Gardens

Kells Bay Garden

If you are interested in gardens, then you must go and see Kells Bay Garden on the Ring of Kerry which has been open to visitors since the autumn of 2006 and is one of Ireland’s foremost Victorian gardens. The gardens contain one of the best collections of Southern Hemisphere plants in Europe, imported from Australia originally but more recently from New Zealand and South America.

The Kells estate was purchased by Tralee man Rowland Blennerhasset in 1837. The current owner is Billy Alexander. Billy’s obsession has caused him to spend considerable sums of money collecting plants from Chile and the forests of South Africa and Japan, among other places.

The first time I visited the Garden, I remember driving in through these big old gates and seeing all these tree ferns and a huge waterfall – it immediately reminded me of Jurassic Park. I wouldn’t have been surprised if a dinosaur crossed the road in front of me!
The Gardens consist of 40 acres.

Things to look out for:

• Ireland’s largest palm tree, imported from Chile, stands at 7.5m
• 3 km of walks and trails, including Primeval Forest, Bamboo Glade, Ladies
  Walled Garden
• Garden Centre if you’d like to buy some plants
• Tea Rooms overlooking Dingle Bay

Opening Times: 9am – until dusk, 7 days – all year round.
Please check seasonal hours during November to March.
Admission: Adults €6.50 / Children €5.00 / Family €20 (2 adults / 2 children)
Email: billy@kellsgardens.ie
Tel: +353 87 777 6666
www.kellsgardens.ie

How to get there:
From Killarney – Drive towards Killorglin, following the brown tourism signs for the ‘Ring of Kerry’. Continue through Killorglin on the N70 heading in the direction of Glenbeigh and Caherciveen. Approximately 13km after Glenbeigh is a right turn, sign posted Kells Bay House & Gardens. Take this turn. Follow this road for 2 km till you reach a junction, take the right turn also signposted Kells Bay House & Gardens. 1 km down this road on the right hand side are the entrance gates for Kells Bay Gardens.

From Caherciveen: Head towards Glenbeigh and Killorglin, approximately 9 km from Caherciveen is a left turn signed Kells, take this road. Approximately 4 km down this road is a left turn, signposted Kells Bay House & Gardens, take this road. 1 km down this road on the right hand side are the entrance gates for Kells Bay Gardens.

Muckross House and Gardens

Muckross House and Gardens are the centre point of Killarney National Park. There is no entry charge to the 20 hectares Muckross Gardens and the car parking is also free. During the 1850s, extensive garden works were undertaken in preparation for Queen Victoria’s visit in 1861. Afterwards, this gardening tradition was continued leading to the development of the Sunken Garden, Rock Garden and the Stream Garden.

The gardens are particularly colourful in May and June when the large rhododendrons are in flower. Of note at Muckross Gardens are the Arboretum, the large glass house and the rock garden.