Club Outing – Emo Court and Heywood Gardens

Just an hour from Dublin in the shadow of the Slieve Blooms, Emo Court is a stunning estate rich in history and natural beauty. Enjoy the mile-long Wellingtonia Avenue, flanked by giant Sequoia trees planted in 1853, wander among the elegant yews and statuary of the formal lawns, or take in the Lakeside Loop. Keep an eye out for Irish red squirrels, which are native to the estate, and rare birds including buzzards and egrets. Once the largest country estate in Ireland, Emo Court was commissioned and built by the earls of Portarlington and designed by the eminent architect James Gandon. Emo has been the home of distinguished Jesuit photographer Fr. Frank Browne and of author Benedict Kiely. The most recent resident of the house was Major Cholmeley Dering Cholmeley-Harrison, who fell in love with Emo Court on a visit to Ireland and dedicated his life to restoring the estate to its former glory. In 1994, President Mary Robinson officially received Emo Court & Parklands from Major Cholmeley-Harrison on behalf of the nation.

Heywood House Gardens, generally Heywood Gardens, form the grounds of a now-vanished house in County Laois, Ireland. The estate was developed in the late 18th century by Michael Frederick Trench, a politician, landowner and architect.

We will meet in the Emo Court car park at 9.45 (https://goo.gl/maps/4FBTkFrk4c5HQUW28)

For Emo Court on Google Maps there is a new Car Park shown in a nearby field. We will stick with the original plan to meet at the original car park area near the toilets.

For more details contact outings@offshoot.ie.

SAFETY ON OFFSHOOT OUTINGS AND EVENTS

It’s easy to become distracted when taking photographs. Use common sense, take responsibility for your own safety and then go shoot and have fun.