Garden Properties
Gardener’s Delight – Beautiful Gardens of Ireland’s Blue Book Country Houses, Historic Hotels and Castles.
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Laois
Ballyfin Demesne
Exploring the demesne is a delight: from the walled gardens; the fernery and the restored Edwardian rock-garden; a stroll around the lake; discovering quiet bluebell glades and special areas of conservation; foraging for mushrooms and autumn berries, or simply marvelling at century-old trees and climbing the path to the tower, which is located at the highest point of the estate, to enjoy the stunning views. Please pick up a map from the Butler’s desk and enjoy your journey. Around the Demesne you will meet the gardeners who will be delighted to chat with you if you have any questions. Guided Garden tours are also available.
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Cork
Ballymaloe House Hotel
Nestled in a 400-acre estate in rural East Cork, there is always something in flower in Ballymaloe House Hotel, be it a carpet of bluebells or vibrant rhododendrons. Short walks can be taken around the ponds and woodlands and helpful maps are available for longer walks around the grounds.
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Kilkenny
Butler House
In 2000, The Kilkenny Civic Trust had the gardens at Butler House landscaped, in order to return them to their original splendour. The gardens have since become an attraction for the many visitors to Kilkenny.
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Kerry
Carrig Country House
Cradled in a hidden lakeside dell, Carrig House gardens contains a magnificent selection of rare and unusual plants from all corners of the world, including various species of Acer, Magnolia, Cornus, Acacia and Eucryphia. Nurtured by the unique surroundings, the gardens blend with nature to produce an ever-changing interest through the seasons.
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Galway
Cashel House Hotel
Situated in the heart of Connemara, on the West coast of Ireland, Cashel House Hotel is set in 50 acres of award-winning gardens containing flowering shrubs and woodland walks.
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Laois
Castle Durrow
Built by Capt. William Flower in 1716 as his family home in the Midlands of Ireland, the castle’s pre-Palladian design and formal gardens were the height of fashion in their day. Time has added nothing but charm to the pleasure gardens that surround the castle.
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Donegal
Castle Grove Country House Hotel
Castle Grove’s Heritage Walled Garden is a four-acre space that dates back to the Irish Famine years. Over 75% of it has been lovingly restored by Alan D and team. The garden produces a wide variety of fruit and vegetables all year around for the restaurant and pickup. The Castle Grove menus incorporate a range tastes that mirror the changing seasons and the flavours of Donegal. Alan, our gardeners and kitchen team take their inspiration from local produce and the vegetables that thrive in the sheltered enclave.
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Monaghan
Castle Leslie Estate
With its 1,000 acres of undulating Irish countryside, ancient woodlands and glittering lakes, Castle Leslie is a picturesque rural destination. The Estate features unique flora and fauna, an interesting Integrated Wetlands project and many historical ruins and sights including the Gothic Lodge, the Walled Garden and the Pinetum.
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Mayo
Enniscoe House
Step back in time and discover the history and wonderful characteristics of the romantic walled garden at Enniscoe House. Walk along the pathways of the pleasure grounds that lead to the lakeshore, or take the nature trail through the old woodland.
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Cork
Fernhill House & Gardens
Our gardens are designed by Chelsea gold medal winner Mary Reynolds and reflect the natural forest setting of the fern and the elegance of the country house that Fernhill is. They are in four parts including our formal wedding garden, permaculture forest, wild river valley and Victorian walled kitchen garden. We believe in gardening organically & enhancing biodiversity where possible.
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Louth
Ghan House
Ghan House is an oasis of Georgian ambience, gardens and fine dining with beautiful views from every room of Carlingford Lough, The Mourne Mountains and Slieve Foy. Ghan House is one of the oldest private houses of its type in Ireland, a tree length from Medieval Carlingford with 3 acres of walled mature gardens. All of this is overseen by Paul Carroll. His mother Joyce Carroll is semi-retired – she attends to the herb & vegetable gardens and the flowers in the house.
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Wicklow
Hunter’s Hotel
Hunter’s Hotel is set in 2 acres of award-winning gardens on the banks of the river Vartry in Co. Wicklow, known as the Garden of Ireland.
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Kerry
Killarney Royal Townhouse
The mild climate of County Kerry, benefited by the Gulf Stream, makes it an ideal home for a wide variety of plant life. From the every day to the extraordinary, all manner of plants, flowers and trees can be found in the many gardens and parks of the county. A selection of gardens within easy reach of the Killarney Royal Hotel includes Muckross House & Gardens, Dunloe Castle & Gardens and Dereen Gardens Kenmare.
