Stay at Sillahertane House!
Follow the link for Sillahertane House and find out how you can visit and stay at Sillahertane Estate. We invite you to read the Testimonials written by our guests. You will be able to view Photographs from inside and outside the house, as well as find out what staying on the estate can offer you. You can email Amanda at brownajb@yahoo.com for more information or to make a booking.

Hunting & Fishing:
The estate has a well-established population of Sika Deer, which we are culling in a managed and controlled manner. Red Deer have also been sighted on the property. The deer along with the Salmon/Trout fishing on the Roughty and Slaheny rivers are important assets to the estate. For more

Property Statistics:
With an area of around 572 ha Sillahertane Estate is a large property by Irish standards. The estate varies in elevation from 197 to 472 meters, most of which is either used for forestry or upland sheep grazing. The estate is situated in the Glanee valley, County Kerry, which meets the county of Cork to the East. The estate is typically exposed to weather from the Atlantic, which brings mild, but wet conditions.

Forestry:
An area of around 200 ha was planted with Sitka Spruce in 1992 and this plantation has now closed canopy and provides good habitat for a variety of flora and fauna. The plantation has a number of unplanted areas, which have increased the landscape quality. Further areas of forestry include around 15 ha of mature Scots Pine, 43 ha of mixed semi native woodland as well as 2.4 ha of young Sessile Oak. For more

Rhododendron problem:
Over an area of at least 40 ha we have a severe problem with Rhododendron ponticum which, although very attractive in May and June when in flower, is destroying native woodland along with mature woods of Scots Pine planted at the turn of the 19th century. We have made an application to the Forest Service under the Native Woodland Scheme, in order to receive funding to eradicate this bush, which can grow to 3 m and make access impossible. We have already been given approval for grants by the Forest Service to eradicate small areas of Rhododendron and then plant. This has been a good success, but we need to continue cutting back and spraying the Rhododendron with Round Up, although this is something we take great care in.

1. Maintaining and improving the hydro turbine scheme
2. Finalising a planning application for a wind farm
3. Implementing a deer management plan for the 2005/2006 season
4. Gaining full approval for the Native Woodland scheme

As in the case of upland farming in Ireland generally we are not capable of earning sufficient income from farming alone and it is our objective to responsibly develop all the resources of Sillahertane. Only by doing this can we control deer numbers, which left unchecked would destroy any natural regeneration of native tree species. Also we must act against the Rhododendron, which has already taken over most of the old woodlands and will continue to invade open ground making afforestation more difficult.