Hidden in the hills of Ireland’s most southerly county is an extraordinary place: a living sculpture carved from emerald earth where you can escape the rat race.
This utopia where the clouds meet the grass is known as the Sky Garden, a remarkable installation by Californian artist James Turrell on the Liss Ard Estate near Skibbereen in West Cork.
Inspired by Celtic, Egyptian and Mayan designs, the immersive artwork sits in a crater with a granite plinth at its centre, where visitors are invited to lie and gaze up at the sky. It’s big enough for two; the idea is to lie feet to feet, with your heads resting on raised slabs.
This is a place away from the chaos, where the noise of modernity is drowned out by the sound of silence. And best of all, it’s only £12 entry.
Described as one of Ireland’s hidden gems, the garden can be accessed through a 32-metre long ‘womb-like’ passage, and stairs that lead to the oval-shaped basin.
It sits on the site of an ancient ring fort, small, circular settlements found across northern Europe that date back to the Bronze Age.
Turrell, who is known for designs that heighten viewers’ perception of light and sky, was commissioned by the then-owner of Liss Ard Estate, German art dealer Veith Turske.
How to get to Ireland’s ‘hidden gem’ sky garden
Liss Ard Estate is a 90-minute drive from Cork City, and about the same distance from Cork airport.
You’ll need a car, because public transport in this part of Ireland leaves a lot to be desired; the alternative journey takes almost three and a half hours, and involves two buses and a very long walk.
The Sky Garden can only be booked by calling the Estate on +353 028 40000. Tickets are €15 (£12) per person, and under 12s go free.
Walk-in visitors are welcome between 11am and 3pm daily.
Private tours of the grounds and Sky Garden leave reception at 11am every Friday, and can be booked for €20 per person.
After completing the garden in 1992, Turrell said: ‘The most important thing is that inside turns into outside and the other way around, in the sense that relationships between the Irish landscape and the Irish sky changes.’
Today, more than 30 years after it opened, his vision is going viral, with aerial-view videos of the garden sparking fascination on Instagram and TikTok.
Ireland’s creative scene has enjoyed a full-throated renaissance in recent years, with artists, authors and actors punching above their weight on the international stage.
From Lankum to Sally Rooney and the meteoric rise of Kneecap, Ireland’s outsized cultural influence is attracting a growing number of tourists to the Emerald Isle. The Republic welcomed 6.2 million overseas visitors in 2024, up 7% on the year before.
And while Turrell’s garden may be off the main tourist track, it’s unlikely to stay that way for long.
People are enthralled by the mysticism of his work, with many on Instagram saying they’ve added it to their travel list for 2025.
7 other things to do in Cork
No visit to Ireland is complete without a jaunt around the ‘Rebel County’.
The Republic’s second city gives Dublin a run for its money when it comes to food, music and the arts. As a Dubliner, Metro’s Alice Murphy feels entitled to say that.
This is her local’s guide to everything you shouldn’t miss in Cork:
- Enjoy a pint and a trad session at Sin é (Irish for ‘that’s it’), one of Cork’s best pubs. The Hi-B is also a good perch for a Guinness.
- Wander around the English Market, one of the oldest in Europe, trading since 1788.
- Learn about local history at Cork City Gaol.
- Walk from the city centre to Blackrock Castle (it’s small but charming, and has a nice restaurant).
- Dine at Baba’de, a sumptuous Turkish restaurant that serves dishes made with Irish ingredients.
- Have a toasted sandwich at Bushe’s Bar, a nautical-themed cottage pub with maps and ship wheels aplenty.
- Go kayaking on Lough Hyne and take in spectacular views.
