Editing Steward's Lodge

{{Short description|Residence of Taoiseach of Ireland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox building
| name                = Steward's Lodge
| native_name         = 
| image               = Steward's Lodge W1 2011-03.jpg
| image_alt           = 
| caption             = View into Steward's Lodge grounds
| map_type            = Dublin
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within Dublin
| altitude            = 
| building_type       = 
| architectural_style = 
| structural_system   = 
| cost                = 
| ren_cost            = €600,000
| client              = 
| floor_count         = 2
| renovation_date     = 2006
| current_tenants     = [[Taoiseach]]
| owner               = [[Government of Ireland]]
| location            = [[Phoenix Park]], [[Dublin]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]
| coordinates         = {{coord|53.36619|-6.35802|type:landmark_region:IE|display=inline,title}}
| start_date          = 
| completion_date     = 
}}

The '''Steward's Lodge''' is a house which was originally part of the [[Farmleigh]] estate, alongside the [[Phoenix Park]] in [[Dublin]]. It is sometimes used as a residence by the [[Taoiseach]] of [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]].

==History==
===Origins===
The Steward's Lodge was originally built in the grounds of Farmleigh house – an 18th-century estate which was formerly owned by members of the [[Guinness family]].<ref name=cowen>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/opulent-phoenix-park-lodge-is--set-to-become-fortress-cowen-1378987.html|title=Opulent Phoenix Park lodge is set to become 'Fortress Cowen'|work=[[Irish Independent]]|date=18 May 2008|access-date=18 May 2008|first=Ronald|last=Quinlan|archive-date=21 May 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080521055535/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/opulent-phoenix-park-lodge-is--set-to-become-fortress-cowen-1378987.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Originally accessible within the grounds of the estate, the lodge was subsequently separated from Farmleigh during refurbishment works.<ref name=cowen/>

===Taoiseach's residence===
There is no [[official residence]] of the [[Taoiseach]], with each Taoiseach residing in either their own homes, or in an apartment in Dublin. In the 1970s, plans were made to turn the former [[Apostolic Nunciature]] (formerly the [[Under Secretary's Lodge]]) in the Phoenix Park into an official residence. However, the plans fell through and the [[Georgian architecture|Georgian]] building was subsequently demolished.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/state-papers-day-one-aras-for-taoiseach-project-abandoned-140675.html |title=State Papers – Day One: Áras for Taoiseach project abandoned |work=[[Irish Examiner]] |date=30 December 2010 |access-date=30 December 2010 |archive-date=18 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918012223/http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/state-papers-day-one-aras-for-taoiseach-project-abandoned-140675.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2006, it was announced by the [[Office of Public Works]] that the Steward's Lodge had been renovated, at a cost of nearly €600,000.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.examiner.ie/story/ireland/idausnmhkf/rss2/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120801054215/http://www.examiner.ie/story/ireland/idausnmhkf/rss2/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 August 2012 |title=Farmleigh lodge slept in for 7 nights since €600k revamp |work=[[Irish Examiner]] |date=31 December 2008|access-date=4 November 2011}}</ref> It was speculated that the house would become the official private residence of the Taoiseach after the [[2007 Irish general election|2007 general election]], and any official engagements would be carried out in the nearby Farmleigh or [[Government Buildings]].<ref name="IT28Dec2005">{{cite news |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008070518/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2005/1228/1134117193954.html |archive-date=8 October 2012 |url-status=live |first=Liam |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/farmleigh-lodge-planned-as-residence-for-future-taoisigh-1.1288390|title=Farmleigh lodge planned as residence for future taoisigh|work=[[The Irish Times]] |date=28 December 2005 |last=Reid |access-date=8 December 2017}}</ref>

