Museum Status Retained at Fota House & Irish Agricultural Museum

Recognition reflects the Trust’s continued commitment to professional museum practice & collections care

We are delighted that the Trust has successfully maintained Museum Standards Programme for Ireland (MSPI) accreditation for both Fota House, Cork, and the Irish Agricultural Museum at Johnstown Castle, Wexford.

The achievement reflects the Trust’s sustained investment in the care and protection of its collections and in delivering high-quality museum experiences for visitors. Maintaining MSPI accreditation requires museums to demonstrate ongoing compliance withprofessional standards, spanning collections management and care, governance, documentation, conservation, exhibitions, education and visitor services. 

The Irish Heritage Trust was first awarded full MSPI accreditation for Fota House in 2016 and the Irish Agricultural Museum in 2021 and has kept up the standards to maintain ever since.  

Speaking at the ceremony at Croke Park, Dr Emma O’Toole, Collections and Interpretation Manager at the Irish Heritage Trust, said: “Maintaining MSPI accreditation reflects the Trust’s ongoing commitment to the professional care, documentation and protection of our collections, which are of local and national importance. It represents a significant investment of staff expertise, time and resources, and the MSPI programme helps us continually strengthen the systems, skills and knowledge needed to safeguard these collections and make them accessible to the public. Our dedicated Irish Heritage Trust volunteers also make an important contribution to this work, sharing their time and supporting our staff in caring for and sharing our collections“. 

MSPI Assessor Dr. Hugh Maguire commented about the achievements: “The Irish Agricultural Museum’s collection of national and international significance has clearly benefitted from increased professionalism and the skills of the Irish Heritage Trust. The site’s participation in the MSPI is transforming the overall quality, care and presentation of the museum”. 

Dr. Maguire’s report highlighted the progress at Fota since 2020: “The Museum and staff at Fota House are increasingly professional and in a position to act as a role model for other properties and collections in Ireland. The progress in recent years is remarkable and it is true to say that the house and its offering has never looked better.” 

The Museum Standards Programme for Ireland (MSPI) was established by the Heritage Council in 2006 to benchmark and promote professional standards in the care and management of collections and to recognise achievement across the Irish museum sector.