Dún na Rí Forest Park, Protected forest park near Kingscourt, Ireland.
Dún na Rí Forest Park is a forest park on the Cavan–Monaghan border, about 2 km north of Kingscourt on the R179. It lies in a glen along the River Cabra, with a lake, a walled garden and open-air sculptures. The ruins of a castle built by Thomas Fleming stand in the park, and the larger trees are mainly oak and ash.
The land was originally held by the O'Reilly family until the late 16th century, when Thomas Fleming acquired it and built a castle on the grounds. The Pratt family later took possession and developed the Cabra Estate.
The park's name derives from Dún an Rí, Irish for 'fort of the king', anglicised as Dunaree and echoed in the name of Kingscourt, founded by Mervyn Pratt in 1760–1770. Legend places Cúchulainn resting in these woods while fighting the armies of Queen Maeve of Connacht.
The park offers four marked walking trails of varying lengths that guide visitors through the woodland and past historical structures. Wear comfortable shoes and be prepared for changing weather, especially in the damper areas near the river where the ground can be muddy.
The park lies in a glen, and its larger trees are mainly oak and ash, with an understorey of hazel, holly and rhododendron. In spring the ground is carpeted with bluebells, alongside snowdrops, wood anemone, woodrush, foxgloves, wood sorrel and several species of fern.
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