€3m art collection returns to Fota

A FAMOUS art and furniture collection originally displayed in Fota House in Cork some 30 years ago is back in the famous residence following a donation by a local business and AIB.

The collection was handed over by McCarthy Developments and AIB to the Irish Heritage Trust under the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997.

The Wood Collection, as it is known, has been valued by the Revenue Commissioners at in excess of €3.6 million. The donors have received a tax credit to that value which they can use for past, current or future tax liabilities.

The Irish Heritage Trust has handed the collection back to Fota House which is now on display.

Tom Fannon, property manager at Fota House, said the collection is named after Richard Wood, who rented the house from UCC in the 1970s and 1980s.

He used the house to display his collection, but left in 1985, taking his collection, after the house became unsafe.

The Wood Collection was acquired by the McCarthy family, a local building firm in Cork, and by the AIB.

Mr Fannon said the collection was well known and includes work by such artists as Thomas Roberts, George Mullins, Jonathan Fisher, William Ashford, George Bennett and Hugh Douglas Hamilton.

Revenue valued Roberts’ Extensive Mountainous Landscape for €680,000 and Mullins’ Extensive Wooded Mountainous River Landscape at €200,000.

Mr Fannon said the total value of the entire collection was €6m. Some of the collection may not be included in the collection assessed by Revenue.

He said about 15,000 people visit the house every year and will be able to appreciate the full collection. He said the public could now also view the first floor, which has been restored through funding from the Department of the Environment.

The building, dating from the 1820s, is built in the Regency style and was designed by architects Richard and William Morrison.

Mr Fannon said the house, which was under the direction of Fota Trust, a charity, needed structural work and the charity turned to the OPW for help.

The Irish Heritage Trust formally acquired Fota House in December 2007 and began restoring and reinvigorating the house.

The OPW maintains control of the grounds and the arboretum.

lContact Fota House on 021-4815543 or www.fotahouse.com. Open times 10am-5pm weekdays and Saturday and 11am-5pm on Sundays.