Autumn has arrived; the schools are back, the days are getting shorter, the heavy black bin bags are starting to look a lot more like a makeshift Halloween costume and you’ve definitely heard at least one person give out about the fact that the ‘Christmas decorations are starting to come out already’.
It’s a beautiful time in the Emerald Isle as the seasons transform the landscape from lush greens to the crispy, warm yellow, orange and brown tones that lead inevitably to the cold glossy glow of the Irish winter. With so many reasons to love the leafy season in Ireland our minds can’t help but be drawn to the dozens of beautiful parks across the country, not to mention the unforgettable walks, cycles and picnics to be had as well as the great photo opportunities.
To celebrate the colourful Irish autumn, we’ve made up a list of the top Irish parks. Be sure to vote for your favourite at the end, or drop us a line in the comments to let us know if we’ve forgotten your favourite or just to share your favourite Irish autumn memory!
Killarney National Park, Co. Kerry
We’re pretty confident that no list of Irish parks is complete without Killarney National Park. It’s got everything. The unparalleled surrounding mountain scenery, boating and fishing on its calm lakes, waterfalls, beautiful walking and cycling trails, historical buildings and resident wildlife including deer, swans and the elusive Irish red squirrel.
Muckross House ties the whole park beautifully with its gardens and restaurant as well as the crafts hub, playing host to Irish artists.
Some of you might remember our American Friends on the Road, Emily and Michael Collins who shared these lovely pictures of Killarney National Park with us.
Castlecomer Discovery Park, Co. Kilkenny
In the cosy former mining town of Castlecomer, the Castlecomer Discovery Park is a treat for both the mind and body. Situated in the former Wandesforde Estate, visitors can expand their minds (or is that mines…) at the Coal Mining Exhibition or get the heart racing on the Tree Top Adventure Walk – a 10 metre high above ground course designed to put your adventurer’s spirit to the test.
To be honest, we’d be happy to visit just for the award-winning Jarrow Café with its recommendation from the Bridgestone Guide, but that’s just us.
Find out more about Kilkenny and Castlecomer Discovery Park in our Kilkenny Guide.
Doneraile Park, Co. Cork
Like other parks on this list, Doneraile Park was designed originally as a large estate (once home to Elizabeth Aldworth, reported to be one of the first women admitted to the Freemasons). This place has all the makings of an ideal Sunday family drive and day out; it even had the third highest visitor numbers in Ireland for a free attraction last year. Animal lovers will feel right at home in the wildlife park, history and science buffs also get their fill at the education centre or on guided tours (perfect for school trips!), or perhaps you can take a walk around the beautiful gardens or on one of the many beautiful trails and gardens.
And after taking your sojourn on the estate, you can retire to the former servants’ kitchens, now the tea rooms, where you can spot the bells once used to summon the house’s staff.
Lough Key Forest Park, Co. Roscommon
With so much to do and see it’s hard to find a reason to actually leave Lough Key Forest Park. From historic treasures to be found on the 350 acre old Rockingham Estate from walking and cycling trails to hair raising activities like zip-lining, Ireland’s only canopy tree walk and the challenging Boda Borg activity centre – 47 rooms of puzzles and tasks set to test even the largest mental and physical prowess.
Irish television and history buffs are also in for a treat with McDermott’s Castle on Castle Island, as featured in the Sky television series Moone Boy written by Roscommon’s own Chris O’Dowd.
Find Lough Key Forest Park in our Athlone Guide along with lots of other unique sights and activities for all the family.
The Phoenix Park, Dublin City
All things considered, we’re fairly sure Ireland would fall without the Phoenix Park. Established in 1662 and acknowledged as one of the largest parks in any European capital city, the park homes not only hundreds of fallow deer usually found on the unusually named ‘Fifteen Acres’ (unusual for a 200-acre meadow), but scores of other animals calling Dublin Zoo home – it might also be worth mentioning that the President of Ireland lives on the grounds of the Phoenix Park too in Áras an Uachtaráin (rumoured to be architect James Hoban’s inspiration when designing The White House in America).
See our Dublin Guide for more insider info on the Phoenix Park and Dublin city and county.
We would also like to lend an honourable mention to some other great Irish parks that just missed out on the top 5: Coole Park (Co. Galway), the Burren National Park (Co. Clare), St. Anne’s Park (Raheny, Co. Dublin), and Kilkenny Castle Park (Kilkenny).
Adam Leahy
The Best of Ireland Series 
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