killarney tours and self drive itineraries

Gardens and Wildlife of Killarney and the southwest of Ireland

Gardens and Parks are renowned in this beautiful region and to follow are a short list of some of the more well known and spectacular Gardens:

Muckross Gardens in Killarney
The Gardens are renowned worldwide for their beauty and in particular, they are noted for their fine collection of Azaleas, Rhododendrons, extensive water garden and an outstanding rock garden hewn out of natural limestone.

Hotel Dunloe Castle Gardens at the Gap of Dunloe
One of the “Historical Gardens of Ireland”, this garden represents a veritable mini-tour of the world, with rare plants and trees from Asia, the Americas, the Pacific, Europe and elsewhere. The Garden surrounds the ruins of medieval Dunloe Castle, and its contents are fully catalogued by the broadcaster Roy Lancaster, who personally supervises all new planting.

Kells Bay Gardens at Kells on the Ring of Kerry
The Kells estate was bought in 1837 by Rowland Blennerhasset a local Tralee landowner, who built a small hunting lodge, originally called Holly Mount on the lands. It was his grandson also a Rowland Blennerhasset, MP, who developed the house and gardens that we can still see today. He added the Ladies Walled Garden, Tree fern forest, the Long drive and the paths around the garden. The origin of the rare plants at Kells is unknown but would have been closely linked to the great plant hunters of the time who were bringing in rare plants to the British Isles and needed mild growing conditions.

Derrynane National Park & Gardens at Caherdaniel
Derrynane Gardens & Park have been refurbished and are continuously being planted with additional rare specimens. On the Atlantic Coast, it is very much part of the Ring of Kerry at Caherdaniel and Derrynane House, within the Park and Gardens, was home to Ireland’s famous Liberator, Daniel O’Connell.

Derreen Gardens at Lauragh
Designed by the Marquess of Landsdowne in the 1870’s, this 19 hectare woodland garden is famous for its plantation of New Zealand tree ferns and many other specimens. The Garden is situated approx 55km south of Killarney and west of Kenmare on the R571 at Lauragh.

Garnish Island at Glengariff
This beautiful 14 hectare “Gulf Stream” Island is world famous for its natural scenic beauty and its magnificent formal “Italian Garden” with wonderful examples of Architecture integrate into the overall plan. Its plant life reflects the Gulf Stream Climate, with many rare plants, normally only found in warmer climes. The island is situated at Glengariff, about 55km from Killarney, on the N71 south of Kenmare.

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