The Buildings
Historic Homes
Fota House
Contact Details
| Address | Fota Island, Co. Cork. |
| Telephone | evelyn@irishheritagetrust.ie |
| Opening Hours | Tours will take place at 11.30am, 1pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm |
Fota House and Gardens is located on Fota Island off the N25 to Rosslare and adjacent to Fota Wildlife Park. The House was originally built in the 18th century for the Smith-Barry family as a hunting lodge at the centre of their estate, which covered the whole of Fota Island, some 780 acres.
Early in the 19th century it was greatly extended by the prestigious country house architects Richard Morrison and his son William Vitruvius Morrison when it became a permanent home for John Smith-Barry. As well as providing a home for the Smith-Barry family, a programme of work was embarked upon to improve the island estate by creating parkland, woods and pleasure grounds. Buildings such as kennels, stables, walled gardens, glass houses and various outbuildings were constructed as part of this development. Subsequent generations of Smith-Barrys added the famous arboretum and the orangery as well as adding a gallery and a billiard room to the house.
The house, which was remodelled by the Morrisons has a sumptuously richly decorated interior, with ornate plasterwork, gilded and painted ceilings, 19th century wallpaper and scagliola (artificial marble) columns. The original 18th century 5-bay (that is 5 windows wide) house at the centre of the complex can just be discerned by the careful observer.
In celebration of Cork Heritage Day, the Irish Heritage Trust is delighted to offer visitors free guided tours of Fota House. Tours will take place at 11.30am, 1pm, 2.30pm and 3.30pm and they will show visitors two floors of extensive country house, including formal rooms, servants quarters, the restored original kitchen and the game larder. Each tour is limited to 25 people so if you would like to secure your place on a free tour of Fota House, you can book by emailing: evelyn@irishheritagetrust.ie
Access to the 12 acres of arboretum and gardens is free of charge and this year, the visitor will have a chance to view the RTE “How to Create a Garden” plots which are in the walled garden, as well as one of Ireland’s largest Victorian Glasshouse restoration projects which is nearing completion.