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Today, the house is one of Killarney’s best attractions, where visitors can enjoy the huge mansion as well as the lovely gardens and traditional farms. Through a guided tour, visitors can explore the three-story house and its sixty-five rooms. Check out the period furniture from the elegantly furnished rooms occupied by its former owners to the ones used by their household employees in the basement. The gardens are a visual feast with extensive mature planting, water garden and heavenly rock garden hewn out of natural limestone with nature trails and a secret walk to the old boathouse. Many exotic trees and shrubs flourish in the mild Irish climate and are kept sheltered due to the location of the garden.
Three major accolades for Kerry museums - Irish Independent
Three major accolades for Kerry museums.
Posted: Tue, 18 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
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Extensive improvements were undertaken in the 1850s in preparation for the visit of Queen Victoria in 1861. It is said that these improvements for the Queen's visit were a contributory factor in the financial difficulties suffered by the Herbert family which resulted in the sale of the estate. In 1899 it was bought by Arthur Guinness, 1st Baron Ardilaun who wanted to preserve the dramatic landscape. He did not live in the house, but rented it out to wealthy groups as a hunting lodge. Although the Abbey is now in ruin, it remains very well preserved in places – so much so that you can explore the ground floor, with the ancient yew, and the upper level. Muckross House and Gardens is one of the top places to visit in Killarney town in County Kerry.
How Much Time Do I Need
If you want to stay as close to the Muckross House and Gardens, there is a luxury hotel just across the street. This is a great way to visit this attraction and also explore multiple sites along the way. You can also walk there from Killarney and visit places such as Ross Castle, Muckross Abbey, or Torc Waterfall along the way.
Muckross House And Gardens
This picturesque part of Ireland is located on the popular Ring of Kerry, a 111-mile tourist route in southwestern Ireland. While visiting Ireland’s wild and wonderful west coast, a family trip to the Muckross House should be on your itinerary. Muckross House was originally built for Henry Arthur Herbert and his wife, Artist Mary Balfour Herbert. Huge improvements were undertaken in the 1850’s in preparation for the visit of Queen Victoria to Muckross in 1861. In the early 20th Century, the House was sold to William Bowers Bourn, a mining tycoon from California. It was passed to his daughter Maud and her husband Arthur Rose Vincent on the occasion of their Wedding.
Torc Waterfall, Mountain & Cardiac Hill
The elegantly furnished rooms portray a vivid description of the lifestyle of the Herbert family. This picturesque 20m-high waterfall cascades down a series of rock steps 7km south of Killarney, a 300m walk from a car park on the N71. There are tons of heritage houses, mansions, gardens, and castles in the country, and selecting which ones to include in your Ireland road trip itinerary is not easy. By the way, taking a guided tour of Muckross House is, together with Ross Castle, one of the best things to do in Killarney on a rainy day. Even though it might be tempting to stroll around the gardens before visiting the House, it's better to tour the House first to avoid waiting times, especially in the summer. The car park at Muckross House and Gardens is free and is located close to the entrance to the house and the farm.
Visit The Muckross House.
There is no admission into the abbey or the nearby car parks and it is open all year round. With children, one of the best places to visit is the Muckross Traditional Farms. This Colonial Williamsburg-type open air museum consists of buildings and dwellings from the 1930s & 1940s when most of the Irish countryside didn’t have electricity.
Visitors can explore the gardens, see the weavers at work, take a tour of the house and see the traditional farms. Many exotic trees and shrubs flourish in the mild climate and sheltered location of the Muckross gardens. Attractive features include a fine collection of rhododendrons and azaleas, an outstanding rock garden on a natural rock outcrop and beautiful tree-fringed lawns. Below, you’ll find some of the things you need to keep an eye out for when you visit Muckross Abbey, like the Chancel and the ancient yew trees. Why not enjoy a guided tour of the House and step back in time to the world of the 19th century. A centre focused on Kerry folk life contains workshops where bookbinders, potters, and weavers demonstrate their work.
Turbulent times at the Abbey
The ancient yew tree is arguably the most beautiful feature of Muckross Abbey in Killarney, as you can see from the photos above. If you look at the map above, you’ll see the two Muckross Abbey parking options. The closest car park to the abbey is here on Google Maps, however, note that there’s very limited spaces. Although I’m from the Philippines, my location independent career took me to over 40 countries for the past 8 years. But despite living in several countries, my love for Ireland remains the same. A country that had been a part of my life since I was 14 because of my love for Irish music and bands.
You can walk into farm homes (small, medium, and large) and see how they lived, farmed, and even went to school. It’s interesting to visit these humble abodes after the Muckross House and see how the different social groups lived. The vast estate includes waterfalls, hiking trails, and a traditional farm, which transports you back in time to early 20th century Ireland. The impressive Muckross Gardens offer an alluring setting for the magnificent House, with flowing lawns, a water garden, an acclaimed arboretum, and a truly exceptional limestone rockery. The Gardens are noted particularly for shrubs such as rhododendrons and azaleas. You could spend hours strolling through the Gardens and enjoying the elegant setting before returning to The Killarney Park – a fitting complement to the astounding beauty on its doorstep.
Muckross Gardens boast a number of different gardens including the Rock Garden, which is made from natural limestone, the extensive Water Garden and the ornate Sunken Garden. You can either tour the house (€7 for an adult and €6 for a concession), the farms (€7 for an adult and €6 for a concession) or pay to see them both, which is €12 for an adult and €10 for a concession. We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from where to park near the abbey to whether or not it’s worth a visit.
Killarney National Park was established in 1932 to protect one of Ireland’s most precious natural habitats. Beneath the wild, rugged summits of the country’s highest mountains, it encloses a beautiful sylvan landscape of ancient woodland, spectacular waterfalls and quiet lakes. It is a typical example of the stronghold of an Irish chieftain in the Middle Ages and is fully restored and furnished with period oak furniture. Muckross House became one of the most famous houses in the world when visited in 1861 by Queen Victoria herself (As numerous placards on the grounds remind you). This impressive Victorian mansion is crammed with fascinating objects (70% of the contents are original). One of Killarney’s most famous attractions, Torc Waterfall is an essential visit in Killarney.
This nineteenth century Victorian mansion is set against the stunning beauty of Killarney National Park. The house stands close to the shores of Muckross Lake, one of Killarney's three lakes, famed world wide for their splendour and beauty. As a focal point within Killarney National Park, Muckross House is the ideal base from which to explore this landscape. Luxury | Muckross Park Hotel and Spa - Situated in Killarney National Park, this luxurious 5-star hotel is a perfect place for travelers who want to relax and unwind. Muckross Park Hotel and Spa features individually designed and spacious rooms, a quiet location, free private parking, an on-site restaurant and bar, and an award-winning spa.
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