Irish Landscapes – Mount Juliet Estate, Co.Kilkenny
Irish Landscapes
Mount Juliet Estate
county Kilkenny
Nigel Borrington
Mount Juliet was built in 1757 by the Earl of Carrick in compliment to his wife, Lady Juliana (Juliet). This estate has very strong Norman associations and in particular with the great Butler family.
The estate was originally two separate estates called Walton’s Grove and Ballylinch. The Waltons were the owners until 1653 when they were dispossessed by Oliver Cromwell. It later fell into the hands of King James II. It was then sold to a Mr Sweet, followed by a Mr Kendal who changed it’s name to ‘Kendal’s Grove’ in 1719. Mr Kendal left the entire property to the local Rev. Bushe who retrieved an important portfolio for him after being ‘mugged’ by a highway!
Rev. Bushe was wildly extravagant, ran up enormous debts and eventually sold the estate to his neighbour, the Earl of Carrick. It remained in this family from the 1750s until 1914, when the present Earl sold the estate to the McCalmont family who lived here until quite recently.
Castlecomer discovery park – Co Kilkenny
castlecomer Discovery park, woodland walks and fishing lakes
Explore Woodlands & Lake fishing in Castlecomer
Castlecomer Discovery Park grounds consist of 30 hectares (80 acres) of mixed woodland on the banks of the River Deen which were once part of the old Wandesforde Estate.
There are 6km of themed woodland walks centred on our two rainbow trout angling lakes.
The three main walking routes are colour coded and signposted and there are also a number of interconnecting paths.
The woodlands also play host to a number of wooden sculptures.
These were created on-site in September 1999 by a number of Irish and International artists working with the natural materials of the area.
Castlecomer Discovery park, Sculpture - Nigel Borrington
Twelve sculptures were created within the woodland, designed to blend in with and complement their surroundings and five of these now remain. They can be found scattered throughout the woodlands.
A stone sculpture located in the parkland beside the river is a replica of a culm grinder, which would have been used to grind coal dust to a fine powder.
Picnic tables are located in the parkland by the river’s edge close to the car park and children’s playground and there are also a number of more secluded picnic spots located along the woodland walks
Ref : Castlecomer Discovery park
Kilkenny landscape photography by, Kilkenny photographer : Nigel Borrington
Poppies, Kells Co.Kilkenny
Poppies, Kells Co.Kilkenny
Nigel Borrington 2011,
Kilkenny photorgaphy series.
Nigel Borrington 
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