Strokestown Park Home

We were looking for the Irish National Famine Museum located at the Strokestown Park Home in Strokestown. We found it, but this has been our biggest disappointment to date.  Generally, I try real hard to find the positive out of any & all locations, but this left me flat and honestly feeling used. The famine museum is located in the original stables on the estate.  Converted for various displays, it was still cold and held the dank horsey smells of a stable. The museum gave us the history of the region of how folks lived, what led to the great famine, and how people survived – or didn’t.  Perhaps it was the same all across the country, but I’m not sure why it’s listed as the ‘national’ famine museum since it focused on just the local regions.  The history lesson here was boring. Granted, the history of the great famine would not be full of great stories or wonderful moments, but it was presented in such a way as to put me to sleep.  No mention of the coffin ships which were significant at the time.  

So, when it came time to tour the house I was either anxiously anticipating something great, or prepared for more disenchantment.   I got both.  The last person that lived in the house moved out in 1981, Olive (can’t even remember her last name). She passed away in 1982. The home began to fall into disrepair and was purchased in 1996.  The new owner is beginning to refurbish the 3^rd floor room-by-room which we did not see.  The first two floors are in major need of help.  It was like touring a potential tear-down.   Now, the furnishing are original so that was a bonus, some dating back to the 1700’s.  The tour guide said ‘please don’t touch anything’, since nothing was roped off, but there were a couple of tourists that touched everything behind her back.  Really PISSED ME OFF.  I half expected one to pocket one of the candle sticks from the mantel.   I suggested to the guide at the end of the tour they place ‘don’t’ touch’ signs everywhere, or at least rope-off to preserve what’s there.

The most interesting thing about this home was it was built to deceive. The wings on either side are rounded to give the illusion of being larger than they are.  The wing to the right is the stables, and the wing to the left is the servant quarters and kitchen.  The family only lived in the center part of the home.  For symmetry sake, there were two doors placed in each of the downstairs rooms; one was a working door the other fake, led- nowhere.  This was all done on purpose. 

Borrowed from the internet (not mine)

The walled garden was okay, I’ve seen better.

The Woodland Walk was interesting in that someone had placed a number of fairy doors, etc. in and around a couple of trees along the walk.  It’s shaded and very cool as you walk along the path and I was really hoping to see some wee folk, but never did.   We did hear some mysterious buzzing every now and then.

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