Fota House Awarded Accreditation in Prestigious Museum Standards Programme for Ireland

Recently the Irish Heritage Trust was awarded interim accreditation in the Heritage Council’s prestigious Museum Standards Programme for Ireland for Fota House, Arboretum & Gardens in Cork. Over a period of five years an extensive programme of restoration and acquisition has resulted in Fota House being refurbished and generous public and private donations have filled the house with fine art and paintings of international significance and a unique historic wallpaper archive. In addition an award winning walled kitchen garden has been brought back to its original condition and is now a thriving and productive garden run by a team of Fota’s volunteers.

Dr Michael Martin, General Manager at Fota House and Gardens said yesterday in Dublin “We could not have achieved this award without the dedication of our team led by Victoria Browne and Collections Care co-ordinator Stephen Williams and a huge element of support from our fantastic group of volunteers and staff that made this possible

The Irish Heritage Trust was established as a not- for – profit charity in 2006 and Fota House and Gardens has been its flagship project. Nestled between Fota Wildlife Park and Fota Island Resort, Fota House and Gardens is now one of Ireland’s leading cultural and heritage attractions with an exciting opportunity for discovery and learning. Visitors to Fota can step back in time and get an authentic experience what life was like for those both living and working in an Irish big house – just as they were portrayed in television dramas, like ‘Downton Abbey’ and ‘Upstairs Downstairs’. Tours of the house explore the opulent rooms of the lords and ladies that are contrasted against the working sculleries and service wing for maids and butlers. Tours of the restored walled Victorian ‘kitchen’ garden reveal how plants and vegetables were raised using age old methods of conservation and renewal that sustained a household of over 90 people at one time.

Fota House and Gardens are open to the public for visits and tours from May to September 10am to 4pm daily. Anybody wishing to support the work of the Trust at Fota by volunteering or donations please call 021 4815543 or email info@fotahouse.com