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Muckross House is situated close to the shores of Muckross Lake, amidst the beautiul scenery of Killarney National Park. The house is a focal point within the Park and is the ideal base from which to explore its terrain.

Muckross House was built for Henry Arthur Herbert and his wife, the watercolourist Mary Balfour Herbert. Originally it was intended to build a more ornate house than we see here today. The plans for a larger servants' wing, stable block, orangery and summer-house are believed to have been altered at Mary's request. Today the principal rooms are furnished in period style and portray the elegant lifestyle of the 19th century landowning class. While in the basement, one can imagine the busy bustle of the servants as they went about their daily chores.

Killarney National Park was formed principally from a donation of Muckross Estate, which was presented to the state in 1932 by Senator Arthur Rose Vincent and his parents-in-law Mr. and Mrs. William Bowers Bourn II, in memory of Senator Vincent's late wife, Maud. The park was substantially expanded by acquisition of land from the former Earl of Kenmare's estate.

The house, gardens and traditional farms are all open to the public with guided tours of the house's rooms

The park has since been substantially expanded and encompasses over 102.89 km2 (25,425 acres) of diverse ecology, including the Lakes of Killarney, Oak and Yew woodlands of international importance, and mountain peaks. It has Ireland's only native herd of Red Deer and the most extensive covering of native forest remaining in Ireland. The park is of high ecological value because of the quality, diversity, and extensiveness of many of its habitats and the wide variety of species that they accommodate, some of which are rare. The park was designated an UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve in 1981. The park is also known for its beautiful scenery

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