[James Kilkelly]

Here are some pictures from a recent visit to Coole park, Gort, Co.Galway.

This park together with the adjoining Garryland is a nature reserve looked after by the national parks & wildlife service
The parklands cover approximately 405 hectares (1000 acres)

Conifer covered walkway.

The seven woods celebrated by W.B. Yeats are part of the 6 kilometres of nature trails taking in woods, river, turlough, bare limestone and Coole lake.

Wild garlic is rampant throughout the woods.

Coole Park was once the home of Lady Augusta Gregory, dramatist, folklorist and co-founder of the Abbey Theatre with Edward Martyn of Tullira Castle and Nobel prize-winning poet William Butler Yeats.
Coole Park, in the early 20th century, was the centre of the Irish Literary Revival. Yeats, George Bernard Shaw, John Millington Synge and Sean O' Casey all carved their initials on the Autograph Tree, an old copper beech tree still standing today.

The Autograph Tree (Fagus sylvatica "Purpurea").
You can just about make out some people at the base inspecting the autographs.

Although the Coole house no longer stands, one can still appreciate the surroundings that originally drew so many here.

Cobbled yard at Coole park, Gort, Co. Galway.
Leave your stilleto heels at home.


Beautiful lichen growth on cut stone pillars in Coole park.


There are two trails to follow. "The Family Trail" is an easy 1.75 km walk, taking you past the breeding deer pen, the site of the house and into the walled garden to see the Autograph Tree and other plantings.

Collection of large Yews (Taxus baccata)


The Deer at Coole nature reserve


Box hedging edging a path (Buxus sempervirens).


Dead tree within the walled garden, like a piece of sculpture.

The Coole Park 4.5 km "Seven Woods Trail" connects the different woods made famous in poetry by W.B. Yeats.
Depending on the season, you might see bluebells and violets, jays and treecreepers, red squirrels and stoats, butterflies and dragonflies, or swans and other wetland birds.


Red cedar (Thuja plicata) is to be seen at various points as you walk.


Wooded path at Coole park, Gort, Co. Galway.

"The trees are in their autumn beauty,
The woodland paths are dry,
Under the October twilight the water
mirrors a still sky;"

W.B. Yeats "Wild Swans at Coole"

Well, thats a beautiful park to visit in Galway.
Lets be hearing from you, tell all the Irish gardeners about a park or garden to visit in your area.

[frank]

Great post GPI, lots of history in that park. I suppose I should have known about all of that being from Galway and all I have always said that Galway, especially the city needs a lot more parks.

How is the security around the signature tree. I'd imagine that they would have to do something to deter vandals?

Look like you have a thing for lichens as well Ah no I agree though, they do look great.

[birdie]

I agree, they do need more parks in Galway.
Coole park is wonderful though.
It has a raw and wild charm.
I wonder do many tourists know it even exists?

[Tom]

The conifer covered walkway looks very romantic.
Must take the missus on a trip up to Galway some time.

[Bugs]

Great post GPI , I've been going to Galway for many years now , mostly out to Renvyle in Connamara . Your pictures of Coole park look great , next time I'm down that way I will definately give it a visit .
Did you know that Lichen are a great indicator of the air quality in an area , ie
the more you have the better the air .
Bugs