Gardens Ireland | Walled Garden | Heritage Gardens | Garden Tours

Discover the beauty of Bunratty's gardens, where history and nature intertwine.

The Regency Walled Garden at Bunratty House is a charming and beautifully preserved space, reflecting the elegance of its era. It is a surviving part of the demesne which was originally formed around Bunratty Castle.

The peaceful Rinuccini Garden is nestled in the castle grounds and an ideal location to relax while taking in breathtaking views of the castle, rising majestically above.

Scattered throughout the park are the charming vegetable plots which are a testament to Bunratty's living heritage, where traditional gardening thrives.

Regency Walled Garden

Don't miss the beautiful walled garden at Bunratty House.

The Regency Walled Garden is a surviving part of the demesne which was originally formed around Bunratty Castle. The garden was built c. 1804 and as a walled garden, it is considered small at just less than half an acre. This was due to the fact that a large garden would have existed within the demesne, located north of the castle. This large garden would have functioned as a kitchen garden for Bunratty House and therefore it was unnecessary to have another large production garden.

The garden was built on the east side of the house and beyond the stables protected from the prevailing westerly winds. It is enclosed by four original stone walls forming an irregular space. Apart from the walls, no original features remain except for a disused entrance to the south wall near the house, which would have been used by the family and a cart entrance neart the south east corner, with original iron gates.

Views from the garden to the east overlook the reclaimed salt marshes of the Owengarney River Valley and to the south toward the Shannon Estuary.

Bunratty Castle's Gardens - steeped with history

The Rinuccini Gardens lie just west of Bunratty Castle, benefitting from sunlight throughout most of the day. Today, the area is covered in vibrant green grass, with sections adorned by yellow and red roses. The once-active moat of Bunratty Castle remains visible, though it no longer holds water.

The gardens are named after GianBattista Rinuccini, a Roman Catholic Archbishop, and later Cardinal, from Italy. He was sent to Ireland in 1645 as Pope Innocent X’s Papal Nuncio in 1645. Rinuccini was sent primarily to aid the Irish Catholic Confederates fight against British Protestant Rule. He brought with him ammunition, arms, and money for the Irish Catholic armies. Rinuccini was present in Bunratty during the Siege of Bunratty Castle in 1646.

When speaking about Bunratty, Rinuccini said, “I have no hesitation in asserting that Bunratty is the most beautiful spot I have ever seen. In Italy there is nothing like the palace and grounds of Lord Thomond, nothing like its ponds and park, with its three thousand head of deer.”

Heritage Gardens

Regency Walled Garden

Rinuccini Gardens

Garden Highlights