Discover Doneraile Court

For The First Time In A Generation

Minister Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran Officially Opens National Historic Property

€1.6 Million Restoration by Office of Public Works of Historic Cork Property

Doneraile Court, the stunning centrepiece of one of Ireland’s most beautiful estates, has opened its doors to the public, for the first time in a generation. This was following a €1.6-million restoration by the Office of Public Works (OPW). Minister for the Office of Public Works and Flood Relief Kevin Boxer Moran, officially opened the historic house at an event attended by the local community.

Doneraile Court was built in the 1700’s by the St. Leger family, who remained in residence for 13 generations, until 1969. It has been in the stewardship of the Office of Public Works (OPW) since 1994. The Project included investment of €350,000 from the

Department of Culture Heritage and Gaeltacht. The house now takes its place as one of Ireland’s most important historic properties.

The restoration works carried out under the Capital Works Project involved the total refurbishment of the ground floor, including the main staircase, giving public access to a visitor reception and an interpretive exhibition area in the three main reception rooms of the house. As most of the original contents were removed when the house was sold in 1969, the OPW conservation team carefully restored the house, bringing together artefacts and pieces of work that speak volumes about the rich and long history of the house.

As part of the opening, eleven important works from Crawford Art Gallery’s collection have been loaned to Doneraile Court. The paintings, dating from the seventeenth to twentieth centuries, will add further context to this historic house.

Officially opening the property,

Minister Moran said: “Today is a hugely significant day for Cork. This house has long left a large imprint in the history of the county, with its presence felt for centuries. Preserving and restoring historic properties is crucial to retaining our nation’s heritage and history and plays an important cultural role in cultivating pride of our heritage and past making us unique in the world. In the past 18-months the OPW has restored the ground floor to an impeccable standard and in doing so has opened a new chapter in Doneraile Court’s life.” Doneraile Parklands and Gardens are already one of Ireland’s most significant tourist attractions, welcoming 490,000 people in 2018. The house is surrounded by four hundred acres of parklands laid out in the style popularised by legendary landscape designed Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown. The park has extensive waterways and water features, while herds of Sika, fallow and red deer can be found around the parklands.