Garinish Island (County Kerry) facts for kids
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Native name:
Garinis
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 Garinish Island
Location in island of Ireland
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| Geography | |
| Location | Kenmare River |
| Coordinates | 51°48′17″N 09°53′57″W / 51.80472°N 9.89917°W |
| Area | 57 acres (23 ha) |
| Administration | |
| Province | Munster |
| County | Kerry |
Garinish (called Garinis in Irish, meaning 'The near island') is a small, privately owned island. It lies off the coast of the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry, Ireland. This beautiful island is famous for its amazing gardens.
Contents
The Story of Garinish Island
Early Owners and Garden Creation
In 1855, a man named Edwin Wyndham-Quin, who was the 3rd Earl of Dunraven, bought Garinish Island. He wanted it as a special place for holidays. He hired an architect named James Franklin Fuller and a builder, Denis William Murphy. Together, they started to create a house, which they called "Garinish Lodge," and a garden on the island.
Developing the Gardens
After Edwin, his son, Windham Wyndham-Quin (the 4th Earl of Dunraven), took over. Starting in 1900, he worked hard to make the gardens even better. He turned them into a special "subtropical wild garden." This means it had many plants that usually grow in warmer, humid places. These beautiful gardens are still here today for everyone to enjoy.
During the Irish Civil War (1922–1923), the "Garinish Lodge" house was unfortunately burned down in September 1922. However, it was later rebuilt. When Lord Dunraven passed away in 1926, he left Garinish Island to his only surviving child, Lady Aileen May Wyndham-Quin.
Restoring the Island's Beauty
Around 1950, Mr. Reginald Browne and his wife bought the island. They worked to restore the house and the garden, which had been neglected for many years. Their sons continued this important work, adding more plants and trees to keep the island beautiful.
Since the 1990s, the island has been owned by Jacqui (Jacob) Eli Safra. He is an investor from Switzerland. His family, the Safra family, is well-known in banking.
Exploring the Gardens
Garinish Island is famous for its wonderful garden. It is especially known for its tree ferns. You can also see many Cordyline australis plants, also known as cabbage palms, growing well here. These tall plants often line the pathways, making the garden feel like a tropical paradise.
