The National Trust began conservation work in 1979 at Castle Coole, one of Ireland’s finest neo-classical country houses, protecting the historic estate and opening it to the public.
Castle Coole, near Enniskillen in County Fermanagh, was designed by architect James Wyatt and built between 1789 and 1798 for the 1st Earl of Belmore. It's recognised as one of the finest neo-classical houses in Ireland, features outstanding interiors and furnishings, and sits within an important historic landscape.
The estate’s history stretches back much further than the house itself. The site has links to medieval Irish rulers, later plantation settlements and centuries of social and political change in Fermanagh.
Our original funding of £246,000 in 1981 helped the National Trust secure the land around Castle Coole. In total, we've awarded five grants worth £1,195,645 to support both the building – including vital stonework repairs – and its wider setting, securing the site's long-term future.
Today, visitors can explore its architecture and collections, enjoy its parkland and lakeside setting, and reflect on its many layers history.