Doneraile House & Gardens
Doneraile Court is the stunning centrepiece of one of Ireland’s most beautiful estates. Located on the banks of the Awbeg river in north County Cork, the house dates from the 1720s, when it was built by Arthur St Leger, the rst Viscount of Doneraile and father of the renowned Lady Freemason.
The house was modi ed extensively in the 19th Century by later generations of St Legers, creating an imposing and characterful building that can be enjoyed by everyone today. The St Leger family remained in residence until 1969, when the property was sold to the Land Commission. The house then passed into the care of the
Irish Georgian Society, before coming to the stewardship of the O ce of Public Works in 1994.
The estate and surrounding village has a strong literary tradition, linked to gures such as Edmund Spenser, who immortalised the River Awbeg in his poem The Faerie Queen.
Doneraile Park is an outstanding example of an 18h Century landscaped park in the ‘Capability Brown’ style. The Park comprises approximately 166 hectares (400 acres). Mature groves of deciduous trees, several restored water features and a number of deer herds can be viewed along the many pathways within the park. The pathways are generally accessible for people with special needs.
The Doneraile Park walks are along trails that o er great sweeping vistas. If you walk all the trails you’ll be covering approximately 10km, but there are distances to suit everyone. A popular Doneraile Park walk begins from the top of the car park and heads east, providing wonderful views of the trees, lake and house.
There is a path, too, that leads down to the lake and then along the Awbeg River, among sheltering trees and colourful owers.
At the end of the trail you can turn right to the track that borders the edge of Doneraile Park. As you make your way back to the house, you’ll be able to spot herds of deer and cattle grazing.
The Doneraile Formal Gardens are also well worth exploring. These 18th and 19th-century formal gardens around the house were designed in a naturalistic style, popularised by the famous landscape designer Capability Brown. The gardens include the Pleasure Grounds, the Parterre and Walled Gardens.
The Doneraile Park Tea Rooms are an ideal spot to round o a visit to the house and gardens. They are set below the main house in the 19th Century kitchen wing.
Our visit to Doneraile House and Gardens was greatly enhanced by our tour guide, the knowledgeable and energetic Myra Ryan. A lovely addition to the tour was meeting the various actors dressed in period costume, who showed up at intervals during our walk to narrate some of the history of the estate. It was an inspired addition by the organisers of the Ballyhoura Walking Festival to add Doneraile House and Gardens to their programme.
Upwards of 500,000 visits are made annually to Doneraile Park and Gardens, making it one of the most popular attractions in the country. Its natural environment is of exceptional quality, long noted for its trees, woodlands, river and lakes. King shers, herons, ducks and swans are regularly observed, as well as red squirrels, foxes and otters. It’s a place that’s well worth a visit this autumn. doneraileestate.ie
Note: The gardens and house are closed for the winter but the Parklands and Tea Rooms are open all winter.
“There are distances to suit everyone”