Overview
Jenkinstown Park sits on the N78, about 10 km north of Kilkenny city and 11 km south of Castlecomer. It was the demesne of the Bryan-Bellew estate, and the country house at its centre – Jenkinstown Castle, designed by William Robertson in the early 1800s for Sir Patrick Bellew – still stands. It had a rough history (structural faults, a partial collapse, and most of it demolished after the second world war, when Irish troops had been billeted there), but it was restored between 2013 and 2014 and now works as a wedding venue. Coillte manages the woodland around it. The draw for most visitors is simple: a stand of beech that fills with bluebells in spring, a deer enclosure by the car park, and two easy looped walks.
Thomas Moore and the walled lawn
The estate’s best-known connection is to the poet Thomas Moore, who was staying at Jenkinstown House in 1805 when he wrote The Last Rose of Summer. A walled lawn beside the old house commemorates him, and it’s a popular backdrop for wedding photographs. Don’t come expecting a formal horticultural garden, though – this is a quiet grassed enclosure within the estate walls rather than manicured flowerbeds. The one genuinely unusual planting is a Chinese necklace poplar (Populus lasiocarpa), a survivor from the original park planting of the 1870s, along with an old threshing-mill building that Coillte flags as a hidden corner worth finding.
Walking Trails
Two waymarked loops start from the car park. The Walled Garden Loop (2.5 km, about an hour, green arrows) is the one most people do: from the mapboard you head through the ‘door in the wall’ and follow a woodland path past St Colman’s Well. The longer Jenkinstown Loop (4 km, roughly 90 minutes, purple arrows) circles the wider wood. Both are flat and easy, fine for families with young legs in tow.
Wildlife & Nature
Just beyond the car park, a fenced enclosure holds red and grey deer – the quickest win with children. In the wider wood there are foxes, badgers, stoats, and both red and grey squirrels, though you’ll need patience and an early start to see much of that. Birdwatchers can look for pheasant, ravens and long-eared owls.
Seasonal Highlights
The reason to time a visit is the bluebells, which carpet the beech woods from mid-April to late May. That’s the main event of the year here – come on a weekday morning for softer light and a parking space. Outside that window it’s a pleasant woodland walk rather than a destination: the beech gives decent autumn colour, and once the branches are bare in winter the deer and birds are easier to pick out.
Facilities & Accessibility
The car park opens daily from 09:30 to 17:00 year-round; entry and parking are free. There are toilets, a picnic site and a craft centre on site. The paths nearest the car park are firm enough for pushchairs, but the woodland trails turn to natural surfaces that get uneven and muddy in wet weather, so this isn’t a reliable all-weather wheelchair route. Dogs are welcome throughout the park but must be kept on a lead.
Extend Your Visit
Jenkinstown pairs well with other heritage and nature sites in County Kilkenny. A short drive north leads to Black Abbey, a well-preserved 13th-century Franciscan abbey known for its intricate stonework. Kilfane Glen and House Estate offers another scenic woodland walk alongside formal gardens, while Brandon Hill and Gorlough Wood provides elevated views across the mid-Kilkenny landscape. All three locations are easily combined into a single day trip.
Practical Information
- Opening hours: 09:30 – 17:00 daily (car park and trails)
- Admission: Free
- Trail lengths: 2.5 km (Walled Garden Loop) / 4 km (Jenkinstown Loop)
- Waymarking: Green arrows (short loop), purple arrows (long loop)
- Parking: Free
- Getting there: On the N78, about 10 km north of Kilkenny city. Public transport is limited, so driving or taking a taxi is the practical option.
- Maps & guides: Trail maps and current details are on the Coillte site page.
The park operates on a simple first-come basis, so arriving early during peak blue-bell season or on sunny weekends ensures a parking space. Wear sturdy footwear for the woodland sections, and pack a light snack to enjoy at the picnic tables near the car park.