} It was restored in 1820 by the architects [Richard](/source/Richard_Morrison_(architect)) and [William Vitruvius Morrison](/source/William_Vitruvius_Morrison). During the [Great Famine](/source/Great_Famine_(Ireland)), Lady [Harriet Kavanagh](/source/Harriet_Kavanagh) opened up Borris House as a lacemaking factory to provide employment for the women of Borris.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.com/storyworks/travel/ancient-east-ireland/the-period-drama-road-trip-the-cant-miss-historic-houses-and-gorgeous-gardens-of-irelands-ancient-east|title=The Period Drama Road Trip: The can't-miss historic houses and gorgeous gardens of Ireland's Ancient East |publisher=BBC |accessdate=2 April 2025}} She also regularly travelled across Europe, Egypt and the [Near East](/source/Near_East) collecting art and antiques as she painted watercolours that continue to hang in Borris House. Though most of the antiques were later handed over for display at the [National Museum of Ireland](/source/National_Museum_of_Ireland).{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/property/interiors/2024/06/15/lady-of-the-house-astronomers-botanists-and-antiquarians-are-the-women-behind-some-of-irelands-great-houses/|title=Lady of the house: Astronomers, botanists and antiquarians are the women behind some of Ireland's great houses|date=2024-06-15|newspaper=The Irish Times|accessdate=2 April 2025}} When [Arthur MacMurrough Kavanagh](/source/Arthur_MacMurrough_Kavanagh) inherited Borris House, despite being born without arms and legs, focussed on redeveloping the estate and village to benefit his tenants as well as constructing the Borris Railway Viaduct.{{cite book |page=7 |title=The Hidden Places of Ireland |first=David |last=Gerrard |year=2004 |publisher=Travel Publishing |isbn=9781904434108}} In the 21st century, Borris House hosts an annual literary festival that is occasionally attended by the [President of Ireland](/source/President_of_Ireland).{{Cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/culture/2021/0817/1241369-all-star-literary-line-up-for-borris-house-festival/|title=All-star literary line-up for Borris House Festival|date=17 August 2021|accessdate=2 April 2025|publisher=RTÈ}} It is still the private residence of the McMorrough Kavanagh's but it occasionally opens for tours. == Notable births == * [Arthur MacMurrough Kavanagh](/source/Arthur_MacMurrough_Kavanagh) (1831–1889), politician == References == {{Reflist}} == Bibliography == * Joyce, Edmund. ''Borris House, Co. Carlow, and Elite Regency Patronage'', Maynooth studies in local history, no. 108. Dublin, [Four Courts Press](/source/Four_Courts_Press), 2013 {{ISBN|978-1-84682-404-3}} {{OCLC|827974018}} * Murdoch, Tessa (ed.). [''Great Irish Households: Inventories from the Long Eighteenth Century''](/source/Great_Irish_Households). Cambridge: [John Adamson](/source/John_Adamson_(publisher)), 22022 {{ISBN|978-1-898565-17-8}} {{OCLC|1233305993}}, pp. 239–45 == See also == * [List of country houses in County Carlow](/source/List_of_country_houses_in_County_Carlow) {{coord|52.59846|-6.92660|format=dms|type:landmark_region:IE|display=title}} Category:Buildings and structures in County Carlow Category:Tudor architecture Category:Houses completed in 1731 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Borris House](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borris_House) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borris_House?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.