Fota House

Quay comprising cut limestone retaining walls to east and west of boat harbour, built c. 1820, with cut and tooled limestone retaining walls to slipway incorporated into eastern promontory, built c. 1840, having paired flights of cut limestone steps. Gable-fronted double-height boathouse, built 1840 with pitched slate roof, tooled limestone walls with date stone to and elliptical-arched opening with dressed voussoirs and double-leaf wrought-iron gates. Square-headed opening above with timber battened door.

Skilfully executed and detailed quay and boathouse, located adjacent to Fota Castle within historical Fota House demesne. The Smith-Barry's holidayed in Fota Castle, probably boating in the harbour for entertainment. The ironwork on the boathouse gates is similar to that on gates located within the walled garden elsewhere on the island. Fota House and its associated demesne structures were completed to the designs of Sir Richard Morrison and his son William Vitruvius Morrison, some of the most influential architects in Ireland during the nineteenth century. The Fota House demesne once comprised the whole island, the survival of its notable demesne structures, distinguished gardens and formal layout adds significantly to Ireland's national heritage.