![]() The above photo taken from “The Decorator” dated 22nd October 1915 shows the newly painted Main Hall and the style of the décor is very much in keeping with the Elk Head over the fireplace with the various animal skulls that were displayed. Our Elk has been dated between 5,000 and 10,000 years old.Ī photo of the Front Hall of Westport House taken from “The Decorator” (a painting magazine) dated 22nd October 1915 It has been thought that our Elk would have measured around 11 feet tall and his body would have been the width of the antlers – such an impressive beast and one that conjures all kinds of images of the magnificence of the Elk roaming the vastly wooded area of the Irish land. The Irish Elk that is displayed in Westport House was discovered in a bog outside of Westport around 170 years ago – the Irish bog minerals preserving the antlers keeping them intact. Artist impression of the Irish Elk compared to man as featured on the independent.ie in a Nature Trail article by Jim Hurley The Irish Elk possibly dates as far back as the Pleistocene Epoch era (around 2.6 million years ago). ![]() The females were smaller and lighter and had no antlers. The Irish Elk male could weigh up to 1,500 lbs (680kg). Its hard to imagine that these antlers were shed annually. The Irish Elk can also boast the largest antlers that have ever been recorded on animals from the deer species – up to 12 feet across and weighing up to 90 lbs (40kg). They would have part of the prehistoric wildlife that roamed Ireland before Neolithic man got as far as our green Isle. This is the skull of the now extinct Irish Elk (Megaloceros giganteus) although it can be called the Giant Irish Deer or Giant Irish Elk. The Elk Head features prominently above the fireplace as seen in this photo showing the context of the Front Hall at Westport House. It is only when you take a breath to look around the capacious space that you are struck by the immensity of the skull. There is so much to take in when entering the House that one of the more incredible artefacts, indeed the oldest artefact, in the House could almost be overlooked: the rather large animal skull hanging over the fireplace. The staircase draws the eye up towards the gentle pink hue cascading over the marble statue of the Angel of Welcome at the turn of the stairs. Walking into the Front Hall of Westport House, one is captivated by the beautiful architecture of the Richard Cassels’ barrel vaulted roof with the coffered ceilings and mesmerised by the Sicilian marble cantilevered stairs. ![]() The Elk Head above the fireplace in the Front Hall
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