A walled garden hidden behind mighty stone walls outside Kilrush — restored as an exotic-plant garden, with a visitor centre telling the story of the Vandeleur family and Kilrush House.
Gracious gravel paths lead past a huge tree collection, water features and a tapestry of flowers — magnolias, acacias, acers, monkey puzzle trees, bamboo, ferns, banana trees and hydrangeas. The garden is level with wide gravel paths, so it is easy walking.
A plant sales area on site lets you take a piece of the garden home, and it makes an easy stop before or after your walk.
Look for the old well, the beeches trained flat against the south wall, the arboretum and the unusual flat horizontal maze, often used for outdoor events. The summer house is the best vantage point and is wheelchair accessible.
The interpretive centre covers the Vandeleurs, who shaped Kilrush's streetscape and lived at Kilrush House, and the darker chapter of famine-era mass evictions and the Land War. Guided tours are available on request, or go at your own pace.
A permanent exhibition space housing the Vandeleur-Phelps fireplace of 1864 and Frank O'Connor's butterfly collection, built up over decades of recording West Clare wildlife. Open daily 10am-5pm.
The site sits on 170 hectares of native woodland. Follow the winding road up through the avenue of trees arching overhead — a hint of the garden to come.
Home-made cakes, scones straight from the oven and freshly cut sandwiches and coffee, in the courtyard setting beside the garden. The café is wheelchair accessible.
Load the interactive map to explore this place location.
