Almost 100 years ago they were being burned, 50 years ago some were rebuilt, and more recently they were turned into luxury hotels – with the ubiquitous golf course, spa and holiday homes attached. Today the future of Ireland's great houses and estates may become domestic once more, as private buyers, such as John Malone with Humewood Castle, are coming back into the market.

But multimillionaires aside, is there a sustainable future for these once magnificent places? If you're interested in finding out what the next chapter might be, put February 4th into your diary, for the next talk in the Carton Winter Lecture Series. No Longer Swimming against the Tide? The Future of the Landed Estate in the 21st Century, will be presented by Prof Christopher Ridgway. He's curator at Yorkshire's magnificent Castle Howard, familiar for being the backdrop for Brideshead Revisited, and also a professor at NUI Maynooth, so he knows his stuff.

The talk is co-presented by the Centre for the Study of Historic Irish Houses and Estates and it takes place at Carton House. With drinks from 7.30pm, the talk at 8pm. Price €10, booking essential. Contact Carton House 01-6517708 or email: sales@cartonhouse.com