20 Attractions to Explore Near Doneraile park

The Ballyhoura Mountains are located in south-east County Limerick and north-east County Cork in central Munster, running east and west for about 6 miles on the borders of both counties. The southern part of the hills is largely afforested with conifers, on the northern side there is extensive heathland and blanket bog. A good trekking destination and also there are so many things to see and do here.

This is a majestic 17th century country house in the Republic of Ireland which stands in 160 hectares of walled parkland near the town of Doneraile in County Cork. It remained the seat of the St Leger family from that time until the mid-20th century. The grounds in the vicinity of the house is laid out in the style of Capability Brown whilst the deer park contains Killarney Red, Sika and Fallow deer and the meadows a herd of Kerry cattle.

Mallow Castle is a National Monument situated off the N72 on Bridewell Lane, Mallow, County Cork, Ireland. The 33-acre site is composed gardens and parkland on which three buildings sit: the remains of a 16th-century fortified house, a 19th-century mansion to the north, and the ruins of a 13th-century castle to the east. It is early Jacobean in style, featuring high gables, stepped battlements, and mullioned windows.

Seefin is a mountain near the southern border of County Limerick, Ireland. At 528m it is the highest peak and the second most northerly summit in the Ballyhoura Mountains. An iconic location for a trek and also it offers stunning views too.

Castle Oliver is nestled between two unspoiled country villages, Ardpatrick and Ballyorgan. It has a ballroom, drawing room, library, morning room, dining room and hall which feature hand-painted ceilings, decorated ornamental corbels, superbly executed stained glass windows and stencil work. Built with Red Sandstone in the Scottish Baronial style, Castle Oliver is a comfortable residence and an elaborate party venue.

This is the Ireland’s largest monument of this type. This was the first megalithic tomb in the country to be described by an antiquarian writer, in John Aubrey’s manuscript of 1693. The gallery is covered by three massive capstones, the largest weighs around ten tonnes and the tomb has three large buttress stones at the rear.

This is a a 13th-century castle located on King's Island in Limerick, Ireland. The Castle was built between 1200 and 1210. It was repaired and extended many times over the following centuries. King John’s Castle remains a most impressive Anglo-Norman fortification. It retains many of the pioneering features which made its construction unique for its day. Its massive gatehouse, battlements and corner towers await exploration!

Fantstown Castle is a tower in Limerick. Fantstown Castle is situated nearby to Foley’s Cross Roads, east of Mount Coote. It is a five storey fortified tower house about 56 feet high, and although in ruins, it is in fairly good condition. It is a five storey fortified tower house about 56 feet high, and although in ruins, it is in fairly good condition.

Kanturk Castle is an impressive ruined mansion located about 1.5km from the market town of Kanturk in County Cork. The castle is a rectangular four storey high Tudor-style mansion made from limestone rubble from a nearby quarry. This fortified house was built in c. 1601 for MacDonogh McCarthy as a defence against English settlers during the Plantation of Ireland.

Temple Hill is a mountain in the Galty Mountains, in County Limerick, Ireland. In the Bronze Age it was a place of worship. Temple Hill has an elevation of 566 metres. Temple Hill is situated north of Knocknascrow, west of Knockaterriff. It is a good trekking destination and also it attracts so many tourists by its climate and also its astonishing views.

This tomb is situated near the peak of a small but steep hill outside the village of Galbally in County Limerick, overlooking the River Loobagh valley to the north. It is an unusual structure as passage tombs of this size are rare in that part of the country another curious aspect is its three roof stones which are rested on top of one another, a style very common in Brittany. According to legend, it was the burial place of Ailill Aulom , a King of Munster.

Ballygrennan Castle is a large tower-house set within the remains of a bawn. It consists of a tower house within bawn walls and it is a listed national monument. The castle is described by Westropp as a late 16th-century house, with extensive outbuilding and a court with an outer gate. There are remains of a number of later buildings with chimneys. The tower-house has two square bartizans at opposite corners.

Lyracappul is a mountain in Limerick in Ireland. At a height of 825 metres it is the second highest of the Galtee Mountains and the 29th highest peak in Ireland. Lyracappul is the second highest point in County Limerick. A good trekking destination and also there are also so many things to see and do here.

Moor Abbey lies in the Glen of Aherlow in the shadow of the Galtee Mountains. Founded in 1471, the friary was suppressed in 1540 but the new owner, the Earl of Desmond left the friars in peace until the friary was burnt in 1569 and 1570. The church consists of a nave and chancel, separated by a tall bell-tower. In the chancel is a double piscina for washing liturgical vessels.

Springfield Castle, Broadford, is situated in the west part of County Limerick, Ireland, close to the town of Newcastlewest. The castle is a group of buildings around a courtyard, comprising two stone keeps, or towers; one 15th-century, one 18th-century, a range of workshops and stables and the modernised remains of an 18th-century servants' wing.

Lough Curra is a lake in County Tipperary and has an elevation of 574 metres. It is one of the iconic attraction in this area and a good picnic destination. YOu can spend some nice time in the middle of natural beauty.

Galtymore is the highest of the Galtee Mountains, a range that stretches for 30 kms between Tipperary and Limerick. It is one of Ireland's highest mountains, being the 12th-highest on the Arderin list, and 14th-highest on the Vandeleur-Lynam list. Galtymore has the 4th-highest topographic prominence of any peak in Ireland. The mountain and its deep corrie lakes are associated with various Irish folklore tales regarding Saint Patrick and serpents.

Blarney Woollen Mills was built in 1823. It was used mainly for spinning and weaving wool. They carved out a niche in tweeds, woolen worsted cloths, knitting wools and hosiery. A fire at Christmas in 1869 saw the destruction of the mill. It was re-built the following year and still stands to this day. Business declined in the mid-20th century, and Blarney Woollen Mills closed in 1973.

Blarney Castle is a medieval stronghold in Blarney, near Cork, Ireland. The castle originally dates from before 1200, when a timber house was believed to have been built on the site, although no evidence remains of this. Around 1210 this was replaced by a stone fortification. The castle is now a partial ruin with some accessible rooms and battlements. Tourists visiting Blarney Castle may hang upside-down over a sheer drop to kiss the stone, which is said to give the gift of eloquence.

Lough Gur is located in the South East of Ireland within the Ballyhoura region. Visitors enjoy the rural unspoilt beauty that is easily accessible 21km’s from Limerick City. The largest stone is Rannach Chruim Duibh and is over 4m high and weighs 40 tonnes. The entrance of the circle is aligned with the rising sun at the Summer Solstice.A short distance to the north-north east of the main stone circle, is a second smaller circle, also constructed of large stones.