Ilnacullin, Private garden island in Glengarriff Bay, Ireland.
Ilnacullin is a private island in Glengarriff Bay featuring gardens spread across approximately 15 hectares with formal pathways, water features, and terraced levels. Architectural structures dotting the grounds include a clock tower, a Grecian temple, and a small Italian-style house.
A businessman purchased the island in 1910 and hired a renowned garden designer to transform the rocky terrain into a work of art. Work began on this barren landscape and eventually shaped the structured gardens visible today.
The name comes from Irish and means 'island of treasures'. Walking through the gardens, you notice how Mediterranean plants and Irish native trees coexist without one overwhelming the other.
The island is accessible by ferry from Glengarriff village only during the opening season from March to October, with boat trips taking just a few minutes. Wear sturdy footwear since the terrain is hilly and weather can change quickly throughout the day.
A Martello tower on the island has an unusual straight cylindrical shape rather than the typical splayed base seen elsewhere in Ireland. This difference makes it a rare example of this military structure.
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