Sion Hill House & Gardens

TEMPORARILY CLOSED

This is an enthusiast’s garden with stories attached to everything from the plants George Kavanagh began collecting as a boy, to the house itself. Sion Hill (1746) is one of five houses built by the Pope family who made their fortune as wine merchants during the Napoleonic embargo. In present times, the Kavanagh family were devastated when their three acre garden in Waterford city was compulsorily purchased, and the house on the opposite hill became the focus of George’s dreams.

These were finally realised when George and Antoinette bought Sion Hill in 1995 and moved in, transplanting 2,000 plants from their previous garden. One of the first things they did was to plant 20,000 daffodils and over 400 species roses and - thanks to a map in the National Archives - rediscovered the original paths in the upper part of the garden, which lies in Kilkenny. They have been restoring and replanting ever since.

Tree ferns bought by George as a lad from Derreen for the grand sum of 2/6d are planted in tropical luxuriance around a hidden fountain pool, and new large leaved rhododendrons, cardiocrinums and tender shrubs are flourishing in the shelter of the woodland garden.

There is a walled area beside the house packed with George’s treasures including a camellia that flowers pink white and red. There are commemorative trees planted by the family of a victim of 9/11, and by Desmond Guinness and Gerry Adams among others. Among them is the smallest rhododendron in the world, with quarter inch leaves.

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Local Recommendations

Hospitality

• Granville Hotel
  (0.6km)SW
• Granary Cafe, The
  (0.6km)SW
• Bay Tree Bistro
  (0.6km)SW
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  (0.6km)SE
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  (0.8km)SE
• Momo
  (0.8km)SW
• Reg, The
  (0.8km)SE
• Harlequin Cafe & Winebar
  (0.9km)SW
• Tower Hotel Waterford
  (0.9km)SE
• Bodéga!
  (1.1km)SW
• Athenaeum House Hotel
  (1.1km)SE
• Tom Kearneys Butchers
  (1.1km)SW
• M&D Bakery
  (1.3km)SW
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Self Catering

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Farmers Markets

• Waterford - Co Waterford - Saturdays
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• Dunhill - County Waterford - Last Sunday each month
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• New Ross - County Wexford - Saturdays
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• Carrick on Suir - County Tipperary - Fridays
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• Stradbally Community - Co Waterford - 1st Saturday Each Month
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• Dungarvan - County Waterford - Thursdays
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• Clonmel Premier Organic - Co Tipperary - Fridays
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• Clonmel - County Tipperary - Saturdays
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• Kilkenny - Every Thursday
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• Wexford - County Wexford - Fridays
  (44.9km)NE
• Enniscorthy - County Wexford - Saturdays
  (45.2km)NE

Tourist Attractions

• Reginalds Tower
  (0.6km)NE
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  (20.0km)NE
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• Dungarvan Castle
  (39.7km)NE
• St Marys Church
  (40.4km)NE
• The Main Guard
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Golf Courses

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  (0.4km) NW
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  (3.8km) SE
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  (5.8km) SE
• Tramore Golf Club
  (12.9km) SW
• Mount Juliet Golf Club
  (29.6km) NW
• Gowran Park Golf Club
  (39.0km) NE
• West Waterford Golf Club
  (43.0km) SW
• Kilkenny Golf Club
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Gardens

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  (24.3km)NE
• Mount Juliet & Garden
  (29.6km)NW
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Nearby Towns/Areas

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• Kilmeaden
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