Malahide Castle

The Talbot family held Malahide from 1185 until 1976, an almost unbroken run of nearly eight centuries interrupted only by a decade under Cromwell. The building grew accordingly - a medieval core with a great hall, Georgian additions and round towers - and the family portraits and furniture stayed in place. On the morning of the Battle of the Boyne in 1690, fourteen Talbot cousins are said to have breakfasted in the great hall; none returned. The last Lord Talbot's sister, Milo Talbot's line, and Milo himself built the other reason to come: a botanic collection in the walled garden and grounds specialising in southern hemisphere plants, particularly from Chile, Australia and Tasmania, much of it collected personally. The estate is now a public park with 105 hectares of grounds, free to walk, with the castle and walled garden ticketed and shown by guided tour.

History

The estate began in 1185, when Richard Talbot, a knight who had come to Ireland with Henry II in 1174, was granted "the lands and harbour of Malahide", and the Talbots lived here for 791 years, until 1976. Tradition says fourteen members of the family sat down to breakfast in the Great Hall on the morning of the Battle of the Boyne and none returned, and the family stayed Roman Catholic until 1774 (Wikipedia, Malahide Castle).

Highlights

• The great hall - the medieval core, with the family portraits still in place.
• The Talbot continuity - one family, 1185 to 1976.
• The botanic collection - southern hemisphere plants in the walled garden.
• The parkland - 105 hectares open free around the castle.

When to go

April to October for the gardens; the parkland works year-round. The castle is guided tour only and slots fill in summer - book ahead. School holidays are busy.

Things to know

The castle is by guided tour at set times and books out. Walled garden entry is separate. Parking charges apply. The house interior is smaller than the exterior suggests.

Nearby

Malahide village and marina are alongside; Howth is south along the coast.

Key facts