Happy holiday season to all my readers!

Even before I embarked upon this project, I loved visiting historic houses and kept an eye out for Big Houses open to the public, places to visit during Heritage Week and Open House. See the entry that I wrote at the end of 2022 summarising our travels thus far, https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/12/09/a-summary-of-2022-and-previous-years/

In 2019 I read an article in the Irish Times about the Section 482 scheme, and with the support of my husband, we began to visit Section 482 properties and I began to write about it.

There are generally about 180 properties on the Revenue Section 482 list every year and the properties stay on the list for at least five years in order to obtain state aid by subtracting a percentage of maintenance costs from income tax.

I have been working out a rough schedule at the beginning of each year in order to maximise efficiency of visiting! I plan our holidays around visits to properties that are open.

In 2019 we visited 27 properties. We stayed in County Waterford in May and in Castle Leslie in November for Stephen’s birthday. [1]

In 2020 we visited 11 properties. During Heritage Week we went to Counties Cork and Waterford, and stayed in Cabra Castle for a night in December. [2]

In 2021 we visited 14 properties. We visited Stephen’s mum in County Donegal in July and headed to County Sligo and Mayo for Heritage Week then over to Counties Westmeath, Kilkenny and Carlow. In November 2021 we treated ourselves to a stay in Wilton Castle in County Wexford. [3]

In 2022 we visited an impressive 26 properties, making up for the slowing down during the Covid pandemic. We took a holiday in May to Cork, travelled to County Donegal in July then during Heritage Week travelled to Counties Limerick, Galway and on up to Roscommon, Sligo and Leitrim and home via County Monaghan! [4]

This year, 2023, continuing the pace, we visited 25 more Section 482 properties. In February for my 2022 Christmas present we treated ourselves to a stay in Kinnitty Castle hotel in County Offaly and visited some Section 482 properties from there, and the following month, in March, we drove down to County Kerry to visit Section 482 gardens during a month in which not many Section 482 properties are open. In May we travelled to County Clare and then to County Wexford. Finally in 2023 during Heritage Week we visited Counties Waterford, Tipperary, and Cork.

2023
Gloster House, Brosna, Birr, Co. Offaly – 9th Feb 2023
Corolanty House, Shinrone, Birr, Co. Offaly – 10th Feb 2023
Huntington Castle, County Carlow – 9th Aug 2016 and 25th March 2023
Ballyseede Castle, Ballyseede, Tralee, Co. Kerry – 28 to 30 March 2023
Derreen Gardens, Kenmare, Co. Kerry (garden) – 29th March 2023
Kells Bay House & Garden, Caherciveen, Co. Kerry (garden) – 30th March 2023
Loughcrew House, Co. Meath (accommodation) – 21st May 2010 and 15th April 2023
Killruddery House & Gardens, Co. Wicklow – 24th May 2013 and 18th June 2015 and 12th July 2020 and 24th April 2021 and 30th April 2023
Barntick House, Clarecastle Co. Clare – 6 May 2023
Kilmokea Country Manor & Gardens, Co. Wexford (accommodation) – 10th and 11th May 2023
Sigginstown Castle, Co. Wexford – 12th May 2023
Woodville House, New Ross, Co. Wexford – 19th May 2023
Shankill Castle, Paulstown, Co. Kilkenny – 3rd June 2023
Turbotstown, Coole, Co. Westmeath – 29th July 2023

Cappagh House (Old and New), Dungarvan, Co. Waterford – 14th Aug 2023

Ballynatray Estate, Co. Waterford (garden) – 19th Aug 2023

Kilcascan Castle, County Cork – 15th Aug 2023

Bantry House, County Cork – 15 and 16th Aug 2023

Dún Na Séad Castle, Baltimore, Co. Cork – 16th Aug 2023

Drishane Castle & Gardens, Co. Cork – 17th Aug 2023

Burton Park, Churchtown, Mallow, Co. Cork – 17th Aug 2023

Clashleigh House, Clogheen, Co. Tipperary – 19th Aug 2023

Grenane House, Tipperary, Co. Tipperary – 19th Aug 2023

Clonskeagh Castle, Clonskeagh, Dublin 14 – Monday 2nd Dec 2023
Gravelmount House, Navan, Co. Meath – Sat 14th Dec 2023

