Recently, I did a review of The Rothe House Gardens in Kilkenny. It is recommended to read it and the comments for this post to make sense. Read it and pop back here after…..
I’ve done many reviews. Some of the places I’ve seen were a disgrace. Some amazing. But the intention is not to cause upset, rather to give an honest appraisal. In most cases I have emailed the department or association.
I did get a comment in on The Rothe House review after some time though. It was from Roisín McQuillan the manager of The Rothe House in Kilkenny. And I replied. I also picked up the phone that evening and rang Roisín. After she sent me on this mail. The above images were attached.
Hi Peter
Thanks for your phone call this afternoon, it was great to speak to you. As we discussed, I’m sending you some images of the garden ‘before’ and ‘after’, so that you can see the work which has been done to get us to where we are today.
The garden has been reconstructed by Rothe House Trust Limited and Kilkenny Archaeological Society, as part of its Conservation Plan. The objective was to reconstruct a 17th century urban garden. A steering committee was formed, chaired by Dearbhala Ledwidge, Heritage Officer with Kilkenny County Council. This committee undertook research into the design of the garden, which was complemented by an extensive archaeological dig.
The plot of land had been used by the OPW as a carpark and storage facility, and the whole area was overlaid with 3ft of concrete. There were various sheds around the area which had to be pulled down. Funding was received from Fáilte Ireland, Kilkenny Borough Council and Kilkenny Civic Trust, with the balance being raised by private fundraising. The final cost of the project was over €600,000.
The work began in January 2006, when the area was cleared and the dig commenced. This dig found over 2,000 artefacts relating to life in the garden area over 700 years (as far back as the Cistercians in the 1300s). The results of the dig determined the final design of the garden, as we sought to be as authentic as possible to the original design. The planting beds of the 17th century were located, and these have been positioned in the exact spot. Cross walls which were built after the 17th century were knocked, and a new wall was built on the line of a wall which had originally been there. A master stonemason was employed to restore the original boundary walls, and new walls were built where gaps had occurred over the years.
The planting scheme is as authentic as we can make it. Research was undertaken into the types of plants which were grown in the 17thGardener’s Labyrinth which she uses as her ‘bible’ for planting. We include vegetables, herbs, aromatic plants, fruit trees and shrubs, bulbs etc. Each autumn we plant bulbs, all of which have a pedigree going back to the late 16th or early 17th century. These have given us great colour in the garden last Spring. century. Mary, our Gardener, plays close attention to the
I attach two images at present, one before the work began and one shortly after the garden was opened. You can see the amount of work which had to be completed.
The Garden was officially opened by Mrs Mary McAleese, President of Ireland, on 11th April 2008, and in its first summer it won the Regional and National Landscape Awards with the Tidy Towns Competition.
Next week, I will send you some further images of the garden to illustrate the amount of work which was done to ensure that the Garden opened on time, and within budget.
As I explained, we are now embarking on our final Capital Project, the Renaissance Project, which will re-present the entire House & garden to the public in a new and very exciting way.
With kind regards, and have a good weekend.
Róisín McQuillan
Manager
Rothe House, Kilkenny
So now I have an invitation to visit and to meet and greet those responsible for the grounds. Roisín has done her job extremely well. Fact. And those who never knew about The Rothe House Trust House and Gardens are now a little wiser. Bulaidh bós Roisín. Standing ovation.
By the way, very logically they have also put their sat nav co ordinates up on their website. Smart people.
What do you think….?
Sat Nav Co-ords: 52o 39.3’ N, 7o 15.3’ W
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Thats a really interesting reply and fair play to you for writing to them, well done on them replying and so positively and really well done on your part for posting it.
While reading your first post, I totally accept your post – how is this young garden a 17th century garden – I’m guessing that there are two aspects to their literature that may need updating: 1) its a new, replanted 17th Garden based on designs/layout of a garden in from the 17th century.
Despite what they write – you didn’t seem get that this was true to/a typical 17th century garden layout – has this changed your mind?
A Chara David,
very well summarised in your first paragraph there.
The reality is that an ‘instant’ garden can be bought. 17th century or otherwise. Whilst the plant names/ types etc I’m told are spot on…. It is extremely young, only 2 seasons old in fact. That said it was also the design and overall layout that I was also unsure of. I guess when I/ one considers 17th century or in this case ‘medieval’ it conjurs up something different. Classic 17th century gardens that I have researched have always been on mass lots of land – whether some of the peripheral land has been rezoned during the 300 years plus and kept true to what in reality remains….. does not mean it is necessarily reticent of 17th century – if that is the case. And if in fact it is only a fruit garden as part of an entire set up/ holding, remains to be seen and maybe discussed indepth when I return there, to give a better understanding as to the overall layout.
I did guess that budgets played a role and that was a correct assumption. It should be noted that The Rothe House Trust is not of semi state status.
That said – for €2 [considering the japaneese gardens are €11] is not such bad value… whether I would recommend you visit or whether based on what you would read [literature given to me] before you should visit….. would you see medieval/ 17th century and would you believe my ‘review’ to be fair…. ?
Horticulture aside… and as you also reiterated, credit where it is due for doing what so many constantly recommend should be done – and that is to engage. The amount of times I’ve heard that preached and no park [garden] in Ireland has yet done so. Until now.
beir bua
peter
Despite having being to Kilkenny many times I have never visited Rothe House. This post has made me think I should look it up next time I am there with spare time
They should really have some sort of information point in the garden telling visitors how the garden came about as in Roisín’s letter, it is as interesting a part of the story as the gardens themselves I think.
Nice to read this (and your original review) Peter
A Chara Niamh,
thank you! You just hit the nail on right on the head
really appreciated – even moreso considering the role you play working with companies and their online profiles.
go raibh míle maith agat arís
peter
So another way of looking at is :- if you buy a sandwich in Italy and made by an Italian – it is technically “Italian Food” even though it may dissappoint anyone who likes Pasta/Pizza
?
Peter,
I am not going to get into the specifics of whether or not it technically is a 17th century garden as I am not a gardener and wouldn’t want to pretend I am. However Roisin McQuillan should be complimented for her reply. She took your comments in her stride and replied in a polite and informing manner addressing all the issues raised. She gives a great example on how to behave when criticised. Not all critisism is negative and the best way is quite often to take it, consider it and reply in a polite manner. After all we don’t all have to agree but we can at least respect each other.
She has now addressed your issues and gained a lot of positive publicity. Some people should watch and learn.
Evert.
@evert
once again. spot on re Roisín’s publicity and how others should watch how she dealth with the situation. When speaking in Limerick at your Greenhouse event – most of the other speakers all noted how dealing with situations could/ should be done.
thanks mate
peter