The gardens were the showpiece of the rare Irish Queen Anne style house, the home of the Acton family.

The Rhododendron walks were developed through a friendship with David Moore the curator of the National Botanic Garden's at Glasnevin.

[3] Further Kilmacurragh, whose acidic brown soil, low rainfall and mild winters, become the home of many specimens that were struggling or failing at Glasnevin.

These rare species include[4] The house was abandoned in the 1920s but was later run as Kilmacurragh Park Hotel by Charles Budina.

[8] During the summer months there are free guided tours by the team working to restore and replant the gardens.