First you realize that it is a long drive to County Donegal once you get to Dublin or Shannon... even if you fly into Belfast... but Donegal should be a "must" on everyone's list when they go to the Republic of Ireland, and I think one should miss that wonderful adventure. The "rugged landscape" is fascinating throughout the area, but what is wonderfully intriguing is to drive through that countryside for about sixty miles north of the City of Donegal Glenveagh National Park. Getting there is real part of the fun" once you have mastered the narrow highways of Ireland. You go north out of Donegal--after hopefully you have visited the Board Failte (Tourist Board) office on the highway going into town... (where they can change your American money if you need some changed). The folks there can direct you to many of the rugged sights of the Republic of Ireland's most northwest county. They can also show you the way to Glenveagh-- a sight you just cannot miss! You drive across a high road bounded on both sides by peat bogs after you leave the valley road from Letterkenny- and that's the best way to get there. All of a sudden there is the sign, pointing to the left...Glenveah National Park...and another road through more peat bogs. Then, all of a sudden some trees... and then a parking lot with a sign pointing to the "park headquarters." As in all our own National Parks, there is a very nice slide presentation, as well as a museum showing the history and the flora and the fauna of the area. But there is much more to see... and when you buy your ticket (about five American dollars when I was there), you are directed down a small hill to the bus turnaround. You take a bus to Glenveagh Castle and Gardens and the driver/guide is a wealth of information, as well as a very nice person who will stop for you to take pictures on the lake on which the castle is built and whatever else you want to see before you reach your ultimate destination. Glenveagh Castle, like most Irish castles, has a famous or would you say infamous?--history. According to one report, "Glenveagh is a National Park today largely because of its remoteness down through the ages. Hidden away behind the Derryveagh and Glendowan Mountains, surrounded by great expanses of trackless bog, there was no, incentive for men to go there except on occasional hunting trips." The castle itself was built in 1867 by John Adair and the wealthy American widow, Cornelia Ritchie. The castle was designed by John Townsend Trench, one of the foremost architects of the day, who was a cousin of John Adair. After the completion of the castle, the Adairs found that they were spending more and more time in the United States where John Adair had developed business interests, among [hem a two-thirds interest in one of the largest ranches in Texas --still know as "JA Ranch." Cornelia loved Glenveagh, and after her husband died, she returned there to stay until the beginning of World War I when she returned to America. Another American, Henry P. Mcllhenny of Philadelphia, whose fame as Chairman of the Philadelphia Museum art is well documented, invested intense interest into the restoration of the castle from 1937 until 1983. Every year he would spend several months there tending the restoration of the castle and the gardens. Aiding in the work of the gardens were Jim Russell and Lanning Roper (no one knows whether they were actually Landscape Architects, as their work would reflect.) All kinds of plants abound within the gardens. There are a number of informal gardens hundreds of rhododendrons?EUR??,,????'??+ they grow beautifully in the acid, peaty soil- and bloom primarily in the late spring and early summer, but there were few of them in bloom when 1 was there in September. During the other months, care was taken in planning the gardens to make sure there were blooming trees during the entire season. The very formal elements of the garden just behind the castle feature urns, sculpture and statues from Bali. When the castle was occupied, flowers were planted for cut flowers in the house, and parts of the garden were used for vegetables--that's the way it is today. The "walled garden" has a double herbaceous border, and there is a fascinating, thatch-roofed cottage opening onto the garden that is no longer occupied, but is so typical of Ireland... There are paths to more than ten separate garden areas in the park surrounding the castle, and a great book which is given you at the headquarters pointing out how to reach each of them and what they contain. (Unfortunately, I got there late and didn't get to see them all, but I plan to go back there when I hopefully to Ireland this year and spend a great deal more time). The gardens at Glenveagh Castle in Glenveagh National Park are well worth going to northwest Ireland to see, but while you're there, look over the entire region. From the westernmost point to Glencolumbkille- where they say "next stop New York"- to Malin Head on the north- to Ballyshannon on the south-- County Donegal is one of the most interesting-- and least "touristed" parts of The Republic of Ireland. LASN FLOWERS LINE THE WALKWAYS LEADING TO THE CONSERVATORY AND GLENVEAGH CASTLE IN IRELAND(OPPOSITE). THE FORMER "CARETAKER'S HOUSE" OPENS OUT ONTO THE WALLED, FORMAL GARDEN. AN ITALIAN GARDEN CONSTITUTES THE TERMINUS OF GLENVEAGH'S FORMAL WALLED GARDENS. VISITORS MAY STROLL ALONG THE BEACH ON LOCK VEAGH THAT LEADS TO THE MAJESTIC GLENVEAGH CASTLE. A "CLOSE UP" VIEW OF THE FLOWERS IN THE FORMAL GARDEN. All photos by Kay Tiller.