Malahide Castle, Malahide, Ireland

Malahide Castle (Irish: Caisleán Mhullach Íde), parts of which date to the 12th century, lies, with over 260 acres (1.1 km2) of remaining estate parkland (the Malahide Demesne Regional Park), close to the village of Malahide, nine miles (14 km) north of Dublin in Ireland.

The estate began in 1185, when Richard Talbot, a knight who accompanied Henry II to Ireland in 1174, was granted the 'lands and harbour of Malahide'. The oldest parts of the castle date back to the 12th century and it was home to the Talbot family for 791 years, from 1185 until 1976, the only exception being the period from 1649–60, when Oliver Cromwell granted it to Miles Corbet after the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland; Corbet was hanged following the demise of Cromwell, and the castle was restored to the Talbots. The building was notably enlarged in the reign of Edward IV, and the towers added in 1765.

The estate survived such losses as the Battle of the Boyne, when fourteen members of the owner"s family sat down to breakfast in the Great Hall, and all were dead by evening, and the Penal Laws, even though the family remained Roman Catholic until 1774.

In the 1920s the private papers of James Boswell were discovered in the castle, and sold to American collector Ralph H. Isham by Boswell"s great-great-grandson Lord Talbot de Malahide.

Malahide Castle and Demesne was eventually inherited by the 7th Baron Talbot and on his death in 1973, passed to his sister, Rose. In 1975, Rose sold the castle to the Irish State, partly to fund inheritance taxes. Many of the contents, notably furnishings, of the castle had been sold in advance leading to considerable public controversy, but private and governmental parties were able to retrieve some. Rose Talbot, one of the last surviving members of the Talbot family died at Malahide House, Tasmania in 2009. Her closest relatives, who married into the German surname Dietsch, travelled to Canada and the United States of America. Members of the Dietsch family still live in the USA and Canada today.

Address

Dublin Road , Malahide, Ireland

See all sites in Malahide

Details

Founded: 1185
Category: Castles and fortifications in Ireland

More Information

www.sezamki.eu
www.malahidecastleandgardens.ie
en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.6/5 (based on Google user reviews)

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User Reviews

Anna (3 months ago)
Beautiful castle... Got there after hours but still so much to see. Walked around and enjoyed the views

Peter Stead (3 months ago)
This was one of our favourite places to visit. Beautiful castle and gardens and great place to eat and do some shopping if you want. Our Irish cousin brought us here. Lovely time ?

Sarah Cheng (4 months ago)
The castle itself was only ok and my 8 year old was super bored. We’ve been to other castles that were much better. However the fairy trail, walled garden and butterfly house were spectacular! The interactive worksheet they give made it extra fun and I’d recommend adults ask for a sheet even if you don’t have kids in your group. The butterfly house was also super fun and not something you can do everywhere. We made a day of it arriving in Malahide station around 11:15am and catching the 16:00pm train back to Dublin. We had lunch half way through at Avoca Cafe and bought some souvenirs from the shop which were all reasonably priced. All in all I think this is a great day trip for people in general and especially those with kids.

Amanda Murray (5 months ago)
This is a brilliant place to spend a few hours. The grounds are extensive, there is also a beautiful walled garden and a fairy trail which would be great fun for kids. There is also a butterfly house with many species of butterflies. The tour of the castle is very interesting as well

nahid sh (5 months ago)
Visiting this place was a wonderful experience, combining the beauty of a well-maintained garden with a unique variety of plants, many of which have been gathered from different parts of the world. The garden also features a captivating selection of butterflies housed in a greenhouse( which was hot and humid inside), offering a delightful experience.The visit was further enriched by the historic castle on the grounds, full of stories and history. There’s only guided tour available for the castle, and you can get your ticket while exploring the garden.This destination is particularly suitable for families with children, offering plenty of space for kids to play and extraordinary experiences with nature. Additionally, there are convenient amenities like a shopping center, a restaurant, and spots for ice cream and snacks, making it an ideal spot for a family day out.

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Malahide Castle