MUCKROSS ESTATE
Theach Mhucrois
Killarney, County Kerry

The Herbert's gained much of their wealth from copper mining in what's known today as the Killarney National Park. With some of that wealth, they set about to build Muckross House, which was completed in 1843 in the Elizabethan style. By 1899, the Herbert's financial situation became precarious and they were forced to sell the estate, which was purchased by Lord Ardilaun of the Guinness Brewing family, and who also owned Macroom Castle and other estates.

It was in 1910 that the Muckross Estate was bought by American tycoon, William Bowers Bourn, who gave it to his daughter Maud on her marriage to Arthur Vincent. £100,000 was then spent improving the estate between 1911 and 1932.

Arthur pined when Maud died from pneumonia in 1929. By 1932, he and his in-laws donated Muckross Estate to the Irish State in Maud's memory. The estate was 43.3km² (10,700 acres) and renamed the Bourne Vincent Memorial Park.

Today, the Muckross Estate includes attractions such as the manor house and gardens, traditional farms, lakeside walks and Muckross Abbey.

Some of the features within Muckross House include --

Grand Dining Room - decorated with period furnishings that will give you a sense of stepping back in time. Cabinets match the long dining table, which seats 20!
Front Reception Room - lined on one wall with books and a unique step ladder.
Formal Living Room - dramatic views to Muckross Lake. Elegantly appointed with several sitting/conversational areas around the room, inlaid tables, hand carved cabinets, gaming tables, and more.
Guest Bedrooms - features include four-poster and canopy beds. One room has a lovely old dressing screen with thickly beveled glass and romantic carvings.
Master Bedroom - includes a classic bathing room with soak tub. This bedroom was updated in 1860 to prepare for the visit of Queen Victoria's stay in 1861. A modern bathroom with running hot and cold water was included, bath and shower.
Children's Room - decorated with toys from the turn of the century, doll cases and children's room furnishings. This is a classic children's bedroom cum playroom.
The Game Room - decorated in traditional style with a green felt billiards table, low-lit lamps and wood paneled walls. A real man's room!
The Kitchen - lined with well-used copper pots and pans and features a large tiled fireplace. The back-kitchen, used for washing up, shows early in-house plumbing and drainage.

Gardens and Traditional Farms --

Walled Garden - laid out behind the estate cafeteria. This is part of the original walled garden and was restored in 2000. Flora changes with the season with giant tulips making a dramatic showing in early Spring. Glass houses still have original grape vines.
Sunken Garden - laid out behind the house, this is a small private garden that may also have had herb beds for kitchen use and flowers for the house.
Parkland - semi-manicured woodland with many species of trees that had been imported when the house was build, including several giant Monterey Pines. Also see the neon pink of the azalea's, the twisted branches of the oaks, and sprawling cut lawns.
Muckross Lake - one of the famous Killarney Lakes. Take a stroll on the path that follows the lake, or hire a jaunting car. Visit the old stone boat house and tiny pebbled beach. Swimming here is allowed as the water is crystal clear and quite safe. And in the summer months, you can take a short boat ride of the lake.
Muckross Traditional Farms - traditional farms are laid out in original style so that visitors can see how people lived and worked on the estate. These farms grew the crops and raised the meat that would have been consumed in the house. These farmers were tenants on the farms.

Other places to visit on the estate include --

Muckross Cafe - carvery lunches, full service hot and cold counter, wide range of pastries and breads, etc for visitors. Enjoy a cuppa on the patio!
Gift Shop - offers many items from clothing to housewares, books, CDs, toys and more
Craft Studios --

Pottery - Run by designer Margaret Phelan and her team of potters since 1993, the workroom can be viewed from the gift store in the cafe building. Watch bowls, mugs, plates, vases, etc being hand-thrown with care and great attention to detail. All pottery turned out by Margaret's team is sold under the branded Mucros label and available almost strictly through the on-site gift store, and few select local outlets.
Bookbinder - Until 2000, bookbinding and conversation had been carried out in the basement of Muckross House. In 2000, the Mucros Conservation Bookbinding workshop was completed (located behind the gift shop) and the service was moved. There are two main labs here, one dedicated to high class book repairs and conservation of antique books, and the other lab dedicated to paper conservation, which includes repairing of pages from books being rebound, as well as prints, handwritten documents of historic import and any other item that requires specialist handling.
Weaver - Master Weaver, John Cahill, has been leading his team at Muckross since 1976. Under the Mucros label, the weavers turn out many high quality items, which include wraps and capes, hats and gloves, and scarves. All items are made from the best lambs wool, mohair, alpaca, cotton and linen.

~ Grounds are a free attraction
~ Pay at Muckross House and at Traditional Farms - combination and family tickets available (farms open seasonally)
~ Free car parking available
~ Easy access on paved paths, moderate access on gravel paths and in garden areas

http://www.muckross-house.ie