Two houses in Elizabeth Fort restored

Tourists will now be able to rent two houses which have been brought back to life in one of Cork’s historical landmarks.

Irish Landmark has launched Parade House and Garrison House, located within the 17th century Elizabeth Fort in Cork city.

The conservation of these houses was managed in partnership with Cork City Council.

Each house will sleep three people in a double room and a single room.

The original footprint of the houses were retained, and the furniture and fittings have been chosen to reflect a sense of bygone times.

Elizabeth Fort was originally built as a defensive fortification on high ground outside the city walls; the city eventually grew around the fort.

The fort took on various other roles over the years including that of a military barracks, a prison and, latterly, a garda station.

Since the closure of the garda station and other offices on the site, local historical interest groups had advocated for further and permanent development of the site for tourism.

In January 2014, the site was fully and formally passed from the Office of Public Works to the control of Cork City Council to facilitate this development.

Mary O’Brien CEO, Irish Landmark Trust said: “The quality of the conservation is exceptional and we are proud to offer these two houses to those guests seeking to stay somewhere special in the city of Cork.”

The design team on the project was Blackwood Associates, and it was led by Kevin Blackwood and Stephen Murphy; the contractor was Queenstown Restoration Ltd, led by David Higgins and his foreman Pat O’Reilly; QS was Richard Mossop of DLMP and the interiors consultant was Jessie Wilkinson.

Founded in 1992, Irish Landmark Trust works throughout the island of Ireland to save interesting and unusual heritage buildings that are at risk of being lost through neglect or inappropriate use. These buildings, which are of architectural, social and historic importance, are conserved and restored and are then let on a short-term, holiday basis.

Irish Landmark has grown from one restored property in 1997 to its current portfolio of 32 completed properties on 27 sites.