I am now working out our travel and visiting plans for 2024! We still have 64 properties to visit on the 2023 Revenue Section 482 list, and I assume the 2024 list will be much the same, and that does not include the properties listed as Tourist Accommodation: there are 11 properties we could stay in but some are only available as “whole house” rental so we will probably never get to see them, and most of the others are prohibitively expensive on our budget! [5]

With the properties scattered all over the country open at different times of year, we’d have to take a lot of holidays and drive quite a distance to see as many houses as I would like in 2024! I have worked out that to organise our trips away to see the most houses, assuming that 2024’s list will be similar to 2023, we would need at least six overnight holidays!

In reality, we may take one or two short breaks, which leaves us plenty of years ahead for more Section 482 property holidays. For my birthday this year Stephen has given me a few nights in Kilronan Castle in County Roscommon, so we can visit, or revisit, a few properties near there. For Heritage week I’d like to return to Counties Sligo and Mayo, although there are still several properties within an hour of Dublin so we could stay at home.

In an ideal world of unlimited resources, I have plotted a dream schedule of Tipperary in the beginning of May and Limerick toward the end of May, then Galway and Clare in July. There are still a couple of properties we haven’t visited in County Donegal, so another trip in September could take in a few more places, while the weather is still warm!

Below I am sharing my Ideal World schedule for seeing as many Section 482 properties in 2024, using the 2023 listing assuming that 2024 listings will be similar.

January 2024

Moyglare Glebe, Moyglare, Maynooth, Co. Kildare

Templemills House, Newtown Road, Celbridge, Co. Kildare W23 YK26
Meander, Westminister Road, Foxrock, Dublin 18, D18 E2T9
Ballaghmore Castle, Borris in Ossory, Co. Laois www.castleballaghmore.com

February 2024

10 South Frederick Street – Dublin 2 DO2 YT54
Doheny & Nesbitt –4/5 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2 www.dohenyandnesbitts.ie
Ballybrittan Castle –Ballybrittan, Edenderry, Co. Offaly R45 PR27 www.ballybrittancastle.com
Primrose Hill – Very Top of Primrose Lane, Lucan, Co. Dublin

March 2024

Tibradden House – Mutton Lane, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16 D16 XV97

Lough Park House –Castlepollard, Co. Westmeath
Harristown House – Brannockstown, Co. KildareW91 E710 www.harristownhouse.ie

Creamery House –Castlecomer Co. KilkennyR95 A060 www.creameryhouse.com

Russborough – The Albert Beit Foundation, Blessington, Co. Wicklow W91 W284

April 2024

Ballindoolin House – Edenderry, Co. Offaly

Borris House Borris, Co. Carlow www.borrishouse.com

Griesemount House , Ballitore, Co. Kildare www.griesemounthouse.ie

May 2024
Fancroft Mill –Fancroft, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary www.fancroft.ie

Killenure Castle Dundrum, Co Tipperary www.killenure.com

Burtown House and Garden – Athy, Co. Kildare R14 AE67 www.burtownhouse.ie

Millbrook House – Kilkea, Beaconstown, Castledermot, Co. Kildare R14Y319

The Old Rectory – Rathkeale, Co. Limerick

Tarbert House Tarbert, Co. Kerry

Glebe House Holycross, Bruff, Co. Limerick

Odellville House Ballingarry, Co. Limerick www.odellville.simplesite.com

Kilpeacon House –Crecora, Co. Limerick

Farm Complex – Toberburr Road, Killeek, St Margaret’s, Co. Dublin

June 2024
Altidore Castle Kilpeddar, Greystones, Co. Wicklow

Steam Museum Lodge Park Heritage Centre www.steam-museum.com

Knockanree Garden, Avoca, Co Wicklow – www.knockanreegardens.com

Corke Lodge Garden – Shankill, Co. Dublin, Postal address Woodbrook, Bray, Co. Wicklow A98 X264
www.corkelodge.com

