Latest news with #IrishHeritageTrust
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Irish Independent
New chapter at one of Cork's landmark visitor attractions following completion of expansive conservation works
Fota House & Gardens one of Ireland's most treasured historic estates now offers an even more memorable visitor experience for the summer and autumn seasons. A major programme of conservation and restoration has just been completed, to the value of €2.2m funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage over a four year period. The works included structural roof repairs, revitalisation of the house's Regency interiors, and the conservation of the McCarthy 19th-century landscape art collection. This marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing enhancement of the estate as a landmark visitor attraction in East Cork. The property's extensive gardens are now also in bloom and they have a newly enhanced historic house tour. Fota House & Gardens also has a busy programme of events planned for the months ahead which include art exhibitions, courses, and outdoor movie screenings. Set within a 200-year-old estate, Fota House continues to reveal its fascinating stories under the stewardship of the Irish Heritage Trust, an independent non-profit organisation which acquired the property in 2007. Visitors are invited to explore the splendidly conserved 19th-century mansion, the finest example of Regency architecture in Ireland, complete with vibrant working gardens and a renowned arboretum, alongside an exciting calendar of seasonal events. Guided tours bring the house's layered history to life, exploring the legacy of the Smith-Barry family who lived at Fota for over 175 years and the many staff who worked on the estate over generations. Visitors journey through more than seventy rooms, from grand neoclassical reception halls to nurseries, kitchens, and below-stairs quarters that offer a rare insight into domestic life of the time. Bryan Murphy, Irish Heritage Trust General Manager at Fota House & Gardens said: 'In recent years, we've completed major conservation works—from restoring the main roof and Regency interiors to conserving the McCarthy 19th-century landscape art collection. These projects protect Fota's rich heritage while enhancing the visitor experience.' Beyond the house itself, visitors can relax with a coffee or lunch in 'The Food Club' café or browse the beautiful gift shop featuring works by local artists and craftspeople. The surrounding gardens and nationally important arboretum provide the perfect backdrop to enjoy the changing seasons, with rare botanical species and historic gardening practices nurtured through the Irish Heritage Trust's thriving volunteering programme. The restored Victorian Working Garden and glasshouses, once in decline, now flourish once again. Fota House also holds Museum Accreditation by the Heritage Council's Museum Standards Programme for Ireland, recognising the exceptional collection care delivered by the Irish Heritage Trust. From drawing rooms to servant corridors, every corner tells a story—including the celebrated landscape art collection by Ashford, Fisher and Roberts displayed in its original 19th-century setting. Guided tours last approximately one hour and run daily at 12pm and 2pm from mid-March to the end of September, with an additional 3:30pm tour in July and August. While pre-booking is not always essential, visitors are encouraged to book in advance to secure preferred times. For more information on visiting hours, visit
Agriland
18-05-2025
- General
- Agriland
National Famine Way roadshow goes on tour
The new National Famine Way roadshow, which is on tour this month and into June, will call to seven locations along the route of the long distance trail. The dates of the roadshow, which is presented by the Irish Heritage Trust in collaboration with the seven local authorities along the trail, are as follows: Monday, May 19: 3:00-5:00p.m, Strokestown Park House, Strokestown, Co. Roscommon; Tuesday, May 20: 3:00-5;00pm, Ballymahon Library, Ballymahon, Co. Longford; Wednesday, May 21: 3:00-5:00pm, Leixlip Library, Leixlip, Co. Kildare; Thursday, May 22: 2:00-4:00pm, Trim Library, Trim, Co. Meath; Thursday, May 22: 6:00-8;00pm, Mullingar Library, Co. Westmeath; Tuesday, June 3: 5.30-7.30pm, Blanchardstown Library, Fingal, Dublin 15; Thursday, June 5: 3:00-5:00pm, Charleville Mall Library, Dublin 1. Featuring talks and presentations by leading local and international famine historians, the event will bring a poignant part of history to life. Appropriately, the month of May marks both the anniversary of the mass departure of 1,490 emigrants from Strokestown, Co Roscommon and the annual national famine commemoration. National Famine Way The Ballymahon roadshow speakers will include: Caroilín Calleary, founder of the National Famine Way; Dr Jason King, academic co-ordinator of the National Famine Museum, Strokestown Park, and of the Irish Heritage Trust; and Martin Morris, Longford county archivist. Attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions of the experts, and everyone is welcome to attend. National Famine Way's Caroilín Calleary said: 'Touring with this roadshow gives us a chance to visit each of the communities along the route again, making the history of the Irish famine more visible. 'We hope to deepen the connections in each while honouring the memory of Strokestown's missing 1,490.' Strokestown Park House. Source: Colin Shanahan, DigiCol Photography. The National Famine Way is a 165km marked walking and cycling trail commemorating a heart-breaking walk of forced emigration that took place in 1847 at the height of the Irish famine. It begins at the memorial glass wall at the National Famine Museum, Strokestown Park, Co. Roscommon and continues through six counties to EPIC, the Irish emigration museum in Dublin's Docklands. The route is marked by more than 30 pairs of bronze children's shoes, and the way and its associated stories can be followed through a free app. Chief executive of Longford County Council, Paddy Mahon, said that the partnership highlights the collective commitment of local authorities to honour and remember the 1,490 individuals who were forced to emigrate from Strokestown during the famine. Mahon said: 'The roadshow serves as a poignant reminder of this tragic chapter in Irish history.' Longford County Council cathaoirleach, Cllr Mark Casey, said that the national famine way roadshow offers a powerful opportunity to honour the memory of those who walked from Strokestown in search of survival. Cllr Casey said: 'It's a vital reminder of our shared past and the resilience of those forced to emigrate and it ensures their stories continue to shape our national understanding of history.' Registration for the events is required in advance by emailing nationalfaminewayroadshow@ National Famine Museum Meanwhile, the National Famine Museum at Strokestown Park is set to host the 2025 Famine Summer School from May 29 to June 1. The theme of the 2025 summer school is 'Humanitarianism and Hunger', which focuses on international aid responses to the Great Irish Famine of the 1840s. The programme will investigate how global communities, including those in North America, India, the Ottoman Empire, and beyond, reacted to the catastrophe in Ireland, often in contrast to the more limited or delayed actions of official authorities. The conference will also draw parallels with modern day challenges in humanitarian assistance, food insecurity, and climate-related displacement.
