The history of the Park runs deep within the family tree, first starting with Eugene Tangney who was employed as Head Game Keeper in the Muckross Estate.
At the time, Muckross House & Estate was purchased for £50,000 by William Bowers Bourn II family, an American multi-millionaire whose wealth source came from ownership of the Empire Gold Mine, Grass Valley, California as well as ownership of the Spring Valley Water Company which controlled the water supply to the city of San Francisco. He purchased it as a wedding gift for his daughter and her husband, Maud Bourn & Vincent Arthur.
An expert Fisherman & Hunter, Eugene was also given the job of driving the estate’s Horse and Carriage for its many guests. To this day, Eugene’s portrait hangs in Muckross House which is visited by thousands of visitors to Killarney each year.