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Cork
Liss Ard Estate
The 150 acres of gardens, ponds and forest offer an experience that has been described as one of space, perception and peacefulness. Liss Ard has been planned to reveal a collection of garden rooms the lakeside walk, the waterfall garden, the woodland garden, the water garden and arboretum and the wildflower meadow.
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Kilkenny
Mount Juliet Estate
The magnificent gardens at Mount Juliet Estate form a haven of peace and tranquillity. There are three main elements to the gardens. First, there’s an informal stream and rockery area near the drive, past the Jack Nicklaus Championship golf course, on the approach to Mount Juliet Manor House. Then there’s an old, walled rose garden, which has been replanted with a mixture of modern and old-fashioned roses. The highlight of the grounds is a walled, ornamental garden, with many charming features. In particular, the stunning double herbaceous borders, which are famous for their ever-changing colours, from early summer to late autumn.
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Wicklow
Rathsallagh House
Converted from Queen Anne stables in 1798, Rathsallagh is a large comfortable house situated in 530 acres of peaceful parkland with a wonderful walled garden which complements the romance of the house.
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Meath
Tankardstown House
The estate at Tankardstown covers 80 acres of parkland and woodland, complimented by two walled gardens. One of these is perfect for leisurely walks or a glass of wine in the summer house, or a dip in the hot tub, which is tucked away behind a Portuguese laurel hedge. The second walled garden is the kitchen garden, where guests can see Donal the gardener lovingly sowing and reaping herbs, salads and vegetables at various times of the year. He is always happy to walk with guests through the garden and chat about his labour of love. Guests can then take off on the Boyne Valley Garden Trail which takes in 11 historic gardens in counties Meath and Louth.
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Kerry
The Lansdowne Kenmare
The Gulf Stream which sweeps over Kenmare showcases a number of tropical and semi tropical plants naturally and in wonderful park and garden settings Reenagross Park is a wooded peninsula set within the beautiful landscape of Kenmare Bay and only minutes from the entrance of The Lansdowne Kenmare. . It was originally developed as a private park by the first Marquis of Lansdowne (1739-1803).It covers 3km of walking trails , a wide variety of plants , archaeological features and stunning views of Kenmare Bay. Dereen Garden is a beautiful 19th century woodland garden with paths winding through rare tropical plants and opening onto sea views.
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Dublin
The Merrion Hotel
As a city centre hotel, The Merrion is uniquely privileged to have two period gardens, designed by Jim Reynolds, the noted Irish landscape artist. The smaller of the two gardens, known as “Lady Mornington’s Garden”, links the Main House to the Garden Wing. This contemporary wing completes the enclosure of the garden, and many of the guestrooms overlook the larger, central garden. Both gardens re-create the feel of the 18th century, with box hedges, water features, pathways, statuary and obelisks. In summer, the large garden becomes an extension of the drawing rooms in the Main House, with waiter service so that guests can dine al fresco.
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Limerick
The Mustard Seed
The Mustard Seed has its own Irish country house garden with its very substantial kitchen garden providing much of the vegetables and herbs on its menu, not forgetting the hen house and run which supplies its own free-range eggs. The bread, cakes and scones are all cooked daily in their kitchen and their own fruit provides for their tasty jams. Within close proximity to The Mustard Seed are the exotic Terra Nova Gardens, Moanwing Gardens, Knockpatrick Gardens and Phil Boyces garden where there is a studio for those who wish to paint and garden classes for those who just simply cannot get enough knowledge of the joys and beauty of Irish nature.
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Dublin
The Wilder Townhouse
From nearby Stephen’s Green and the Iveagh Gardens, to Dublin’s National Botanical Gardens and the wide-open spaces of the Phoenix Park, the city of Dublin has much to offer lovers of plants and green spaces. And just a short drive out of town will take you to the Garden of Ireland – County Wicklow, with such delights as Powerscourt House and Gardens and Mount Usher, among others.
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Cavan
Virginia Park Lodge
Strategically planned clumps of exotic trees and winding paths guide you round to unveil amazing architectural or lake vistas. The deer park walks, with bridges, follies and seemingly undiscovered waterfalls are a stunning reminder of this type of ‘naturalistic’ garden. Walk along the tranquil park and hear the sounds of silence, laced with the chirpings of Cavan’s thriving birdlife, it feels unspoilt and unchanged for nearly 300 years and will leave you wondering how this part of Ireland has remained such a well-hidden and undiscovered secret for so long.
