Gardens
“All that can delight the senses is here. Parterres of lovely flowers, and rare shrubs; velvet lawns; secluded walks rich in odours; and above the fine scene of holly and laburnum and lilac, and copper beech and laurel, towers the Rock and the magnificent ruin that covers it.” H.D. Inglis, ‘Ireland in 1834’, as recorded by Robert Wyse Jackson in his ‘History of the Cashel Palace’.
Open to residents and hotel visitors, the gardens are enclosed within the historic stone walls and follow the original designs as laid out by Edward Lovett Pearce. Over the centuries, the gardens evolved and changed, and while little can be found about their history, maps dating from 1840 and 1884, together with some later photographic records, have helped inform their rejuvenation. Today, the gardens still proudly boast notable specimen plants, including two listed mulberry trees that were planted in 1702 to commemorate the coronation of Queen Anne.
Every period house in this time had a land agent who would brew beer for the owners, and it was Richard Guinness, who was the land agent for Archbishop Arthur Price, who used hops from the Palace Garden and water from this well to brew ale for Cashel Palace. His son Arthur Guinness, who was the Archbishop’s godson, was left £100 in his godfather’s will – the same £100 he used to secure the lease on the site of St. James’s Gate brewery in Dublin. This same well can be seen in The Glass Well at our sister property, Mikey Ryan’s Bar & Kitchen adjacent to the hotel.
The Bishop’s Walk, an original feature, meanders through the gardens, giving access to a private pathway leading up to the Rock of Cashel. This historic walkway has been recreated to allow hotel guests to experience exclusive access to the Rock of Cashel, the ancient monument and archaeological site that stands tall above Cashel Palace. To walk here is to walk in the footsteps of some of the most powerful leaders of 18th and 19th century Ireland.
A striking copper beech hedge, running midway through the rear garden, follows the line of the historic City Wall which once ran through this site, demarcating the old city boundary. All around, manicured lawns with fragrant borders meet woodland and fruit trees, perfectly complemented by a hops garden and fountain feature.
At the front of Cashel Palace accentuating the arrival avenue, is a more structured arrangement of parterre hedging, topiary and formal planting. Similarly, the privately accessed Ballroom Courtyard offers a handsome mix of lush topiary, boxwood trees, an abundance of hydrangea and pergola draped with glorious wisteria.
All around nature envelopes the hotel, creating a glorious haven. The perfect place to escape, to stroll and linger, we invite you to explore and enjoy the singular beauty of Cashel Palace’s serene gardens.
