The Irish Times

Few cities and towns have escaped the blight of uPVC window replacement. In many cases, the wonderful windows of old buildings can be repaired or restored - but they are seldom beyond rescue. One of the surest tests of a period house, in a practical as well as aesthetic sense, is its windows. Much of the ambience of a building depends on its light and in a Northern European country such as Ireland, light, not shade, is crucial.

In the course of the past 30 years or so, a belated awareness of Ireland's rich architectural heritage has emerged just in time to preserve the last surviving examples of a range of Georgian houses and buildings, from the modest to the grand. Central to the value of these houses is the presence of the original sash timber windows with, in some cases, authentic period crown or spun glass with its beautiful colour and watery patterns. In many cases, these wonderful windows are in need of repair, indeed often extensive restoration, but they are seldom beyond rescue.