Hillsborough Castle & Gardens launches heritage partnership with Kylemore Abbey

Hillsborough Castle & Gardens and Kylemore Abbey today announced a new all island partnership designed to deepen co-operation and promote knowledge sharing between two of Ireland’s most significant historic estates.

The partnership will focus on a range of key areas including heritage and conservation; biodiversity and sustainability; and tourist destination management. Through this collaboration, both charitable organisations aim to enhance the preservation of their cultural landscapes, strengthen environmental stewardship, and broaden public engagement with the island’s rich heritage.

Caroline Walker, Head of Hillsborough Castle & Gardens added: "By working and learning together, we can amplify our collective social impact—protecting biodiversity, enriching cultural understanding, and ensuring that our historic landscapes continue to thrive. This collaboration strengthens not only our organisations, but the wider all island heritage community."

Welcoming the announcement, Conor Coyne, CEO, Kylemore Abbey said: " Kylemore Abbey and Hillsborough Castle share a deep commitment to heritage, learning, and environmental stewardship, and we are delighted to work together in advancing these values."

The partnership will initially focus on:

• Knowledge Sharing: Joint research projects, staff exchanges, and learning programmes designed to share best practices in estate management, horticulture, historical interpretation, and visitor experience.
• Biodiversity and Environmental Sustainability: Working together to protect native species, address invasive species, promote sustainable gardening, and support climate‑resilient landscapes across both sites. Initiatives will include seed‑banking collaborations, pollinator‑friendly planting programmes, and ecological monitoring.
• Cultural and Heritage Conservation: Combined approaches to preserving historic buildings, gardens, and cultural collections, ensuring that both estates remain vibrant centres of heritage for future generations on the island of Ireland.
• Community and Educational Outreach: Development of all‑island events, exhibitions, educational programmes, and dialogues aimed at strengthening understanding of shared history and fostering community connections.

This new partnership reflects a growing momentum and enthusiasm for cross‑border co-operation in areas including heritage and environmental sustainability. By combining their expertise and resources, Kylemore Abbey and Hillsborough Castle aim to create a working model for cultural, ecological, and educational collaboration on the island of Ireland.