Coolclogher House Killarney: A Luxury Manor with a Story
Today, Coolclogher House, Killarney is a luxury manor rental, welcoming groups who want space, privacy and the charm of a historic home just outside Killarney. But long before it became a place for reunions, celebrations and shared escapes, it was already a house shaped by people, purpose and place.
If the walls of Coolclogher House could talk, they would tell stories of families, neighbours, industry, guests and generations who quietly shaped this corner of Killarney. This is not a distant history, but a human story, rooted in people and place.
In the 18th century, the house was known as South Hill, a simple name for a home that rose above the lands near the River Flesk. Life here was shaped by the river’s power, the richness of the land, and the care of the people who lived and worked around it. The house never stood apart; it was part of the rhythm of the land and connected to everything that made the area thrive. For much of the 18th and 19th centuries, Coolclogher House was part of the wider Herbert estate of Muckross, where it played its role alongside the grand Muckross House, helping to oversee land, tenants and enterprise across the estate. Learn more about Muckross House.
Just down what is now Mill Road, the River Flesk powered a mill that would leave a lasting mark on the town. The mill was owned and run by the Leahy family, who lived in Coolclogher House as tenants of the Herberts. What began as a flour mill became something remarkable. In the late 19th century, the mill was adapted to generate hydro-electric power, supplying electricity to Killarney at a time when electric light was still a novelty. Killarney was even said to have electricity before London, showing how forward-thinking this area was. Long before electricity became commonplace, homes and streets in Killarney were already glowing thanks to the river, the mill and the people who saw its potential. Coolclogher House sat nearby, part of this progressive pocket of the town where land, water and enterprise came together.
As the great estates faded and the 20th century brought change, Coolclogher adapted. In the 1920s, the house was acquired by the Hilliard family, who renamed it Coolclogher House, giving it the identity we know today. In the mid-20th century, under Jack and Ellen Smith, it became a guesthouse, welcoming visitors to Killarney in the early days of tourism. Guests arrived for fresh air, generous rooms and the calm of a home just outside the town, and they became part of its story, even for a short while. Hospitality has deep roots here.
Coolclogher House has never been frozen in time. It has been lived in, loved, worked around and carefully cared for, shaped by the people who passed through its rooms rather than preserved behind ropes. Today, it is lovingly restored and cared for by Mary and Maurice Harnett, who have approached the house with warmth, respect and a clear sense of what makes it special. Their restoration honours the scale, character and atmosphere of Coolclogher House while making it a welcoming place for all who stay. Learn more about staying at Coolclogher House.
Now in its latest chapter, Coolclogher House Killarney is a luxury manor rental specialising in group accommodation, offering families, friends and retreat groups the rare chance to stay together in a historic house with genuine roots in Killarney’s past. It is a home made for gathering, for shared meals, long conversations, celebrations and quiet moments, where history provides the backdrop and today’s guests continue the story, just as others have done for centuries.
