- Mount Congreve Gardens revealed plans to restore its Chinese Pagoda on 19 August.
- The event combines free Qi Flow sessions with a lecture by Robert O’Byrne.
- The pagoda was commissioned by Ambrose Congreve following his Asian travels.
- The lecture takes place in the Drawing Room with 1780s Chinese wallpaper.
- Tickets for the evening lecture cost €15, supporting the restoration.
Mount Congreve Gardens has revealed plans to restore its Chinese Pagoda during a Heritage Week celebration on 19 August. The event combines free Qi Flow movement sessions inspired by Qigong with an evening talk by architectural historian Robert O’Byrne. Hidden within a former quarry overlooking the River Suir, the Chinese Pagoda was commissioned by Ambrose Congreve following his travels through Asia.
Visitors can begin the day with free outdoor Qi Flow movement sessions led by Chinese wellness practitioner Hellen Kang-Griffith before walking to the pagoda to discover its history and significance. The evening programme moves to the Drawing Room of Mount Congreve House, known as the Chinese Room, where Robert O’Byrne will present Ireland’s Follies – Stories Behind Our Most Curious Buildings. The lecture takes place surrounded by one of Ireland’s finest collections of hand-painted Chinese wallpaper dating from the 1780s.
Sara Dolan, CEO of Mount Congreve Gardens, stated the event brings together heritage, conservation, architecture and Chinese wellbeing traditions. Restoration plans are being progressed in partnership with the Irish Follies Trust, conservation specialists and Waterford City and County Council. Tickets for the evening lecture cost €15, with proceeds supporting the restoration of the Chinese Pagoda.
Sara Dolan, CEO of Mount Congreve Gardens, shared, “The Chinese Pagoda represents Ambrose Congreve’s deep curiosity about the world and his desire to create moments of surprise, beauty and discovery throughout the gardens.”
Primrose Wilson, Chair of the Irish Follies Trust, shared, “These remarkable structures are far more than decorative features. They reflect the imagination, craftsmanship and cultural influences of their time.”
