Over the last three years Sherwood and Associates have worked with the Irish Heritage Trust on both the business planning of the Trust and the development of a number of heritage sites including:
- Fota House and Gardens
- Annes Grove Estate
- Johnstown Castle
- No 11 Henrietta Street
Sherwood & Associate prepared a feasibility plan for the acquisition of Fota House by the Trust This plan was endorsed by Department of Environment and INDECON, and secured a €5 million endowment fund from the Department of Finance and tax breaks to enable the donation of the “Wood Collection”.
During 2007 a grant of €1.5 million was successfully negotiated from the Department of Environment and this fund has been successfully draw down and spent on the renovation of the upper floors of the house. During the second stage of the assignment a new operation and management structure was designed, implemented and is being monitored. This structure has been used to turn the operation from a loss making into a break even situation and an expected surplus this year. Currently in addition to monitoring and management roles Sherwood and Associates have been working on a development plan for Fota which has secured a grant of €1.7 million from Failte Ireland and will create a new cultural visitor experience.
