27.04.2024, 10:00 A.M.
Join the IGS Cork Chapter for a visit to Cappoquin House & Dromana House in Waterford, and a few other sites along the way.
Itinerary:
10.00 Meet at Cappoquin House, Cappoquin Co. Waterford for registration.
10.30 Tour of Cappoquin House followed by a tour of the gardens.
12.30 Picnic lunch at Cappoquin House
13.30 Leave for Hindu-Gothick Gateway
13.50 Hindu-Gothick Gateway (roadside parking - exercise caution)
14.10 Leave Hindu-Gothick Gateway
14.30 Tour of Dromana House and Gardens
16.30 Refreshments - Dromana House
17.00 Villierstown Village (optional)
Cappoquin House, the seat of Sir Charles Keane, is a seven-bay, two-storey late eighteenth-century house faced in sandstone ashlar with limestone cills and surmounted by a balustraded parapet topped with carved urns. The house was burnt in 1923, and afterwards rebuilt with fine reproduction late eighteenth-century interiors under the supervision of the architect Sir William Orpen.
Dromana House rises above the Blackwater on a massive outcrop on one of the most charming parts of the river. The house incorporates part of an old Fitzgerald castle, Lords of the Decies, whose heiress married Gen. Edward Villiers. It has been the subject of much rebuilding over the centuries and currently forms an L shaped eight-bay, two-storey building. A large early nineteenth century nine-bay, two storey house designed by Martin Day, with fine interior including a cantilevered staircase and bow ended drawing room overlooking the river Blackwater, unfortunately was demolished in 1966. The surviving block has a fine Gibbsian door surround.
Dromana Gateway, this is one of the most remarkable structures in Ireland. It was built circa 1825 and spans the river Finnisk before it enters the Blackwater. It spans the roadway in a symmetrical fashion with an onion dome and minarets. Apparently, it was built as a welcome home feature for a recently married couple who had holidayed in Brighton and had visited John Nash’s Brighton Pavilion. Originally a temporary structure, it delighted everyone and so was rebuilt in a permanent fashion. Having suffered from the vicissitudes of time, it was repaired in the 1960s through the good offices of the Irish Georgian Society. The County Council replaced the wooden bridge with a more durable version when the estate road became a public road. The new bridge has pointed arches in the parapet reflecting those on the lodge.
Villierstown is a model estate erected by the Villiers-Stuart family of Dromana, circa 1751. It has a wide main street flanked by plain stone buildings (originally rendered) and focusses on a centrally planned church (1748), which itself closes the vista from another broad street, ‘The Green’. Set behind handsome gate piers with wrought iron gates, the cruciform plan church is built of rubble stone with limestone decorative detailing and is distinguished by a broken pediment over the entrance.
Lunch: A Picnic Lunch will be provided in the grounds of Cappoquin House.
Tickets cost €65 (members), €75 (non-members) including lunch and must be purchased in advance by completing the booking form here.
Paying directly into our bank account: Where you opt to pay directly into our bank account (bank details can be found in booking form above) it must include your surname, membership number and the event name (e.g. Harris 12345 Cappoquin). You must mail your booking form to carrigfoylegarden@gmail.com or send a photo of the booking form via WhatsApp to the mobile number (087-2567251) to confirm your booking.
Paying by cheque: Please mail the booking form to Marianne Harris, Carrigfoyle Gardens, Fermoy Co. Cork. Tel: 087-2567251 – email: carrigfoylegarden@gmail.com. Please make your cheque payable to the Irish Georgian Society, Cork Chapter
Attendance : Participation at this event is for members and their guests only. Early booking is advised as places are limited. Terms and conditions: Participation at the discretion of the committee. No bookings accepted without payment. Limited places available. Preference will be given to members. Attendees must provide their own transport. Programme subject to change without notice