Coole Park

Coole Park Visitor Centre & Gardens 🌳

The heritage town of Gort can be found in south County Galway, about 37km south of Galway city on the N18. Just 4km outside the town of Gort, you’ll find beautiful Coole Park, formerly the estate of Lady Gregory but now a 1,000 acre nature reserve.

History of Coole Park

Coole Park estate was once the home of Lady Augusta Gregory who was pivotal to the Irish literary revival and was co-founder of the Abbey Theatre. Coole House was a focal point for many meetings about Irish literature which were attended by George Bernard Shaw, J.M. Synge, Sean O Casey and William Butler Yeats. Coole Park was often referred to in stories and poems eg. W.B Yeats was so inspired by the beauty and tranquility here that he wrote a poem called “The Wild Swans at Coole”.

In 1927 the house and estate were sold to the state and the house was demolished, but today, visitors can still see the beauty of the estate, the woods, the lakes, the nature trails, the walled garden and lots more. Make sure you take a close look at the large Copper Beech tree in the walled garden, also known as the ‘Autograph Tree’ as it bears the initial of Yeats, Shaw, Synge, Douglas Hyde and of course, Lady Gregory’s initials. Although the initials have become faint over the years, you should still be able to see the etchings with the help of the forest guide book. Coole Park is one of the main stops on the Lady Gregory Yeats Heritage Trail.

Nature Reserve Flora and fauna 🌿

The most unique features of Coole Park are the turloughs (seasonal lakes or also called disappearing lakes) which are said to be the best examples of turloughs in the world. The park is situated on a low lying karst area of land and due to this the park has been designated a Special Area of Conservation.

There are miles of waymarked forest trails around Coole Park and trail maps can be picked up at the centre to help you navigate along wooded paths and lake trails. As you stroll around Coole Park you’ll see different types of animals and mammals in their natural environments. You’ll see a small herd of Irish red deer in an fenced off area to the side of the visitor centre. Coole Park is also an important sanctuary for birds especially winter waterfowl.

Park Facilities

At Coole Park you’ll also find a very informative and educational Visitor’s Centre, which is well worth a visit. Here you can see audio-visual presentations about Lady Gregory herself and you’ll also see some exhibitions telling the story and history of Coole Park.

There are extensive spaces for car and coach parking, a tearooms which is open from spring to autumn, wheelchair access for users to the visitor centre and a walled garden where the famous autograph tree stands proudly.

Coole Park Tearooms ☕🍰

Coole Park Tearooms offer local, seasonal dishes and freshly brewed coffee. Located by the visitor center, they provide a peaceful retreat near the main car park. Enjoy vegetarian, fish, and meat options, along with delightful home baking, in a historic setting next to the original stables.

Opening times

The park is open all year round and there is free admission to the grounds, so it’s a great day out for the family. The front gate opening times for car access are as follows:

Summer: 08.00am to 7.30pm (during Daylight Savings Time)

Winter: 08.00am to 6.00pm

Coole Park: what to expect

Contact

📍 Gort, Co. Galway, H91 HF5X
📞 091 631804
📧 [email protected]

For latest updates about the park and opening times see the official Coole Park website.

Coole Park