Right in Killarney town, just inside the park boundary, Killarney House & Garden’s glory is its vast ornamental gardens, sweeping majestically towards a gorgeous view of the Kerry mountains, with a cherry blossom walk and Ireland’s longest herbaceous border. Pack a picnic, stroll across the huge lawns past colorful flower beds and choose a peaceful spot where you can soak up the view.
Originally the stable block of a much larger French-chateau-style mansion built for the landowning Browne family in the 1720s, the 18th-century house was demolished in the 1870s when the family moved to nearby Knockreer House, and when that was destroyed by fire in 1913, the stables were remodeled as a family residence and then abandoned in the 1950s. Restored in 2016, it's now home to the Killarney National Park Visitor Center at Killarney House & Gardens (nationalparks.ie/killarney; free), where an interactive exhibition presents a stunning overview of the park’s flora, fauna and history across 15 rooms, and staff offer a wealth of information on exploring the park
