Our Story
Irish Acres Gallery of Antiques was established in 1972 by Bonnie and Arch Hannigan. Bonnie developed her passion for antiques and began operating her first "antique shop" out of a single stall in their horse barn in Ashland, Kentucky that Arch soon transformed the riding stable into an antique gallery. With the help of their daughters, Jane and Emilie, the business flourished.
When the Nonesuch Elementary School building became available in 1984, Bonnie set her sights on it and the Hannigans bought it and moved the family to Nonesuch…
Bonnie, Jane and Arch in front of the original school building in 1984.
From Ashland to Nonesuch
The renovation of the old schoolhouse was no small feat. With their daughters home from design school in Atlanta, Georgia, Bonnie and Arch embarked on the monumental task of remodeling the building and transferring their inventory to accommodate their antiques in the old school house. Bonnie had a dream of creating the perfect space for the gallery as well as a high end "tearoom" where ladies could rest and re-energize after an afternoon of shopping.
Left to Right: Jane, Emilie, Bonnie, Arch. In front of the family home in Ashland, Kentucky
Building a dream
The renovations were all organized and executed by Arch, helped by daughter Emilie while Jane and Bonnie continued to run the business in Ashland and prepare for the big move. It was a season that Emilie laughingly refers to as “two years of blood, sweat and tears” and the 32,000 square foot building was painted, carpeted, restructured and completely transformed to house their collection.
Remodel complete, they were finally able to open their doors to the public and have been graciously welcoming their guests for 33 years now!
Arch Hannigan
A true family affair
Inside you can find antiques from all over the world, meticulously displayed in showroom after showroom. Jane, in particular, has an eye for style and ensures that every square inch of the building remains in graceful keeping. As a result, the gallery has been featured in Southern Living Magazine and continues to awe visitors.
Bonnie adorned the original limestone walls of the old school kitchen and cafeteria with her own cocktail of design elements; iridescent bulbs, grapevine, and twinkle lights give the dining room its iconic look and subsequent design awards from institutions like Restaurants and Institutions Magazine.
Bonnie installed her daughter Emilie behind the 10 burner stove and never looked back. Success is owed to Emilie's hard work developing and perfecting recipes, and sourcing fresh, local ingredients from neighboring farms. She recently released her first cookbook that is for sale in the gallery!
Bonnie Hannigan.
And now 33 years later…
Jane and Emilie, along with Emilie’s daughter Anna, open the doors daily to welcome both new and returning customers who have become like family over the years. Bonnie passed away in 2001, and Arch passed away in 2012, but their legacy lives on through the hard work and dedication of their family.
For over 35 years, the Hannigan Family has welcomed guests to Irish Acres Gallery. If you enjoy strolling down memory lane, are searching for a particular treasure, or are in need of an escape into a different world, we kindly open our doors to you!