Killarney House, Country house in County Kerry, Ireland
Killarney House is a country house in Killarney National Park featuring formal gardens and mountain views across the surrounding landscape. The property includes restored rooms, landscaped grounds, and an interpretation center explaining the park's natural and cultural history.
The 4th Earl of Kenmare built the first Killarney House in 1872 on a hillside above Lough Leane, replacing the 1726 Kenmare House; George Devey designed it and it burned in 1879 and again in August 1913, never rebuilt. The family then converted the old stable block into a house also called Kenmare House. John McShain bought that building in 1959, renamed it Killarney House, and sold it to the Irish State in 1978; after restoration it opened to the public on 3 April 2016.
The house is named after Killarney, and its Irish name is Teach Chill Airne. The McShains, who bought it in 1959, renamed the former Kenmare House stable block "Killarney House"; the earlier mansion of that name, built from 1872, burned in 1913 and was never rebuilt. Visitors can see the surviving westernmost gate lodge, gabled and galleried, attributed to George Devey.
Killarney House reopened to visitors on 3 April 2016 after a €7 million restoration announced in July 2011 by minister Leo Varadkar. The house stands in Killarney National Park, and the former McShain estate around it is now parkland with walking routes. Parts of the grounds are uneven, so sturdy footwear helps in wet weather.
Queen Victoria visited the area in 1861 and her tour influenced the choice of this location for the house. That royal connection helped establish the estate's role within what became the national park.
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