Glenveagh National Park is located in the wildest part of the Irish countryside, made up of 24,000 acres, encompassing moorlands, mountains, lakes and forests. Its central feature is Lough Beagh, a long and deep lake fed by River Veagh. Here in this remote area, you will find some of the densest woodland in all of Ireland.
The park was formed from an estate surrounding Glenveagh Castle put together by John George Adair between 1857 and 1859. He was known as a less than ideal landlord who evicted hundreds of tenants and destroyed their cottages in 1861. He began construction of the castle in 1870, in Queen Victoria’s then popular Scottish Baronial Style.
Adair abruptly went off to Texas, married American bride Cornelia, and then died in 1885 without returning to Ireland. His widow came to make her home at Glenveagh, and proceeded to turn 27 acres surrounding the castle into gardens, planted rhododendrons, and refurbished the house.
The castle appears like a fairy tale dream, with turrets, battlements, and an entranceway over the waters of the lake. Its medieval style is demonstrated in the structures of the keep and round tower.
Mr. Kingsley Porter, a professor of medieval art history at Harvard University, was one of the last owners of the estate. He sold it to Henry Mc Ilhenny in 1937. Both owners performed much maintenance and restoration work on the castle, and took great care of the gardens.
Mc Ilhenny lived there on and off for 40 years, collected plenty of art, and totally redecorated the house. He entertained quite a bit, and it is said that Greta Garbo slept here once. In 1983, he finally gave the castle to the nation as a gift (he had sold the surrounding land to the government in 1975). The estate was opened to the public as a National Park in 1984.
The park contains wonderful nature trails, particularly Derrylahan Nature Trail which extends into the remotest parts of the woodland. Visitors may see some of the large red deer herd that lives here, and at times falcons are visible. Guide walks are available May through October.
The Visitor’s Centre features an exhibition showing the effects of the climate on local plants and animals. There is a cafeteria and a bus that runs from the visitor’s centre to the castle.