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castlecomer discovery park

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Castlecomer Discovery Park

The Estate Yard
Castlecomer
Co.Kilkenny
Phone: 056 4440707
Fax: 056 4440628
Castlecomer Discovery Park, occupies 30 hectares of mixed woodland in the south-east of Ireland just 20kms North of the medieval city of Kilkenny and 24kms from Carlow town.

Originally part of the Demesne of the 17th Century Castlecomer House owned by the Prior Wandesforde family, the Park boasts an array of woodland pathways centred around two Rainbow Trout Fishing Lakes connected by cascades; an array of wooden sculptures; picnic areas; a children’s adventure playground and a wonderful design craft yard.

The Castlecomer Plateau was a very important coal mining location from the 17th century until the closure of the mines in 1969, yielding important deposits of high quality anthracite. It was also the source of an important scientific discovery in 1865, when fossils of early amphibians were found by the miners. These aspects of the history and prehistory of the Castlecomer area are the focus of our interactive multimedia exhibition ‘Footprints in Coal’.

The visitor centre also plays host to a delightful giftshop and the superb Café Jarrow. Open all year round the Discovery Park is an ideal location for a family day out, or for bus tours, school groups or individuals.
Exhibition
Other Amenities

Castlecomer Discovery Park grounds consist of 30 hectares (80 acres) of mixed woodland on the banks of the River Deen which were once part of the old Wandesforde Estate.

There are 6km of themed woodland walks centred on our two rainbow trout angling lakes.
The three main walking routes are colour coded and signposted and there are also a number of interconnecting paths.

The woodlands also play host to a number of wooden sculptures.
These were created on-site in September 1999 by a number of Irish and International artists working with the natural materials of the area.

Twelve sculptures were created within the woodland, designed to blend in with and complement their surroundings and five of these now remain. They can be found scattered throughout the woodlands.
A stone sculpture located in the parkland beside the river is a replica of a culm grinder, which would have been used to grind coal dust to a fine powder.

Picnic tables are located in the parkland by the river's edge close to the car park and children's playground and there are also a number of more secluded picnic spots located along the woodland walks.
 

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welcome picture of castlecomer discovery park
welcome picture of castlecomer discovery park
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