Coole Park - Lady Gregory

She was very involved with the revival of Irish culture and nationalism constantly having literary and artistic visitors to stay. They carved their names on a huge beech tree in the walled garden, now known as the Autograph tree, which is still there to be seen. Unfortunately the house was torn down in the ‘troubles’ and the magnificent library of original Irish literature was lost forever. Fortunately the estate and garden remain, along with guided paths through Yeats ‘Seven Woods of Coole’ and the famous lake where the wild swans 'bell beat of their wings’ can still be heard overhead. There is a free exhibition in the old coach house, a nice restaurant (good soup & garlic bread) and a picnic area with lots of free events and nature walks for families throughout the year, see website below for lisitings.

There is a newly opened trail linking up Coole Park to the woods at Garryland which are almost primeval....

10 Other things to do and see near Coole Park ....

1 Kiltartan National School another small museum about Lady Gregory, just down the road on the lefthand side before the junction of the main Galway to Ennis road.

2 Thoor Ballylee former home of William Butler Yeats, a solid fortified tower house, in a pretty setting beside a bridge over the river, it still has the original furniture.

3 Gort is a market town which once boasted in excess of 40 pubs, if you want to see an old fashioned shop with a bar at the back, go into Burkes in the middle of the town, on the left just before the overhead railway bridge.

4 The Gallery Cafe is a quirky cafe/restaurant in the middle of the town, electic interior thats great fun (love the old fashioned hairdryers) good wholesome food, nice people.

5 The Lady Gregory Hotel further up the town, does a very good carvery lunch and evening meals. If you opt to stay there, a good base for touring the Burren and Galway, you can enjoy the facilities of the Swan leisure centre.

6 Lough Cultra is a very scenic drive south east of the town, well signposted through an area called Kilaneena and Lough Graney. Known locally as ‘little Killarney’ it is just as picturesque as the real thing.

7 Kilmacduagh monastic settlement just outside Gort, includes a round tower, several churches, a cathedral and a glebe house, collect the keys at the bungalow opposite.

8 Kinvara a nice little harbour side village, home to the Cuckoo Fleadh & Crinniu na mBad (gathering of traditional boats) festival.

9 Dunguaire Castle open during the day, medieval banquets are held throughout the summer.

10 Burren Beo Cafe home to the excellent Burren Beo Trust which is a fantastic organisation set up to protect, inform and conserve all aspects of the Burrens, ecology, flora, fauna, farming practices.

For more information on Coole Park please click here.