page_title: Castlecomer
section_title: Castlecomer Discovery Park
hierarchical_section_title: Castlecomer / Economy / Tourism / Castlecomer Discovery Park
caption_attribution_description: English: View of the clock tower in the work yard of the Wandesforde Estate in Castlecomer, County Kilkenny. Also visible is the spire of St Mary's Church by the N78 road. Taken from the car park of the Castlecomer Discovery Centre. Oct 31st 2018.
context_page_description: Castlecomer is a town in the north of County Kilkenny, Ireland. It is positioned at the meeting of N78 and R694 roads about 16 km north of Kilkenny city. At the 2016 census of the Central Statistics Office, the town's population included 1,502 people.
  The town has been associated with the coal mining industry since the 17th century, and is part of a discrete area called the Castlecomer Plateau. It is bounded on the east by the River Barrow, the west by the River Nore and dissected in the centre by the River Dinnin.
  The name Castlecomer comes from the Irish Caislean an Chumai which means "the Castle at the confluence of the Waters", the "waters" referring to the rivers Deen, Brocagh and Cloghogue while the "castle" refers to the Norman castle built in 1171 on the mound opposite the gates to "Castlecomer Demesne".The town is located in the townland of the same name which is in the civil parish of the same name in the ancient barony of Fassadinin.
context_section_description: In June 2007, Castlecomer Discovery Park opened to the public. It is a non-profit community enterprise located in the grounds of the 18th century Wandesforde Estate. The enterprise was conceived to rejuvenate the town following the closure of the coal mines in 1969. Comprising 80 acres of woodland and lakes, the park initially included the 'Footprints in Coal' exhibition, a visitor centre and design craft studios. The stables and other buildings were restored and now house craft units and education facilities. The original walled garden is home to a small herd of fallow and sika deer and to a flock of Jacob sheep. In 2012 the "Tree Top Adventure Walk", "Leap of Faith" experience and a climbing wall were added. The Discovery Park operates a "Leave No Trace" policy.
caption: Wandesford Estate: yard wall, clock tower and spire of St Mary's
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