Emo Court
Location: Co Laois, nr Portlaoise
More Info: Visit Website
Category: Castles & Great Houses
Location Map
Reviews & Comments
Emo Court was built by the Earl of Portarlington in 1790 and is the only private house designed by James Gandon, the architect who designed the Custom House in Dublin. It is a huge neo-classical mansion, formal and symetrical in its design and with beautifully proportioned rooms inside. The house has been restored and is now the property of the state.
The gardens at Emo are magnificent and they too have been brought back to the splendour of their past, with formal areas, woodland walks, abundant statuary and a lake.
It is divided into two main areas. The Clucker, which contains some fine and rare specimen trees and a vast range of azaleas and rhododendrons and other shrubs. This part of the garden is at its magnificent best in late Spring. The Grapery is an arboretum though which wind a series of pathway, each opening to vistas accross the surrounding Slieve Bloom mountains or towards the house. This is a marvellous place to visit in Autumn especially when it is a blaze of dramatic colours.
There are loads of wide open spaces here and it's a terrific place to let kids run wild and let off some steam!
International Garden Festival
From June to September Emo Court is the venue for the International Garden Festival , an event which is an absolute must for anyone with even a passing interest in gardening.
Visiting Emo Court
The gardens are open all year round during daylight hours. The house is open from 10.30am to 4.30pm from June to September and is only accessible by guided tour.
Location Map for Emo Court
Have you been here?
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Posted by: Alan John Murphy
18 Jul 2007, 05:06
Excellent walk,Gardens well kept,Trees are unbelievable.Will return
Posted by: Gabriel Gleeson
30 Oct 2007, 19:21
Moderately well cared for garden without any significant planting aside
from large trees. Presently looking uncared for with very unsightly 'Art'
on view from house. Toilets particularly shabby. Could do better.
More things to do Around Co Laois
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