Emo Court and Estate

Emo Court is a quintessential neo-classical mansion. The famous architect James Gandon, fresh from his work on the Custom House and the Four Courts in Dublin, set to work on Emo Court in 1790. However, the building that stands now was not completed until some 70 years later. The estate was home to the earls of Portarlington until the War of Independence forced them to abandon Ireland for good. The Jesuits moved in some years later and, as the Novitiate of the Irish Province, the mansion played host to some 500 of the order’s trainees. A Major Cholmeley-Harrison took over Emo Court in the 1960s and fully restored it. He opened the beautiful gardens and parkland to the public before finally presenting the entire estate to the people of Ireland in 1994. Visitors to Emo Court can enjoy the lake and woodland walks or a meander through the gardens before relaxing in the charming tearooms The guided house tour is particularly special, showcasing the beautifully restored ground-floor period rooms and providing access to the atmospheric basement, where visitors can explore the stories and working lives of the servants who supported this remarkable house. Emo Court was recently awarded €187,000 under Fáilte Ireland’s Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme, co-funded by the EU Just Transition Fund and the Government of Ireland. The funding will support a site assessment and development plan to guide future conservation, visitor experience enhancements, and sustainable development. For more information click here