The Gardens at Killruddery are the oldest in Ireland still surviving in their original 17th century unique style together with 18th and 19th century additions.   The Gardens were designed for the entertainment of a large number of people and therefore the scale is comparable to that of a park.   The Gardens should be regarded as mainly the work of the 4th and 6th Earls.   A French Landscape architect named Bonet, a pupil of Le Notre, was known to have been employed by the Earl of Meath in 1682.

The Angles are the middle section of the garden of entertainment. They consist of a series of walks flanked by the hornbeam, lime or beech hedges which meet at two centre points.   The design of the Angles as seen from the Long Ponds is known as "patte d'oie". Beyond the Angles is an avenue of Ilex trees dating from the 17th century and steps leading to what was known as the bowling green. This area is under restoration.

The Long Ponds are twin canals 187 metres long and known as "miroirs d'eaux". Apart from the magnificent view they offer, they were also used to stock fish for the house. The gardens of Chateau de Courances, 50km south of Paris, have a similar design of twin canals on approach to the house.

Opposite the Angles on the far side of the Long Ponds is a wooded area known as the "Wilderness". A gate leads out to the Park and nearby is a statue of Venus. From here one can look back through the centre of the Beech Hedge Pond and beyond.

The original design of the Beech Hedge Pond is still in evidence. There are two circles of beech hedges creating a shaded path between them. The circular granite edged pond is 20 metres in diameter. There are four Victorian cast iron statues at the entrances depicting the four seasons of the year.

Beyond the Beech Hedge Pond are the gardens laid out in the 18th century style. A low yew hedge encloses a rose and lavender garden with a fountain in the centre. Beside this garden is the Ornamental Octagonal Dairy which was designed by Sir George Hodson who lived close by at Hollybrook.

The Sylvan Theatre is laid out in the Classical style with a high bay hedge and terraced banks. During his stay at Killruddery Sir Walter Scott was inspired by it for a scene in St. Ronan's Well. There is no other Sylvan theatre of the 18th century known in Ireland.

The Orangery was designed and built by William Burn in 1852 after the fashion of the Crystal Palace in London. The original glass dome was the work of Richard Turner who designed the curvilinear range at the National Botanic Gardens in Dublin and at Kew Gardens in London.

The Orangery houses an interesting collection of marble statues gathered in Italy in the 1830 - 1850 period. Classical figures include Ganymede giving water to Zeus disguised as an eagle; Cyparissus with his dying deer; Cupid with Pysche and Venus. Other prominent busts include Homer, Socrates, Napoleon, William Pitt and Wellington.

This building was restored in the year 2000 with financial help from the European Regional Development Fund administerd by Bord Fáilte.

The Orangery is available for Special Event Hire.

For further enquires please contact us.

Killruddery Gardens has received financial assistance from the ERDF under the Great Gardens of Ireland Restoration Programme administered by Failte Ireland.