Muckross House and Gardens

Muckross House is situated close to the shores of Muckross Lake, amidst the beautiul scenery of Killarney National Park. The house is a focal point within the Park and is the ideal base from which to explore its terrain.

Muckross House was built for Henry Arthur Herbert and his wife, the watercolourist Mary Balfour Herbert. This was actually the fourth house that successive generations of the Herbert family had occupied at Muckross over a period of almost two hundred years. William Burn, the well-known Scottish architect, was the designer. Building commenced in 1839 and was completed in 1843.

Originally it was intended to build a more ornate house than we see here today. The plans for a larger servants' wing, stable block, orangery and summer-house are believed to have been altered at Mary's request. Today the principal rooms are furnished in period style and portray the elegant lifestyle of the 19th century landowning class. While in the basement, one can imagine the busy bustle of the servants as they went about their daily chores.

During the 1850s, the Herberts undertook extensive garden works in preparation for Queen Victoria's visit in 1861. Later, the Bourn Vincent family continued this gardening tradition. They purchased the estate from Lord and Lady Ardilaun early in the 20th century. It was at this time that the Sunken Garden, Rock Garden and Stream Garden were developed.

At Muckross Traditional Farms we invite you to take a stroll down memory lane to visit Ireland in the 1930s and 1940s. This was a period before the widespread use of electricity, when all work was carried out using traditional methods.

You will visit three separate working farms (small , medium and large), each complete with animals, poultry and horse drawn farm machinery.

You will also visit a labourer's cottage, a carpenter's workshop, a harness maker and a blacksmith's forge.

The interiors of the dwelling houses are furnished in the traditional manner, and include such items as the dresser, settlebed and mealbin.

Each year Muckross Traditional Farms play host to Féile Chultúir Chiarraí (Festival of Kerry Culture). This event consists of a series of workshops specifically designed for primary school pupils.

Muckross Traditional Farms recently received a Sandford Educational Award in recognition of the eduactional quality of Feile Chuiltuir Chiarrai and the Muckross Traditional Farms experience.This project is run with the help of Kerry County Council and some local sponsorship. It is the first time this very prestigous award has been received by a organisation outside of the United Kingdom.



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For more information on Muckross House contact Exploring Ireland