Clonalis House Castlerea, Co. Roscommon F45 H265 (Tourist Accommodation Facility)

Strokestown Park House –Strokestown Park House, Strokestown, Co. Roscommon
www.strokestownpark.ie www.irishheritagetrust.ie

Rockfield Ecological Estate – Rathaspic, Rathowen, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath

July 2024

Swainstown House Kilmessan, Co. Meath C15 Y60F

Castle Ellen House Athenry, Co. Galway www.castleellen.ie

Signal Tower & Lighthouse –Eochaill, Inis Mór, Aran Islands, Co. Galway www.aranislands.ie

Woodville House Dovecote & Walls of Walled Garden –Craughwell, Co. Galway
www.woodvillewalledgarden.com

Castlecoote House –Castlecoote, Co. Roscommon F42 H288 www.castlecootehouse.com

Newtown Castle – Newtown, Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare www.newtowncastle.com

Redwood Castle –Redwood, Lorrha, Nenagh, North Tipperary E45 HT38 Redwood is off the Birr/Portumna Rd www.redwoodcastleireland.com

Birr Castle –Birr, Co. Offaly http://www.birrcastle.com

Farmersvale House – Badgerhill, Kill, Co. Kildare W91 PP99

August 2024

Kingston House Kingston, Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow A67 DV25

North King Street Smithfield, Dublin 7

Barmeath Castle Dunleer, Drogheda, Co. Louth A92 P973

Castle Howard Avoca, Co. Wicklow

Shannonbridge Fortifications – Shannonbridge, Athlone, Co. Roscommon www.shannonbridgefortifications.ie

Temple House – Ballymote, Co. Sligo F56 NN50 www.templehouse.ie

Rathcarrick House – Rathcarrick, Strandhill Road, Co. Sligo F91 PK58

Castletown Manor – Cottlestown, Co. Sligo

Old Coastguard Station –Rosmoney, Westport, Co. Mayo

Prison House, Prison North, Balla, Co. Mayo www.prisonehouse.wordpress.com

Brookhill House –Brookhill, Claremorris, Co. Mayo

High Street House High Street, Tullamore, Co. Offaly R35 T189 www.no6highstreet.com

11 North Great George’s Street Dublin 1 www.number11dublin.ie

Charleville Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow A98 V293

St. John’s Church – Loughstown, Drumcree, Collinstown, Co. Westmeath

Sept 2024

Greenan More  Ballintombay, Rathdrum, Co Wicklow www.greenanmore.ie

Aylwardstown House –Glenmore, Co. Kilkenny www.kelvale.com

Kiltimon House  Newcastle, Co. Wicklow

Moorhill House – Castlenugent, Lisryan, Co. Longford

Portnason House – Portnason, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal

Ballybur Castle, Ballybur Upper, Cuffesgrange, Co. Kilkenny www.ballyburcastle.ie

Oct 2024

Crotty Church, Castle Street, Birr, Co. Offaly

The Presentation Convent Waterford Healthpark, Slievekeel Road, Waterford www.rowecreavin.ie

Kilcarbry Mill Engine House, Sweetfarm, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford

December 2024

Cillghrian Glebe now known as Boyne House Slane – Chapel Street, Slane, Co. Meath C15 P657
www.boynehouseslane.ie

