Fota Island facts for kids
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Native name:
Oileán Fhóta
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 Foaty Island
Location in island of Ireland
Location in Ireland
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| Geography | |
| Location | Cork Harbour |
| Coordinates | 51°53′57″N 8°17′54″W / 51.89917°N 8.29833°W |
| Administration | |
| County | County Cork |
| Demographics | |
| Ethnic groups | Irish |
Fota (also known as Foaty) is a beautiful island located in Cork Harbour, Ireland. It sits just north of a larger island called Great Island. Fota Island is famous for being home to Ireland's only wildlife park. It also has a historic house and lovely gardens, plus a popular golf course.
Contents
What's in a Name? The Story of Fota
The name Foaty was made official in the 1800s. However, Fota is the name most people use today. We are not completely sure where the name comes from. One idea is that it comes from an old Norse word meaning "foot island." This makes sense because of its location near the mouth of the River Lee from Cork city. Another idea is that "Fota" comes from an Irish phrase meaning "warm sod" or "warm soil." This is a good description for the island's soil, which is great for growing plants.
Exploring Fota House and Gardens
Fota Island is home to a grand old building called Fota House. It also has amazing gardens.
Fota House: A Historic Home
Fota House was once the home of the Smith-Barry family. This family came from Wales many centuries ago. They were given land at Fota in 1185. The house started as a hunting lodge. In the 1820s, it became the family's main home. Architects Sir Richard Morrison and his son Vetruvius Morrison helped turn it into a large mansion. It has more than 70 rooms!
The last family member to live in Fota House was Dorothy Elizabeth Bell. She loved to care for the plants in the gardens and the arboretum. An arboretum is a special garden for trees. After Mrs. Bell passed away in 1975, the estate was sold.
Over time, the house started to fall apart. It was closed to visitors for a while. But thanks to help from the European Union, the Irish government, and private donations, it was restored. Fota House reopened in 2002. Now, the Irish Heritage Trust looks after this important piece of history.
Fota Gardens: A World of Plants
The beautiful Fota Gardens are found right next to Fota House. They include a planned arboretum, a walled garden, and terraces. These gardens are famous for their rare and unusual shrubs and trees. There is also a very large rose garden.
The Smith-Barry family designed these gardens. They knew that Fota's sheltered spot and warm soil were perfect for growing special plants. The name "Fota" might even mean "warm soil" in Irish!
The gardens grew a lot during a time when explorers were bringing new plants back from all over the world. Many rare plants from places like Asia and South America came to Fota soon after they were discovered. The family made sure the trees had plenty of space to grow. They also kept careful records of all the plants. This work of looking after and adding to the plant collections continues today.
Many of Fota's plant collections are connected with other famous gardens. These include the National Botanic Gardens in Dublin. In 1996, the Irish government took control of the arboretum and gardens. They are now managed by the Office of Public Works and the Irish Heritage Trust.
Fota Island Resort: Golf and Relaxation
Fota Island Resort is a large area of woodlands and beautiful landscapes. It covers about 780 acres. The resort is well-known for its golf course. It has three championship courses, each with different challenges. People have been playing golf at Fota Island since 1886!
In 1993, the golf club was improved by famous golfers Christy O'Connor Jnr and Peter McEvoy. The resort has hosted many golf tournaments. These include the Irish Club Professional Championship and the Murphy's Irish Open.
In 2004, a company called the Killeen Group bought the resort. They made many improvements to meet high European golf standards. Later, in 2013, a new family from China, the Kang Family Worldwide Group, bought the resort.
Fota Wildlife Park: Animals from Around the World
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Fota Wildlife Park first opened in July 1983. Its main goal is to help protect animals from all over the world. It is a project between the Zoological Society of Ireland and University College Cork.
Fota Wildlife Park is home to over 70 different kinds of exotic animals. Many of these animals roam freely in large open areas. You can see ostriches, giraffes, kangaroos, zebras, and antelope. Only animals like cheetahs and other predators are kept in fenced areas. Animals like Ring-tailed lemurs and wallabies can walk around the park freely.
Many animals at Fota are in danger of extinction. The park helps by being part of special breeding programs for these endangered species. They also help provide animals for other zoos around the world. In 2015, a new Asian sanctuary opened at the park. It has special areas for tigers and other Asian animals. Fota Wildlife Park is very popular, with hundreds of thousands of visitors each year!
Getting to Fota Island
You can reach Fota Island by train. The Fota railway station opened way back in 1865. If you prefer to travel by road, Fota is just south of the N25 road. This road connects Cork to Rosslare. You can also get to Fota directly from Cobh and Carrigtwohill using the R624 regional road.
