Historic Houses

Built around 1500, and a typical urban tower house of that time, Desmond Castle has had a varied, if not always illustrious, serving variously as a home, a prison, a workhouse, a tollhouse and now a museum.

It now houses a Wine Museum, documenting Ireland’s surprisingly extensive involvement in European wine making since as early as 1412.

Killruddery has been home to the to the Earls of Meath since 1618, and still is, making it almost unique among Irish houses in being occupied by the same family for so long.

The formal gardens were laid out in the 17th century and still exist in their original style, a fascinating glimpse into gardening history, and there is a wonderful collection of marble statuary.

The Castle is not really a castle in the sense that most people understand the term, but a perfect example of an elegant and impressive Neo-Classical country house.

Castle Coole is now in the care of the British National Trust.

Tullynally has been home to the Pakenham family for more that 350 years, and still is.

It’s very much a living home but has changed relatively little over the years and its interior gives a wonderful glimpse into how life was lived, both upstairs and downstairs, in Ireland’s great houses.

Emo Court is a Gandon designed Georgian house at the centre of a huge landscaped estate of gardens, walks and grand vistas.

There is an arboretu with some splendid specimen trees and it’s a wonderful place for kid’s who are feeling a bit cooped up in the car to get out and race around in a safe and open place.

This beautiful Palladian mansion is one of the finest historic houses in Ireland, and it’s terrible to think how close it came to being lost. That it is in such fine condition to-day is thanks to the devotion of one man – Desmond Guinness.

The house and its occupants have always been at the heart of Irish political, cultural and social life and it’s history is endlessly fascinating. This is a must see.

A branch of the National Museum, which concentrates on clothing, tools, toys and other household items giving an insight into day to day living in Ireland’s past.

There is a year round schedule of events here which makes it an always lively and interesting place to visit. Kids, even those not normally enthused by museums, love this one.

Ireland’s largest and best collection of rare trees and shrubs is found on Fota Island near Cork city. For those who love trees it’s an essential place to visit and, as you might expect, the Autumn is a great time to go.

The house, which is open to the public, is also well worth visiting.

Altamount Gardens is a place apart, a wonderland of interconnecting gardens, riverside walks and woodlands of incredible beauty and peacefulness.

It change remarkably through the seasons, and is particularly lovely in late Spring, when the rhododendrons are in bloom, and early Autumn when the trees are in glorious colour.

A 19th century castle built in a Norman style, Gosforth in Co Armagh is surrounded by excellent walks and trails trough its gardens, woodlands, arboretum and rare breeds farm.

The castle is one of the largest ever built in Ireland and although it looks Norman was in fact built by a relatively impoverished nobleman with big ideas in the 19th century.