Duckett's Grove
About
Duckett's Grove is a Gothic shell of towers and turrets in the fields north-east of Carlow, about eight kilometres from the town centre as the crow flies and further by road. It was the house of the Duckett family for more than two centuries until a fire gutted it in 1933, and what stands now is the exterior, two restored walled gardens and the pleasure grounds around them. Carlow County Council bought it in 2005 and runs the gardens as a free public park. Free guided tours leave from the courtyard at 12:30 and 14:30 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and Carlow Tourism has paused individual tours over past winters, so check before you go; there is a free audio guide at reception the rest of the time. A burger trailer, Bun and Box, and a candle maker's studio work out of the courtyard. You need a car or a taxi; no bus calls.
Photos
Highlights
- ✓The burnt-out Gothic shell of the Duckett family house
- ✓Two restored walled gardens
- ✓Free guided tours on Friday, Saturday and Sunday
- ✓Playground in the pleasure grounds
Tips
- →Tour times vary; Carlow Tourism posts changes on the Duckett's Grove Facebook page
- →Wheelchair access is restricted on the older paths
- →The tea and coffee service is intermittent, so bring a flask in winter
Best Season
More Heritage Activities
Carlow Castle
The west wall and two towers of William Marshal's castle, blown up in 1814 by a doctor who wanted an asylum.
Brownshill Dolmen
Neolithic portal tomb with a granite capstone of over 100 tonnes, three kilometres east of town.