Muckross Garden Restaurant — Restaurant in Killarney Municipal District

By 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish.

While I am so appreciative and impressed by the fact that the national Park only supplies reusable coffee cups (fantastic!!!), I was disappointed to see the sale of so much plastic bottled water and soda on the premises.

It feels like a missed opportunity to better connect your visitors to not just the greater health of the park, but our environment at large.

Over 95% of the plastic that we consume globally does not actually get recycled, but rather ends up in landfills, incinerators, or in our oceans. Over time, it breaks down into microplastics that contain chemical chemicals which leach into our ecosystems.

To me, it seems like a no-brainer to stop the sale of plastic bottled water. There is simply no need to do so. And there is a great cognitive dissonance that comes with serving so much of it within the bounds of the national park.

There are so many other, more sustainable options when it comes to the sale of water. First and foremost, it would be great to have a water bottle refill station on the premises. I had to ask one of the staff there to fill my bottles behind the counter.

You could consider aluminum canned water, of which there are many brands and varieties now. You could also consider canned soda, rather than plastic bottled soda.

As the plastic pollution crisis grows, it is up to shops and organizations, big and small, to help customers make empowered decisions to do better by our environment. We cannot afford to wait, and our national parks above all other spaces should be leading the way.

Thank you for considering. As I mentioned, I am so impressed by the reusable, returnable cup system you have for coffees. Why not do the same with your...

Really disappoint. We were looking forward to a nice morning coffee and scone. The temperature inside was way too hot. It was uncomfortable. We waited for a seat outside and no sooner did we sit down when we were met with a small flock of 8-10 crows swooping down onto tables and literally stealing peoples food. In most cases they were landing on tables that people had just left, but in some cases they would land on your table and take what they could. The worst part? The staff didn’t seem to care! I eventually mentioned it to them and two people, in fairness, did come out and start clearly the tables quicker, but it shouldn’t have been allowed escalate to that stage. It was clearly ridiculous.

The solution is so easy too. Ask/require customers to clear their tables when done. McDonalds expect this from customers and it’s totally reasonable. Make it clear that that’s the expectation with an area to leave trays and rubbish. That way, the birds will have less reason to hang around. And ensure the inside temperature is more acceptable for people coming from outside. Get a few thermostats.

Management really needs to do something. If they sorted this much out it would be 3 or 4 stars from me.

Apart from that, the vibes are cheap and cheerful. Not boutique. I’ve no issue with this personally, but it doesn’t really fit the surroundings. I would have expected more of an Avoca vibe.

The grounds are...

I wish I had taken more photos here as the food options were plentiful, beautifully prepared and presented and very tasty. The desserts were over-the-top gorgeous and the staff was super friendly and helpful. The prices were fair with many options for any appetite and budget. The seating options were varied, from a sunny atrium to outdoor tables, all very clean and comfortable. It’s easy to grab a bite to go, or linger with friends while you enjoy your meal. Cafeteria style done well. Gift shop to enjoy after eating....