The newly refurbished house and gardens opened in March 2023 after a €7.2 million capital investment from the Rural Regeneration Development Fund (RRDF), Waterford City and County Council and Fáilte Ireland.
This attraction reached the top title in the Supporting Tourism category at the Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government awards, the prestigious international travel publication Condé Nast Traveller made specific reference to Mount Congreve Gardens in their 'Best Place To Go in the UK & Ireland' 2024 listing, while the New York Times, when including Waterford as the only Irish destination in its '52 Places to go in 2024' list cited the gardens as the place to 'top off your Greenway adventure'.
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The gardens underwent an extensive renovation which included a thoughtfully planned and built retail space, café, and visitor centre integrated into the courtyard. Furthermore, improvements were made to the gardens, paths, and boundaries, including better signage for navigation, refurbishment of garden features, and an audio-visual presentation recounting the history of the house, gardens, and its owner.
Mayor of Waterford City and County Cllr. Joe Conway said: "This is yet more wonderful recognition for the work and vision of Waterford City and County Council, Fáilte Ireland and Mount Congreve Trust, for reinvigorating and breathing life back into ‘one of the great gardens of the world’.
"The gardens, which reopened to the public just over a year ago, have exponentially benefitted the local community and Waterford as a whole. Visitor numbers have been exceeded in the first year alone, and Waterford Greenway and Waterford Suir Valley Railway, both of which border Mount Congreve Estate have undoubtedly experienced an uplift in visitor numbers too."
Ray Sinnott, Estate Manager with Mount Congreve Gardens was delighted to receive the award along with the Mayor of Waterford City and County and Paul Flynn, Executive Engineer with Waterford City and County Council. They said: "We are truly delighted to receive this IBDA accolade. The work to bring the estate to such a high international standard has taken many years of commitment, resolve and dedication. To be recognised by peers makes it even more special for everyone involved."
