Kilmacurragh In Full Bloom

Walk this way…

ith funding finally afoot to restore the derelict Kilmacurragh House, from Friday, April 3rd to Sunday 5th and Friday 10th to 12th, the annual Rhododendron Week boasts both a daily guided tour and, hey, over 180 species of the purple one.

As always, these beautiful botanical gardens are free to enter, as are their regular guided tours.

The Acton family, who built Kilmacurragh, established a long and fruitful friendship with David Moore and later his son Sir Frederick Moore, successive curators at Glasnevin. From the early 1850s, the Moore’s advised the Acton family on gardening matters and introduced them to findings of the great plant hunters, particularly from the Himalayan range.

For over 70 years a regular exchange of plants resulted in Kilmacurragh becoming one of the best stocked private gardens in these islands. Today the collection boasts 180 species of rhododendrons and over 420 varieties.

And, late on, the tours have been extended Friday 17th and Sunday 19th, plus Thursday 23rd and Sunday 26th.

Those 1hr daily walking tours are at 12pm, and, naturally enough, booking is advised. Which seems impossible online, as there’s no trace other than a Facebook post. The eejits.

Open daily from 9am to 5pm, you can find out more about Kilmacurragh’s history right here, about upcoming events here, and get in touch on email here or phoning 040448844.