irish national stud and japanese gardens

At the end of the breeding season the stallions will spend all day in the serenity of the paddocks.
The Tully Walk is lined with the mares' paddocks. Mid-Spring to Mid-Autumn both mares and foals can be seen running freely in the lucious green paddocks.
Visitor Centre
The new visitor centre, which is part of the ongoing commitment to visitor entertainment, has been developed to include a full Restaurant and Craft Shop. An other aspect of the centre is the children's 'lego' area, for younger visitor entertainment.
The Japanese Gardens
The symbolism of life the gardens portray traces the journey of a soul from Oblivion to Eternity. The human experiences of the soul's embodiement as it journeys through the paths of life are displayed in the symbolic surrounds of each of the twenty stages throughout the garden. Each stage absorbs the mood and atmosphere of its representation.
On descending the 'Hill of Learning' to the level of his fellow students he resists the temptation of the easy path and follows the more challenging rugged path of adventure which leads step by step through his adolescent years to the 'Parting of the Ways'
Descending from the summit of the 'Hill of Ambition' the couple pause by the waterfall to pray to their god who makes the way easier and the bridge across the water smooth. Upon crossing, they reach the 'Tea House' and the miniature Japanese Village.
On reaching the 'Well of Wisdom' the couple pause to wish for enlightment before crossing the "Red Bridge of Life' which leads them into the 'Garden of Peace and Contentment' beyond.
The Irish National Stud
The farm at Tully, Kildare, which is today the home of the Irish National Stud, was the brainchild of Colonel William Hall-Walker, a Scotsman in 1900. He decided, much against the wishes of his father, to breed thoroughbred horses at Tully.
Hall-Walker's views on breeding have been described as inspired, preposterous and eccentric. The ten stallion boxes with their distinctive lantern roofs stand as proof of his highly successful, extraordinary policies on breeding and management. He believed that the stars dictated the destiny of all living creatures. He therefore considered it very important that the moon and stars should exercise their maximum influence on their subjects and thus skylights were incorporated into the roofs of all stabling he built.

Location

Situated forty minutes from Dublin in the grounds of the Irish National Stud, the Gardens have been carefully preserved as one of the gems of Ireland's heritage. Because of the complexity and sophisticated depths of Japanese gardening it is prehaps understandable why it flourishes today as one of Ireland's most loved gardens.
Driving: All southbound traffic via Dublin on the N7 via the Naas dual carriageway to Kildare town (40 minutes). All northbound traffic on the N7 passing through Monasterevin to Kildare town.
Rail:
Frequent daily services on all main routes alighting at Kildare Railway Station.