The Wishing Well

Little is known of the history of the well, but it has been known and visited for many centuries. In common with most of the noted wells of Ireland it was probably a Holy Well. The old Irish name was Tobar na Splinne (the well of the cliff or ledge).

Cromwell's Bridge

This high arched bridge built during the Norman invasion in the 12th century. There is a strong local belief that the ubiquitous Cromwell crossed over this bridge on his way to attack the Castle of the O'Reilly at Muff a few miles away. The story goes that the keystone of both Muff and Fleming's Castles were marked by an informer and that the walls were then easily breached by Cromwell's guns.

Cabra Cottage

This was originally the residence of the Pratt family until they moved to Cabra Castle (now a hotel) in 1814. It was subsequently retained as a shooting lodge, and contained a beautiful ballroom. It was destroyed in an accidental fire in 1955. Part of the ruin was then converted into a shelter.

Cabra Village

This vanished village was situated between Cromwell's Bridge and Cabra Cottage. Before 1760 there was a thriving community of about thirty houses centred around flax and corn mills at Cabra Cottage. With the building of the town of Kingscourt the village was gradually demolished to provide building materials and little now remains.

Ice House

For a long time, it has been known that ice remains frozen if it is kept cool and dry. This principle was put to good use in Southern Europe in the 16th century and later by the widespread building of ice houses on large estates.

Essentially an ice house was a stone-lined pit well shaded from direct sunlight. They were commonly built on small hills which allowed water from melted ice to rapidly drain away. The Dún a Rí ice house was used by the inhabitants of Cabra Cottage.

In winter one of the duties of the estate workers was to carry ice from the lake and to pack it into the ice house. Such stored ice would keep well into the summer months when it was of use to the household.

Fleming's Castle

This is reputedly the ruin of a castle built in 1607 by Gerald Fleming at a strategic point above the deep gorge. It is on record that an earlier castle at Cabra was erected by Hugh de Lacy, the great Norman builder of castles.

Sarah's Well

This was formerly used by the Pratt family as a source of fresh water. Although there was a water supply laid on to the family residence, drinking water was always drawn from Sarah's Well which was noted for its coldness and purity.

Old Military Barracks

This is now an old ruin beside the path between the car park and Fleming's Castle. It was built by the Pratt family and used by Colonel Joseph Pratt as a barracks around 1800, although some believe it was originally built as a stable and was later occupied by British troops.