Duckett's Grove

At last an opportunity to break free of the city and head out of the county.  A morning trip to Duckett's Grove was a welcome change and set up the longing to get out and about more.  The Duckett Family lived on the site from the mid-18th century with a couple of re-designs and expansions to the Georgian Country House.  A fire in 1933 destroyed the interior of the house, but it is still an imposing structure with its stunning turrets and tall chimneys.  The walled gardens are well maintained by Carlow County Council and are open free of charge to the public.  The courtyard in non-covid times has a coffee shop and some craft studios.  

The ruins attracts many a photographer as depending on weather conditions, some dramatic photos can be captured.  The plants in the walled gardens provide plenty of bees, butterflies and other insects for those interested in close-up or macro photography.  The video below, featuring photos and short video snippets taken on the 6th of June, focuses on the walled gardens but will provide you with an insight into what can be captured at Duckett's Grove.  I was delighted to get a photo of a flying swallow, something I have never been able to achieve in the past as they are so fast.  You will see the photo at the end of the video, and while it is 'soft' and shot in the distance, I am happy to include it as it was a 'record' shot - a first for me.