Back to the manor born

Powerscourt House may not have been quite restored to its former glory, but it began its new lease of life in fine style last Thursday when the President, Mrs Robinson, officially reopened the refurbished stately home. The house burned down on November 4th, 1974, and Michael Slazenger, whose family owns the estate, described the conflagration as being "just like Gone With The Wind, except that I didn't believe we could ever rebuild it".

Over 23 years later, with the help of his daughter Sarah Slazenger, the house was once again filled with lords and ladies, at least for one day - Lord and Lady Ross, Sir Hercules and Lady Langrishe, Lord and Lady Meath, Lady Locke, and the Knight of Glin came out in the glorious morning sun to view the new restaurant, shop and visitors' centre, and to enjoy champagne and canapes in Powerscourt's breathtaking backyard.

Lady Goulding also arrived, despite having broken her leg, and her wheelchair was pushed by the gallant Johnny Ronan, the property developer who is currently involved in the new Hilton Hotel project in College Green. Happily, wheelchair access seems to have been taken into consideration when creating the new visitors' centre. The occasion struck a chord with Lord Henry Mountcharles, whose own Slane Castle has yet to be fully restored after its own fire. "We have a good bit of the work done so far, and we hope to have it open by next spring," he said. Lord Mountcharles, who was accompanied by his wife, Lady Iona Mountcharles and their young daughter Tamara, said that seeing Powerscourt House open once again had given him fresh hope.

"I have a portrait of the seventh Viscount of Powerscourt hanging in Slane Castle, so I feel a close affinity with this place."

Leinster House was represented by the arrival of Independent TD Mildred Fox and Democratic Left's Liz McManus, both of whom can count the vast demesne of Powerscourt as part of their constituency. "It's great to see the work finally completed," said Ms McManus. "As a representative of this area, with a particular interest in conservation, I wanted to see Powerscourt House preserved." Also there were the British Ambassador, Veronica Sutherland, and the US Ambassador, Jean Kennedy Smith; in a ceremonial echo of the past, Mrs Robinson planted a tree next to one which had been planted by the ambassador's sister-in-law, Jackie Kennedy, almost 35 years ago. In her speech, Mrs Robinson recalled when she and her husband Nick were neighbours of Michael Slazenger in Wellington Place, after which Sarah Slazenger brought the President on a tour - she has already shown the likes of David Bowie and Tom Cruise around Powerscourt House. On hand to provide hospitality were brother and sister team Simon and Amanda Pratt, who are running the retail and catering side of Powerscourt House, and will probably do so for the next 25 years.

Enjoying the excellent food (prepared by chef Leylie Hayes) were Prof Kevin B. Nowlan, director of Dublin Civic Trust, Moya Coulson (who, with husband Paul Coulson, is doing some renovating of her own in Shrewsbury Road), David Cox, MD of Irish Perfumes, RTE's Carrie Crowley, Our House presenter Duncan Stewart, Gemma Hussey and her daughter Rachel, Amanda Gageby, Jim Toomey, and Ivan Pratt, who handles the wholesale side of the catering operation, and who spent 48 hours trying to get back from a US trip in time to join his sister and brother. Some friends of the Slazengers who also went to a lot of trouble to be there included Penny McDonald, who flew over from Texas; Beata Levy, godmother of Dr Slazenger's younger sister, Joanie, who arrived from France; and Sarah Slazenger's twin nieces, Anna and Lucy, who came all the way from Argentina. The next big event planned for Powerscourt House is the Hospice Ball in October, when 850 guests will dance in the great ballroom for the first time since 1965, when Grace Kelly attended a charity ball.