Muckross featured on the National Geographic Website! -- National Geographic Photo of the Day

Muckross featured in National Geographic's photo of the day today! You can see it here:
Ireland Picture -- Landscape Photo -- National Geographic Photo of the Day

151 years today since Queen Victoria's visit to Muckross House!

The Herbert Family of Muckross enjoyed a high social standing, which reached its climax in 1861, with the visit of Queen Victoria to Killarney. Although the Queen had visited Ireland on two previous occasions, in 1849 and 1853, this was the first time that Kerry was included in her itinerary.

The Queen was accompanied by Albert, the Prince Consort, the Prince of Wales, Prince Alfred, Princess Alice and Princess Helena.

 

Queen Victoria (1819-1901) of the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland and Empress of India,
ascended the throne in 1837

Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha
was born in 1819 and
married Queen Victoria in 1840.
He died of typhoid in December 1861
 

The Royal party stayed the night of Monday, 26 August, at Killarney House, home of the Earl of Kenmare. They then travelled on to Muckross, where they spent the following two nights. The Queen's visit to Killarney House was very much a state occasion. However, her stay at Muckross was a much more private affair. The local press reported that Her Majesty 'had declared her intention of being "very quiet" while at Muckross.' (Kerry Evening Post, Wednesday 28 August 1861).


                           



 

Albert Edward (1841-1910), Prince of Wales.
Ascended the throne as Edward VII in January
 1901 following the death of his mother Queen Victoria

At 6.30 pm on the evening of Monday, 26 August, the Royal train arrived in Killarney from Dublin. The Royal party were then escorted to Killarney House, where a large dinner was held that evening. The next day the Queen embarked at Ross Castle for a day on the Lakes. Lunch was served at Glena Cottage. In the evening the party returned to Ross Quay, from where they were escorted back to Killarney House.










Queen Victoria spent the night of Monday 26 August,
in this house, known as Killarney House.
It was demolished during the 1870s

At about 6.30pm that same evening, Tuesday 27 August, the Queen and her family set out for Muckross. They were accompanied by The Right Hon. Henry Arthur Herbert, Viscount Castlerosse (of the Kenmare family) and a troop of the Royal Dragoons. The Times described how Mr and Mrs Herbert received the Queen on the lawn at the door of Muckross House. A host of other ladies and gentlemen were also present and greeted the Queen enthusiastically.
(The Times, Friday 30 August 1861).



Queen Victoria spent the night of Monday 26
August,in this house, known as Killarney House.
It was demolished during the 1870s

Elaborate preparations had been carried out at Muckross for the Royal visit. Tapestries, mirrors, Persian carpets, silverware, musical instruments, linen, china and servants uniforms, are all said to have been specially commissioned for the occasion. The curtains, which still hang in the Dining Room of Muckross House, were specially woven, probably in Paris, for the occasion.

Queen's Bedroom, Muckross House




 Window Upholstery installed in
 the Diningroom 
of Muckross House for the visit of
Queen Victoria in August 1861

The Queen's apartments at Muckross were described in the local press as follows:
'An entire section of the mansion has been set apart for the royal family, so that all their apartments communicate without the necessity of passing into the corridors to be used by other occupants of the house. The Queen will live here in privacy, and from the windows of her rooms she can walk into delightful grounds, which will be kept private during her stay at Muckross. In her sitting room - which, like all the others, is a splendid apartment furnished richly and tastefully, there is a series of views of the Lakes of Killarney, painted by Mrs Herbert. They are works of the highest artistic excellence.'
(Kerry Evening Post, Wednesday 28 August 1861).




Torc Waterfall, Killarney

                    
The following day the Queen, accompanied in her carriage by Mrs Herbert, drove around the Muckross Demesne, visiting Dinis Island, Mangerton and Torc waterfall.




Mr Herbert's Staghunt, Killarney, Upper Lake,
 1878, by W.A. Nesfield





Following lunch at Muckross House, the party then embarked at Muckross boathouse for Tomies to view a stag hunt upon the Lake.
(Kerry Evening Post, Saturday 31 August 1861).


On Thursday 29th August, the morning of her departure, Queen Victoria visited Muckross Abbey, a fifteenth century Franciscan friary within the Muckross demesne. Eleanor, the eldest Herbert daughter described this visit as having been, 'very quiet, hardly any of the suite with us, they were all enchanted and wandered over it gathering ferns and leaves as recollections. She is to have ivy from the Abbey and ferns from various places sent to Osborne as recollections of this place.'

Watercolour of Muckross Abbey, 1861, by Mary Balfour Herbert.
Queen's Bedroom, Muckross House

Before departing from Muckross, the Queen sent for Mrs Mary Herbert and presented her with a bracelet of gold, pearls and diamonds. Her daughters, Eleanor and Blanche, also each received a piece of jewellery. The Royal Collection at Windsor Castle contains three water-colours by Mary Herbert. Presumably Mary presented these to the Queen on her departure.

At noon the Royal party left Muckross House for Killarney Railway station. There they boarded their train for Dublin, which they reached in just a little over five hours. Mr Miller, Chief engineer of the Great Southern and Western Railway drove the train both to and from Killarney. (Kerry Evening Post, Saturday 31 August 1861). The unstable financial situation of the Herberts in the late nineteenth century may have stemmed from the outlay involved in preparations for this Royal visit.

A short history of Muckross House.

