Parks & Gardens

A 17th century garden little changed in 3 centuries, the gardens at Kilruddery House are of special interest to gardening historians, but you certainly don’t have to be one to enjoy them.

The house has been home to the same family for almost 4 centuries and is only open in May, June and September but it’s worth making an effort to see if you are here at the right time.

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If Kildare is the home of the horse in Ireland, this is it’s headquarters. With stallions, mares and foals to see and a museum celebrating the history of the horse in Ireland, its a must for any horse lover.

But a visit to the Irish National stud is not just about horses, there is also two beautiful gardens to see, the Japanese Garden and one which commemorates the patron saint of gardeners.

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This vast enclosed park in Dublin houses a Zoo, residences for the president of Ireland and the US ambassador as well as a herd of wild deer.

There are wide open green spaces, secluded glens, grounds for cricket, polo and other sports and a pretty good restaurant in the visitor centre. It’s a wonderful place to explore.

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Killykeen is a large forested area beside Lough Oughter in Co Cavan, which as well as good walks has an interesting ruined castle on an Island and a number of ancient megalithic structure, the largest of which is the Gartnanoul Court Tomb.

The park is in the care of Coillte, the Irish Forestry Board, and is also a popular area with anglers and bird watchers. Admission to Killykeen is free.

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This small garden is managed and staffed by the residents of Camphill, a movement composed of individuals, many with special needs, who live together in a mutually supportive environment.

Its a low key but lovely place, with an excellent restuarant and a small garden centre, also run by Camphill, alongside.

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The history of early Ireland is brought vividly to life here, through reconstructed buildings and re-enactments of the life and work of Irish people in the distant past.

Although there are no original historic structures here, the reconstructions are historically accurate and were made using the methods of the time, so they are a close as it gets.

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Killruddery has been home to the to the Earls of Meath since 1618, and still is, making it almost unique among Irish houses in being occupied by the same family for so long.

The formal gardens were laid out in the 17th century and still exist in their original style, a fascinating glimpse into gardening history, and there is a wonderful collection of marble statuary.

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Tullynally has been home to the Pakenham family for more that 350 years, and still is.

It’s very much a living home but has changed relatively little over the years and its interior gives a wonderful glimpse into how life was lived, both upstairs and downstairs, in Ireland’s great houses.

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There are several very different gardens here, including the perfect kitchen garden growing vegetables and herbs for the famous Ballymaloe restuarant in Co Cork.

While adults may enjoy that one and the herb garden most, children will inevitably be drawn to the maze and the nearby magical shell house.

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Surprisingly located in suburban Dublin the Dillon garden is packed with unusual plants beautifully planted.

It’s possibly the most beautifully domestic garden in Dunlin, indeed Ireland, and is testimony to the slavish attention to detail of its owner, Helen Dillon. But it never looks laboured – there is the feeling when you are there that it ‘just happened’.

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