Riverstown House
Fota House & Victorian Working Gardens Fota Island Open 10am to 5pm Partial wheelchair access Immerse yourself in the charms of our elegant Regency house – home to the Smith Barrys for centuries. Fota House was redesigned in the 1820s by John ‘The Magnificent’ Smith Barry as a splendid setting for his sumptuous entertainments. Today, Fota’s legendary stories can be experienced through guided tours led by a team of staff and volunteers, whose passion for heritage is contagious. Experience the grand decor of the principle rooms as we take you behind the scenes to the exquisite boudoir and charming Victorian nursery. A special feature is the service wing, where the visitor can experience what life was like for the cooks, butlers, footmen and maids, who supported the lavish lifestyle of the gentry. Enjoy the tranquil beauty of Fota’s Victorian Working Gardens, with its beautifully restored Victorian glasshouses, some of the finest in the country. The Irish Heritage Trust are proud to have recently won a prestigious Europa Nostra heritage award in the category of Education, Training and Awareness-raising for its development of its volunteer initiative in the Victorian Working Gardens. Fota House is cared for by the Irish Heritage Trust and is open from March to September. In celebration of Cork Heritage Day, the Irish Heritage Trust is delighted to offer visitors a complimentary tour of Fota House and access to the Victorian Frameyard garden by pre-booked guided tour. Guided Tour of Fota House 11am, 12pm, 2pm & 3.30pm. Guided Tour of the Victorian Working Gardens 11am, 1pm & 2pm. Specialised Curatorial Tours on Fota House’s original contents will be given by Martina Madden at 1pm &3pm. Booking on https://bookings.fotahouse.com/Home 34
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Riverstown, Glanmire Tour at 10am and 12pm Partial wheelchair access Located in Glanmire, Riverstown House is a classical Irish country house which was originally built in 1602. When the Italian stuccodores Paolo and Filippo Lafrancini came to Ireland in 1734, their first and most important work was for Jemmett Browne, later the Archbishop of Cork who enlarged and remodelled the original Riverstown House. The Lafrancinis adorned the ceiling of the dining room with allegorical figures and also its walls with classical figures and exuberant rococco flowers and foliage. The house remained in the Brown family until the present century but by the 1950’s the house was decaying and empty. It was bought in 1958 by Mr and Mrs John Dooley who restored the house with the help of the Irish Georgian Society. The house is now owned by Mr Denis and Mrs Rita Dooley. A guided tour of the historic Riverstown House will take place at 10am and 12pm. Booking essential on www.corkheritageopenday.ie/events
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