Ireland is known as the Emerald Isle because of its seemingly endless expanses of verdant trees, deep forests, and rolling green hills. County Wicklow is called the Garden of Ireland, and 47 of the county’s finest acres are home to Powerscourt House and Gardens.
A long and noble history
The site of Powerscourt was first established in the 12th century, but it was not until 1299 that the eponymous Power family finally erected a castle.
The castle and lands changed hands numerous times over the next four centuries. The Wingfield family was in possession in 1731 and built a magnificent mansion around the former structure of the castle.
The existing mansion evolved through several major alterations until the late 19th century, when the house was celebrated as one of the finest in all of Ireland.
In 1974, a fire tragically destroyed the famous house. The mansion ruins were the only structures seen on the site for the next 22 years.
the great reconstruction
In 1996 the owners of Powerscourt House began the monumental task of rebuilding the old mansion to its present state of renewed splendor.
The craftsmen placed the new windows exactly in the places before the fire. The entire structure was painstakingly and lovingly restored. Every effort was made to preserve the former era of the remarkable old building.
Today tourists visiting Ireland can enjoy the authentic and historic Powerscourt House and Gardens, a true Irish estate that is simply stunning. The magnificent house was recently recognized as one of the top ten houses in the world, and the gardens were voted the top 3 in the world by National Geographic.
The elegant main house overlooks stately terraced Italian gardens, the serene Lake Triton Fountain and Grotto, and numerous ancient statues, many dating to the early 18th century.
An easy walk through the property grounds will take you to a centuries-old Japanese garden, horse pasture, and pet cemetery, as well as an exquisite walled flower garden.
the river walk
Just beyond the Powerscourt house is the River Walk. A private sloping wooded path built in 1867 so the owner and his family could enjoy a carriage ride to a waterfall and the River Dargle. The waterfall is the highest in Ireland, plummeting nearly 400 feet into the river.
The path is completed by a dense woodland of varietal trees originally planted for the pleasure of the 7th Viscount Powerscourt in the 1870s. In more recent times, the woodlands have provided scenic sets for such popular films as Braveheart, Far and Away, Excalibur and The Count of Monte Cristo.
town of enniskerry
Just a few minutes’ walk from the Powerscourt Estate is the charming little Victorian village of Enniskerry.
Built in the 18th century to house the tenants and caretakers who worked on the property, this classically Irish community offers tourists the chance to dine at local restaurants and browse the half dozen boutiques that line the main street.
Bring your camera to take photos of quaint houses and a historic clock tower in the center of town.
If you are looking for the perfect vacation getaway, this is a place of Irish magic.
If you go
The Powerscourt property is located in the east of Ireland and just 12 miles south of Dublin International Airport and Dublin city centre.
Click here for more information on Powerscourt House and Gardens.
Happy travels!
