The 10-sq-km Curraghmore Estate has belonged to the family of Lord and Lady Waterford since the 12th century. Its lavish gardens incorporate the whimsical shell house, built by Catherine Countess of Tyrone in 1754, who arranged for local sea captains to bring her seashells from distant shores. There are 90-minute guided tours of the Georgian main house and shell house at 11am and 2pm. Curraghmore is 19km northwest of Waterford city, off the R680 near the pretty village of Portlaw.
Curraghmore Estate
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
27.55 MILES
The Rock of Cashel is one of Ireland's most spectacular historic sites: a prominent green hill, banded with limestone outcrops, rising from a grassy plain…
25.62 MILES
Ireland's second-largest medieval cathedral (after St Patrick's in Dublin) has a long and fascinating history. The first monastery was built here in the…
25.24 MILES
Rising above the River Nore, Kilkenny Castle is one of Ireland's most visited heritage sites. Stronghold of the powerful Butler family, it has a history…
24.81 MILES
Cahir's castle enjoys a river-island site with massive walls, towers and keep, mullioned windows, original fireplaces and a dungeon. Founded by Conor O…
17.39 MILES
This fortified Augustinian monastery is the best sort of ruin, where you can amble around whenever you like, with no tour guides, set hours or fees. Most…
28.41 MILES
The ruins of Ireland's oldest Christian settlement occupy a striking setting on a hill above Ardmore, strewn with gravestones both ancient and new. The…
10.83 MILES
Housed in a stunning modern structure that incorporates several medieval buildings and part of the city wall in its basement (all on display), this museum…
10.85 MILES
This large modern complex combines a retail shop and cafe with a factory offering a 90-minute tour that shows how world-famous Waterford crystal is…
Nearby attractions
1. Copper Coast Geopark Centre
10.29 MILES
The old church uphill from the Geological Garden in Bunmahon houses an exhibition about the history and geology of copper mining on the Copper Coast,…
10.51 MILES
Beach Tower, at the top of Jenkin's Lane, is a crumbling fragment of the old city wall.
10.62 MILES
In the middle of Waterford's waterfront stands an 1860s clock tower, a famous local landmark.
10.62 MILES
Inscribed on Unesco's World Heritage list in 2004, this 20km stretch of rugged coastline, centred on the village of Bunmahon, takes its name from the…
10.62 MILES
The sumptuous interior of the city's Roman Catholic cathedral has a carved-oak baroque pulpit, painted pillars with Corinthian capitals and 10 Waterford…
10.81 MILES
Christ Church Cathedral is Ireland's only neoclassical Georgian cathedral. Designed by local architect John Roberts, it was built on the site of an 11th…
10.82 MILES
The Bishop's Palace, a Georgian mansion dating from 1741, covers Waterford's history from 1700 to 1970 and displays a wide-ranging selection of city…