Doneraile Park, where the Awbeg River runs through 166 hectares.

 Doneraile Park

15th April 2021

The Awbeg River runs through the Park's 166 hectares where you also see groups of deer (all fenced off, so you may bring the dog but on a lead of course).  Also there is the recently restored Doneraile Court and Tea Rooms, also a playground. One of Ireland's most popular attractions has plenty of parking and may also be accessed directly from the main street.

Start with a little movie!

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Tea Rooms, Farmers Market at Doneraile Court

Tea Rooms, Farmers Market at Doneraile Court

Tea Rooms in the old kitchen, open daily, and a Farmer’s Market (on the 1^st and 3^rd Sunday of each month) are among the recent attractions added to Doneraile Court. The old pile itself, just off the main street in Doneraile, is surrounded by hundreds of acres of parkland where you have a great selection of walks, including some that take you past herds of deer and by the banks and bridges of the River Awbeg. And, believe it or not, entrance is free.

This set of bells, in the Tea Rooms, was used to attract the attention of the servants.

Gents become Lords
but ladies still Ladies!

There is plenty of parking by the children’s playground and here too you will see some information panels that you should consult before going for a walk, as I didn’t see any leaflets or info at the house itself. The Court itself and the tea rooms are a short stroll away though the beautiful parkland and trees.

Doneraile Court above and below where you can see
some outdoor seating for the Tea Rooms

Called in there the other day for a sandwich. This was filled with real ham, cut from the bone, and was a bargain at four euro. A toasted sandwich, packed with chicken and served with a salad, came to €4.50. But there is quite a menu here. Soups, sandwiches and curries and also breakfast dishes and a specials board for during the day. You can even order some items to take away. Lots of picnic tables scattered around the park also.

After lunch, we had a great walk around the the grounds (though not all of the 166 hectares!). Some terrific specimen trees standing on their own (deliberately so) in the landscape and also some pleasing water features and then we got very close to one of the deer herds.

After that it was a pleasant drive home to the city via Castletownroche (pity that Annes Grove is closed), Killavullen (where we saw a huge bank of wild garlic in flower at the side of the wooded road), by the Blackwater river for a while and then via the Nagle Mountains to a sunlit Glenville before arriving in Ballyvolane. Try it sometime!

Wild garlic near Killavullen.