Kilruddery House

Kilruddery House is a country estate in County Wicklow, surrounded by gardens and woodlands along the Irish east coast. The grounds hold a walled garden with historic glasshouses, long rectangular ponds with fountains, and farmland with vegetable plots and fruit trees.

The Brabazon family received the land in 1618 and built a large estate with one of Ireland's oldest surviving gardens. The main house standing today was built in the 1820s in Tudor Revival style by architects Richard and William Morrison.

The name comes from Irish "Cill Ruaidhrí", meaning Ruaidhrí's church, though no church survives here now. Families still visit the glasshouses to see orange trees and tropical plants grown under Victorian glass roofs.

The estate lies about 40 minutes south of Dublin and opens its gardens and selected rooms of the house to visitors. A tea house serves food made with produce from the farm, and a small shop sells vegetables and fruit from the walled garden.

The gardens hold an outdoor theatre shaped from tall hedges, serving as a stage since the 17th century. The estate has been used for several films, including scenes from a period drama featuring Keira Knightley and Dominic Cooper.

Location: Bray

Website: http://killruddery.com

GPS coordinates: 53.18100,-6.10400

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:28