Fota House

This house was built originally as a hunting lodge, it was extended in the 1820's for John Smith-Barry by Sir Richard Morrison and his son William Vitruvious Morrison.

The house and estate were purchased in 1975 by University College, Cork. It contains a varied collection of early nineteenth century furniture, and a wonderful array of Irish paintings, most of which are landscapes, among the artists are Nicholas Crowley, James Arthur O'Connor, Edwin Hayes, Charles Jervis, Nathaniel Grogan, Robert Carver, Thomas Sautell Roberts, James Latham, George Barret, Hugh Douglas Hamilton, William Ashford, and Daniel Maclise.

The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, has recently announced that he has approved the acquisition of Fota House and Gardens, by the Irish Heritage Trust.

The de Barry family arrived in Ireland from Wales as part of the Norman conquest, they built Barryscourt Castle near Carrigtwohill, County Cork.

Fota Island, Carrigtwohill, Co Cork Tel: +353 (0)21 4815543 Fax: +353 (0)21 4815541 E Mail Web Site

The Irish Heritage Trust was established in 2006 with a mandate to acquire and present to the public major important heritage properties where the State does not wish to acquire them directly and where there is imminent risk to their heritage value. In the grounds is an arboretum started in the 1820's and a seventy acre wildlife park installed by the Royal Zoological Society. Go to heritage sites in Co Cork.