Site Name:

National Grid Reference

H 798 973   Understanding grid references

Ordnance Survey Ireland Discovery Series:

35

Location

Dun a Ri is situated north of Kingscourt on the R179 to Carrickmacross.  Download location map

How do I get there?

Take the R179 from the centre of Kingscourt and travel approx 2 km to the Forest Park entrance.

Dun a Ri Trail(s)

• River Walk
• Village Walk
• Nature Trail
• Yellow Walk - Dun a Rí
• Download Map - All Trails

Dun a Ri Forest Park forms part of what was formerly the Cabra Estate which was  owned by the Pratt family. Legend stretches back to the time of Cuchullain the Gaelic warrior who rested in these woods while fighting the armies of Queen Maeve of Connaught. The O’ Reilly family owned the lands up until the end of the 16th century when they were acquired by Thomas Fleming who built Flemings Castle . The ruins of the castle can still be seen in the park. The estate was acquired by the Pratt family and they built the town of Kingscourt in the years 1760-1770.The lands were acquired by the Irish Forest Service in 1959 and  were developed into a forest park.

There is a great diversity of wildlife to be found at Dun a Ri.   In the Cabra river are found otters, mink, trout and even some salmon, in season.    The park is home to a large variety of insect and invertebrate life which provide food for the resident pipistrelle and long-eared bats.  In the forest can be found fox, badger, stoat, red and grey squirrel, hedgehog, rabbit, rat and mice.  Birdlife is varied and includes species associated with both woodland and water.  The duck pond and lake have several visitors as well as resident populations of ducks and moorhens.  A wide variety of birds including warblers, finches, tits, jays and pigeons inhabit the woods and open areas.

The flora is varied and in many areas spectacular.  The tree storey is dominated by oak and ash but includes many other species often with an under storey of hazel, holly and  rhododendron.   The ground is, in season, carpeted with a rich layer of plants including snowdrops, bluebells, wood anemone, woodrush, foxgloves, wood sorrel and a wide range of ferns.

Walking is a great way to experience the delights of Dun a Ri while also benefiting both physical and mental health.  Set your pace to suit your enjoyment and you will quickly feel fitter and better.

There are four signposted walks in Dunari Forest Park.

Nature Trail
Village Walk
River Walk
Access for all Trail

Download Dun a Ri Forest Park Nature Trail (PDF 800KB)

Download Dun a Ri Forest Park Brochure (PDF 6MB)

Contact Info