Sky Garden

The West Cork Coast


The Victorian country estate of Liss Ard is home to the remarkable Sky Garden, a piece of landscape art created by American artist James Turrell in 1992. You enter through a tunnel and emerge at the bottom of a grass-lined, oval crater, so that all you can see is sky. There's a plinth where two people can lie toe-to-toe and contemplate the heavens. Open days vary each year – check Liss Ard's Facebook page. The estate is 2km southeast of Skibbereen on the R596.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby The West Cork Coast attractions

1. Skibbereen Heritage Centre

1.64 MILES

Constructed on the site of the town’s old gasworks, the Skibbereen Heritage Centre houses a haunting exhibition about the Famine, with actors reading…

2. West Cork Distillers

2.03 MILES

This craft distillery produces vodka, (Two Trees), gin (Garnish Island) and a range of whiskies (blended, pot still and single malt) under its own name…

3. Abbeystrewery Famine Cemetery

2.11 MILES

This graveyard, 1km west of Skibbereen beside the N71 road towards Schull, contains the mass grave of 8000 to 10,000 local people who died during the…

4. Baltimore Castle

6.1 MILES

Baltimore harbour is dominated by the stone tower of 13th-century castle of Dun na Sead (Fort of the Jewels). Inside, the great hall houses seasonal art…

5. Drombeg Stone Circle

7.55 MILES

On an exposed hillside, with fields falling away towards the coast and cattle lowing in the distance, the Drombeg stone circle is superbly atmospheric…

6. Cape Clear Heritage Centre

11.8 MILES

This small museum has exhibits on the island’s history and culture, and fine views north across the water to Mizen Head. It's 1km east of the ferry…

7. Mara Farm

12.2 MILES

Take a tour of Mara Farm to see Kerry cattle, Kerry bog ponies and rare-breed pigs, and enjoy home-baked goodies at the farm shop and cafe. It's 1km…

8. Planetarium

12.67 MILES

Founded by a German visitor who fell in love with Schull, the Republic's only planetarium is tucked around the back of Schull Community College at the…