Muckross House

This nineteenth century Victorian mansion is set against the stunning beauty of Killarney National Park. The house stands close to the shores of Muckross Lake, one of Killarney's three lakes, famed worldwide for their splendour and beauty. As a focal point within Killarney National Park, Muckross House is the ideal base from which to explore this landscape.

A still morning on Muckross Lake

Muckross House was built for Henry Arthur Herbert and his wife, the water-colourist Mary Balfour Herbert. This was actually the fourth house that successive generations of the Herbert family had occupied at Muckross over a period of almost two hundred years. William Burn, the well-known Scottish architect, was responsible for its design. Building commenced in 1839 and was completed in 1843.

Muckross House, probably mid 1860s

Rhododendrons in bloom during the month of May, Muckross Gardens.

 Originally it was intended that Muckross House should be a larger, more ornate, structure. The plans for a bigger servants' wing, stable block, orangery and summer-house, are believed to have been altered at Mary's request. Today the principal rooms are furnished in period style and portray the elegant lifestyle of the nineteenth century landowning class. In the basement, one can imagine the busy bustle of the servants as they went about their daily chores.

Autumn colours, Muckross Gardens

During the 1850s, the Herberts undertook extensive garden works in preparation for Queen Victoria's visit in 1861. Later, the Bourn Vincent family continued this gardening tradition. They purchased the estate from Lord and Lady Ardilaun early in the twentieth century. It was at this time that the Sunken Garden, Rock Garden and the Stream Garden were developed.

For more information about Muckross House, the estate and its history see our website here.

Heritage Week is finally here!

Today marks the beginning of Heritage Week 2012 here in Muckross, with a packed week of events taking place. We have a whole host of free events taking place in the Gardens, including Céilí workshops and ancient music workshops, plus the regular House tours will have the added fun of meeting characters from our past that lived in, owned, visited or worked in the House during the 1920's, on selected days,  with members of Dóchas Drama Group playing the parts!

Life in the House had its ups and downs for the servants!

The Craft Shop is celebrating Heritage Week by offering a 10% discount to any customers who have purchased a Joint ticket to the House and Traditional Farms from Monday 20th to Friday 24th, but we will save the best for last!

This Sunday, August 19th and Sunday August 26th admission to Muckross House or Traditional Farms is just €1 per Adult, Child or O.A.P or just €3 for a Famliy ticket! So join us this Heritage Week for family days out that you can't afford to miss out on! See Facebook and our Blog for more!

Muckross Traditional Farms - A step into the past.

Take a step back to the Ireland of the 1920's and 1930's..

Take a virtual Tour of the Traditional Farms and see what we have to offer! This video can only provide a brief glimpse into the fantastic Traditional Farms, it really is something that you must experience for yourself to appreciate, why not plan a visit?

The Craft Centre celebrates Heritage Week 2012!

To celebrate Heritage Week 2012, Muckross Craft Shop is offering a 10% discount to all customers that purchase a joint ticket to Muckross House and the Traditional Farms, from 20/08/12 to 24/08/12! To avail of this offer simply present your ticket at the Register when you are making your next purchase!*

For more see our Facebook page:http://www.facebook.com/muckross.ie#!/media/set/?set=a.381103615290734.88334.115299308537834&type=1


*One ticket entitles the customer to a once off 10% discount on any goods purchased in the Craft Shop, including sale items, from 18/08/12 to 26/08/12. This discount does not apply in the Traditional Farms Shop or Garden Restaurant

August sunshine at Muckross

A friend of ours on our Facebook page, Carlotta Coerini, took this incredible shot of the view of Muckross Lake as seen from the House. The weather is amazing here in Killarney at the moment, why not plan a visit?

Muckross Lake. (Picture: Carlotta Coerini)

We offer a great value joint ticket which offers admission to the Muckross House itself and the Traditional Farms! As the great reviews that we recieve on Tripadvisor will telll you, its well worth a visit! Theres something for all the family here too, with walks through the 26,000 acre National Park that is home to Muckross, great shopping in the Craft Shop, Pottery, Weaving and Bookbindry workshops, great food in our Garden Restuarant, family fun on the Traditional Farms and of course the beautiful Muckross House itself. See the Muckross website for more info!

Craft Shop Deal of the week!

As you may know, our Craft Shop offers a fantastic selection of Giftware, Clothing, Crafts and Souvenirs, all at unbeatable prices! We are now offering a Deal of the Week every week instore, with great gifts at amazing prices.

This week’s offer is a set of 3 beautiful Irish designed Newgrange Glassware candleholders, R.R.P €30.00, which are amazing value at just €19.00!

Call instore to avail of this incredible offer, just one of the many great gifts at excellent value here in Muckross Craft Centre! Why not subscribe to our Blog and sign up to our mailing list on our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/muckross.ie to be the first to hear about Muckross events, promotions, deals and news!

Molly, one of our horses on Muckross Traditional Farms, enjoying the sunshine!

Being a working farm, using only the traditional methods  of the 1930's and 1940's, horses such as Molly are hugely important in the running of the farm. We have many other animals which live on the farms and even a small Farm Animal Petting Area! Enjoying a visit is like taking a step back in time to the Ireland of old, an amazing experience, its really worth a trip!

A new arrival on the Farms!

A new arrival on the Farms! A peacock chick, just days old, see more images of the Traditional Farms on our Facebook Page and on our Website!


A peacock chick, just a few days old!