Killruddery House and Gardens

Killruddery Gardens, located about 15 miles south of Dublin city centre, can accurately claim to be Ireland’s oldest garden. The laying out of the gardens commenced in 1682 and was carried out by a Frenchman named Bonet. The seat of the Earls of Meath, Killruddery has remained in the ownership of the Brabazon family for almost four hundred years. Killruddery is described as a French formal garden, where the emphasis is on symmetry, views and vistas.

Everything is large-scale, and strong structural elements are key to the garden. Existing 17th Century features include The Long Ponds, The Angles and The Western Wilderness. The 18th Century saw the addition of a Sylvan theatre, Deerpark, the area known as the Beech hedge pond and the development of the Rock. 19th Century additions include granite Balustrades and steps, two Parterres, an ornamental dairy and an Orangery, recently restored and now housing a collection of Italian statuary. Further exciting developments are once again underway at Killruddery, including the creation of a woodland garden.

These various features combine to make Killruddery a very special place indeed, and a garden that’s genuinely difficult to compare with many others either at home or abroad.