There was political sensitivity at government level about the project, with some concerned that it could be depicted as a lavish "perk" for the Taoiseach. In 2005, a spokeswoman for [[Bertie Ahern]] stated he had no interest in using it, and he remained resident in his private home in [[Drumcondra, Dublin|Drumcondra]] in Dublin.<ref name="IT28Dec2005"/> In 2008, it was reported that [[Brian Cowen]] might use it as his official residence.<ref name=cowen/> Media reports suggest that [[Garda Síochána|Garda]] concerns for the Taoiseach's security precluded him from continuing to reside in his own Dublin home in the city centre.<ref name=cowen/> Cowen did not formally reside in the Steward's Lodge, preferring to return to his family home in [[County Offaly]], but he did use it "from time to time".<ref>{{cite news|first=Michael|last=O'Regan|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0129/1232923372778.html|title=Cowen questioned on use of Farmleigh|work=[[The Irish Times]]|date=29 January 2009|access-date=8 December 2017|archive-date=18 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101118220220/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0129/1232923372778.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/cowen-stays-at-farmleigh-more-often-1840258.html |title=Cowen stays at Farmleigh more often |work=[[Irish Independent]] |date=25 July 2009 |access-date=8 December 2017 |first=Jason |last=O'Brien |archive-date=20 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020074620/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/cowen-stays-at-farmleigh-more-often-1840258.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2011, it was reported that the then Taoiseach, [[Enda Kenny]], would make use of the residence, however he used it very rarely.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Farmleigh+gets+ready+to+welcome+the+Kennys.-a0250052866 |title=Farmleigh gets ready to welcome the Kennys |work=[[Irish Sunday Mirror]] |date=27 February 2011 |first=Samuel |last=Hamilton |via=[[The Free Library]] |access-date=8 December 2017 |archive-date=1 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201214502/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Farmleigh+gets+ready+to+welcome+the+Kennys.-a0250052866 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="rte2019">{{cite web | url = https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2019/1205/1097134-taoiseach-stewards-lodge/ | publisher = [[RTÉ News]] | title = Steward's Lodge - A home fit for a Taoiseach | date = 5 December 2019 | access-date = 13 April 2020 | archive-date = 12 April 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200412202043/https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2019/1205/1097134-taoiseach-stewards-lodge/ | url-status = live }}</ref> Former Taoiseach [[Leo Varadkar]] resided in his private apartment in [[Castleknock]],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/taoiseach-leo-varadkars-home-targeted-by-protesters-for-second-week-in-a-row-37846522.html |date=23 February 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803095018/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/taoiseach-leo-varadkars-home-targeted-by-protesters-for-second-week-in-a-row-37846522.html |access-date=16 September 2019 |archive-date=3 August 2019 |title=Taoiseach Leo Varadkar's home targeted by protesters for second week in a row |first=Philip |last=Ryan |work=[[Irish Independent]]}}</ref> but used the Lodge for occasional parties at his own expense.<ref name="rte2019"/> During the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland]] it was used as a residence by Varadkar due to its teleconferencing facilities.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.rte.ie/news/coronavirus/2020/0525/1141475-taoiseach-varadkar-phoenix-park/ | publisher = [[RTÉ News]] | title = Varadkar complied with Covid guidelines in Phoenix Park, says spokesperson | date = 25 May 2020 | access-date = 13 June 2020 | quote = According to the statement, the Taoiseach has been staying in Steward's Lodge during the last few weeks as it has secure office and video conferencing facilities, which allows him to work from home | archive-date = 15 June 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200615214627/https://www.rte.ie/news/coronavirus/2020/0525/1141475-taoiseach-varadkar-phoenix-park/ | url-status = live }}</ref>

In July 2024, it was reported that government security advisors were insisting that the Taoiseach and his family move into Steward's Lodge for their security, following a number of anti-immigration disturbances and an increase in the number of attacks on politicians internationally.<ref>{{cite news |title=Will the Taoiseach move house for the security of his family? |url=https://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/highlights-from-the-pat-kenny-show/will-the-taoiseach-move-house-for-the-security-of-his-family |access-date=30 July 2024 |work=Newstalk |date=30 July 2024 |language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Commons category-inline|Steward's Lodge}}

{{Irish governmental buildings}}

[[Category:Buildings and structures in Dublin (city)]]
[[Category:Department of the Taoiseach]]
[[Category:Prime ministerial residences]]
[[Category:Official residences in the Republic of Ireland]]