Kildare RTA Autumnal Walk in Emo Court
Stephanie Bergin
The Kildare RTA walking group travelled down to their neighbouring County Laois to enjoy the extensive parklands of Emo Court ; a fine example of a neo-classical mansion ,nestled in the shadow of the Slieve Bloom mountains. Maura O’ Dwyer kindly offered to lead the walk and her local knowledge greatly added to the enjoyment of the walking trip.
Emo Court was initially commissioned by John Dawson , 1st Earl of Portarlington in 1790 but it wasn’t completed until 1870, a considerable eighty years later. James Gandon designed this splendid mansion , the rotunda being a distinctive feature as is also featured in The Customs House in Dublin ; a Gandon design also.
We commenced the walk , wrapped up on this breezy day , and trekked down the leafy lanes. Autumn was in full dress , displaying reddish brown, golden and yellow leaves on the trees and underfoot. These beautiful gardens and parklands were first laid out in the 18th century and their extensive lawns, statuary and varied trees have adorned Emo Court for many years , enjoyed by many people who have graced the lawns and woodlands down through the generations. We spent time admiring the expansive lake which forms a centrepiece of these beautifully manicured gardens before heading off through the fields to explore the leafy paths . We all enjoyed the banter and ‘craic’ as we were treated to an autumnal display. The beech trees , which lined the avenue were very impressive. With an array of trees; a variety of species, which are not indigenous, the Arboretum area extends over 20 acres and includes the Bhuton Pine, the Tulip Tree, the Handkerchief Tree, the Walnut Tree and the Spanish Chestnut .It also features , a selection of cedars including the Blue Atlas cedar and the cedar of Lebanon. The Statue of Bacchus bade us farewell as we left the grand mansion behind us as we set out on the 10 km trek around the expansive grounds.
Having enjoyed a brisk walk, we arrived back at Emo Court, standing majestically with its distinctive Rotunda peering out at the rear of the house, and inviting us to enjoy a delicious lunch in the restaurant. We chatted and shared our impressions of Emo Court and its environs. A great day was had by all as we all savoured the natural beauty of the place and its historical value as a place of interest in Ireland. It was agreed by all that it was a superb choice of walk , combining history, nature and botany , complemented by Maura’s botanical interjections as she led us on this memorable walking tour. An active walking schedule over the last few months and many more exciting trips to enjoy in the future,