Fota House

Saturday Yoga in the Victorian Gardens
2026-07-04 10:00 - 2026-08-22 11:00 (Europe/Dublin)
Reconnect with nature and find your calm at yoga classes, held every Saturday morning throughout July and August in the beautiful Victorian Working Gardens at Fota House, Arboretum & Gardens.
Led by experienced Senior Yoga Teacher Aileen Warbrook, these outdoor yoga sessions offer the perfect opportunity to relax, restore, and enjoy gentle movement in one of Cork’s most peaceful settings. Surrounded by birdsong, mature trees, and the stunning historic gardens, each class provides a tranquil escape from the demands of everyday life.
Suitable for all experience levels, from complete beginners to regular practitioners, these welcoming classes focus on mindful movement, breathwork, and relaxation. Simply bring your own yoga mat and a blanket, arrive by 9:45am, and enjoy an hour of yoga in the fresh air from 10:00am to 11:00am.
Event Details

When: Saturdays throughout July & August
Time: 10:00am – 11:00am (please arrive at 9:45am)
Location: The lawn in the Victorian Working Gardens at Fota House
Price: €10 per class
What to Bring: Yoga mat and blanket
Suitable for: All levels, including beginners

Whether you’re looking to improve flexibility, reduce stress, or simply enjoy a peaceful morning surrounded by nature, Yoga at Fota Gardens offers a truly unique wellness experience in Cork.
For further information, please contact Aileen Warbrook at awarbrook@gmail.com.

A Day of Garden Sketching at Fota House with Camilla Fanning
2026-07-04 10:30 - 16:00 | Fota House, Arboretum & Gardens
Discover the joy of sketching in one of Ireland’s most inspiring settings with a relaxed and creative day at Fota House & Gardens. Surrounded by sweeping garden views, historic grounds, and the beautiful arboretum, this workshop invites you to slow down, look closely, and fill your sketchbook with ideas, observations and creative experiments.
Whether you are an experienced artist, a designer, or simply curious about drawing, this fun and welcoming workshop will introduce practical ways to use a sketchbook as a tool for seeing, thinking, and developing ideas. Through guided exercises, demonstrations and outdoor sketching sessions, you’ll learn how to quickly capture atmosphere, movement, colour, and visual impressions directly from the scenery around you.
Led by artist Camilla Fanning (MFA NCAD, member of Graphic Studio Dublin and Cork Printmakers) the workshop combines practical sketching techniques with a relaxed and enjoyable day immersed in nature and creativity.
What to Expect

Introduction to sketchbook practice and creative observation
Tutor-led demonstrations and guided drawing exercises
Learn “shorthand” sketching techniques for capturing quick impressions
Explore the gardens and arboretum through outdoor sketching sessions
Time for independent sketching and experimentation
Relaxed Show & Tell discussion back in the studio
Ideas for developing sketchbook work into future creative projects

The day also includes morning coffee and lunch, giving participants time to relax, chat, and enjoy the beautiful surroundings of Fota House & Gardens.
Participants should bring their own sketching materials (a suggested materials list will be provided in advance). Suitable outdoor clothing and comfortable walking shoes are recommended, as we will spend time sketching outdoors throughout the gardens and grounds.
Perfect for anyone looking to develop their creativity, enjoy drawing outdoors and spend a memorable day sketching in a truly inspiring setting.
Date & Time
Date Sat 4th July 2026
Time 10:30am – 4:00pm
Ticket Price €130

Booking: For more information and to book email cjfanning[at]cjfanning.com

Shakespeare in the Gardens - SOLD OUT
2026-07-11 17:00 - 2026-07-12 18:30 | Fota House, Arboretum & Gardens
This summer, Cork Shakespearean Company one of Ireland’s oldest and most beloved theatre companies brings Shakespeare to life at Fota Arboretum.
Shakespeare in the Gardens is an intimate promenade theatre experience set entirely within the grounds of Fota House & Gardens.
Audiences of 25 people at a time move together through the arboretum, discovering six Shakespeare scenes performed in six remarkable spaces from the Victorian Fernery to the breathtaking approach to the Orangerie.
There is no stage. No set. No amplification. The gardens themselves are the production design.
Featuring scenes from Romeo & Juliet, Hamlet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Measure for Measure and The Merry Wives of Windsor, the programme offers something for everyone dark, funny, romantic, magical and alive in the open air.
The full experience lasts approximately 110 minutes.
What to Expect
Move through the gardens as a group of 25 people, guided by volunteers
Discover a Shakespeare scene in each of six extraordinary natural locations
No seats, no stage, no set – just Shakespeare and the landscape
An experience that lasts approximately 90 minutes from start to finish
Suitable for all ages and all levels of Shakespeare experience

Sip & Paint Evening at Fota House
2026-07-22 19:00 - 21:00
Looking for a unique Sip & Paint experience in Cork? Join us at Fota House for a relaxing and creative evening where art, good company, and a glass of wine come together in one unforgettable event.
Whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced artist, you will guided step-by-step as you create your own masterpiece to take home. With all art materials provided, you can simply arrive, unwind, sip a glass of wine, and enjoy an inspiring evening surrounded by the elegant setting of one of Cork’s most historic houses.
Perfect for couples, friends, birthdays, date nights, or anyone looking for a fun and creative activity in Cork, this Paint & Sip event offers the ideal opportunity to relax, meet new people, and discover your artistic side.
Whats included:-

Guided painting session with a professional artist
Canvas, paints, brushes, and all art supplies
A complimentary drink
Your finished artwork to take home
A welcoming and relaxed atmosphere suitable for all abilities

No previous painting experience is needed just bring your creativity and enjoy an evening filled with colour, conversation, and fun.
Spaces are limited, so book early to secure your place at one of Cork’s most popular creative events.

Beginner Embriodery Workshop with Sarah Buckley
2026-08-05 10:30 - 12:30 | Fota House, Arboretum & Gardens

Needle Felting Workshop with Emily Thompson
2026-08-07 06:30 - 21:00

Sashiko Stitched Pincushion Mini Workshop with Mary Palmer
2026-08-08 13:00 - 16:00

Cóisir an tSamhraidh
2026-08-14 19:30 - 22:15

Lino Print Workshop with John Bastow
2026-08-15 13:00 - 16:00

Create your Own Masterpiece in Porcelain with Orla O Visual
2026-08-18 11:00 - 13:00

Carving Timber Letter Opener with Michael Whytle
2026-08-20 11:00 - 13:00

Romeo & Juliet Outdoor Theatre presented by Oddsocks Productions
2026-08-20 19:00 - 21:30 | Fota House, Arboretum & Gardens
Outdoor theatre returns as Oddsocks Productions present their new adaptation of Romeo and Juliet at Fota House as part of their UK & Ireland tour.Finding both humour and heartfelt moments within one of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies, this fresh interpretation brings new life to the story of two star crossed lovers whose families are divided by an age old feud.As the evening draws in, the grounds of Fota House become the setting for an open air performance where theatre, history and the landscape come together beneath the summer sky.Bring a picnic, a blanket or chair, settle into the surroundings, and enjoy a different way to experience theatre at Fota House.

Botanical Cyanotype Workshop with Angela Wilson
2026-08-21 13:00 - 15:00
