Roxborough Gates
The Roxborough Gates were restored through the initiative of the Lady Gregory Yeats Trail Group. Repair works to the entrance gates which date back to c 1860 were carried out by Mathieu & Mitchell who are master craftsmen in stone masonry and also with the help of local volunteers. The conservation works were completed in 2012. This project was sponsored by Galway Rural Development and Galway County Council.
The cast-iron gates were made by Richard Turner who also participated in the design of the Palm House at Kew Gardens, England. The gateway creates a handsome, sweeping entrance and forms an interesting roadside feature.
Augusta Persse was born at Roxborough on the 15th of March, 1852. She later became Lady Gregory – Irish dramatist, folklorist, patron of W.B.Yeats and co-founder of the Abbey Theatre, Dublin. Her ancestor Dean Dudly Persse was granted lands here in this region by the Crown and built his mansion house at Cregarosta, later changing the name to the Borders’ name Roxborough, the Persses having come from Northumberland, England.
Roxborough was the seat of the Persse family for 245 years, but sadly the 18th century mansion was destroyed by fire in 1922 during the Irish Civil War.
Directions
From Loughrea on the N66 to Gort,2km after the village of Kilchreest turn right at Kilchreest N.S. The Roxborough Gates are 1 km down this road on the left hand side.
G.P.S. 154130, 213677
