There is no admission fee to walk and explore. At present, our Summer opening hours are Mon-Sun 09:00-17:00, with the last entry to the gardens at 16:30. Our Winter hours are 09:00-16.30, with last entry 16:00. Guided tours are provided twice daily (12 noon and 3pm) from March to October. Please check the website or locally for seasonally themed guided tours and trails. The guiding team at Kilmacurragh is delighted to offer free school tours and to welcome private groups (advance booking essential). For school and group bookings or enquiries, please contact us. [email protected] or 0404-48844. The National Botanic Gardens, Kilmacurragh occupies a large estate developed extensively during the nineteeth century by Thomas Acton in conjunction with David Moore and his son Sir Frederick Moore, Curators of the National Botanic Gardens at that time. It was a period of great botanical and geographical explorations with numerous plant species from around the world being introduced to Ireland for the first time. The different soil and climatic conditions at Kilmacurragh resulted in many of these specimens succeeding there while struggling or failing at Glasnevin. Kilmacurragh is particularly famous for its conifers and rhododendron collections.