[1] 2019
Slane Castle, Slane, Co. Meath – 27th April 2019
Salterbridge, County Waterford – 3rd May 2019 – no longer 482
Tourin House & Gardens, Co. Waterford – 3rd May 2019
Curraghmore House, Portlaw, Co. Waterford – 5th May 2019
Dromana House, Cappoquin, Co. Waterford – 5th May 2019 and 15th Aug 2020
Charleville, Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow – 18th May 2019
Moone Abbey House & Tower, County Kildare – 18th May 2019
Loughton, Moneygall, Birr, Co. Offaly – 29th May 2019
Altidore Castle, Kilpeddar, Greystones, Co. Wicklow 31 May 2019
Leixlip Castle, Leixlip, Co. Kildare – 14th June 2019
Moyglare House, Moyglare, Co. Meath – 18th June 2019
Dunsany Castle, Dunsany, Co. Meath – 30th June 2019 and 16th July 2022
Dardistown Castle, Co. Meath – 13th July 2019
Borris House, Borris, Co. Carlow – 23 July 2019
Ballymurrin House, Kilbride, Co. Wicklow 27 July 2019
Clonalis House, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon (accommodation) – 3rd Aug 2019
Tullynally Castle & Gardens, Co. Westmeath – 4th Aug 2019 and 21st Aug 2021
Tankardstown House, Rathkenny, Slane, Co. Meath – 9th Aug 2019

Blackhall Castle, Calverstown, Kilcullen, Co.Kildare – 22 Aug 2019
Harristown House, Brannockstown, Co. Kildare – 22nd Aug 2019

Rokeby Hall, Grangebellew, Co. Louth – 7th Sept 2019
Coolcarrigan House & Gardens, Naas, Co. Kildare – 21st Sept 2019
Castle Howard, Avoca, Co. Wicklow – 28th Sept 2019
Barmeath Castle, Dunleer, Drogheda, Co. Louth – 15 Oct 2019
Colganstown House, Newcastle, Co. Dublin – 23rd Nov 2019
Castle Leslie, Co. Monaghan (accommodation) – 27 to 29 Nov 2019
Powerscourt Townhouse Centre, Dublin 2 – 8th Dec 2019 and 21st March 2020 and 3rd Nov 2022 and 24th Nov 2022

[2] 2020
Powerscourt Townhouse Centre, Dublin 2 – 8th Dec 2019 and 21st March 2020 and 3rd Nov 2022 and 24th Nov 2022
The Odeon, Dublin 2 – 13th April 2020
Killruddery House & Gardens, Co. Wicklow – 24th May 2013 and 18th June 2015 and 12th July 2020 and 24th April 2021 and 30th April 2023
The Old Rectory Killedmond, Borris, Co. Carlow – 1st July 2020 and 23rd Aug 2021
Corravahan House & Gardens, Co. Cavan – 24th July 2020

Kilshannig House, Rathcormac, Co. Cork – 14th Aug 2020
Cappoquin House & Gardens, Co. Waterford – 15 Aug 2020
Dromana House, Cappoquin, Co. Waterford – 5th May 2019 and 15th Aug 2020
Swainstown House, Kilmessan, Co. Meath – 19th Aug 2019
Drishane House, Castletownshend, Co. Cork – 20th Aug 2020

Cabra Castle (Hotel), Co. Cavan – 23 Dec 2020

[3] 2021
Killruddery House & Gardens, Co. Wicklow – 24th May 2013 and 18th June 2015 and 12th July 2020 and 24th April 2021 and 30th April 2023
Mount Usher Gardens, Ashford, Co. Wicklow (garden) – 6th June 2021
Stradbally Hall, Stradbally, Co. Laois – 7th June 2021
Birr Castle, Birr, Co. Offaly – 21 June 2021
Burtown House and Garden, Athy, Co. Kildare – 23 June 2021
Salthill Garden, Mountcharles, Co. Donegal – 30th July 2021

Markree Castle, Collooney, Co. Sligo – 16th Aug 2021
Newpark House and Demesne, Co. Sligo – 16th Aug 2021
Enniscoe House & Gardens, Ballina, Co. Mayo (accommodation) – 17th Aug 2021
Coopershill House, Riverstown, Co. Sligo (accommodation) – 18th Aug 2021
Tullynally Castle & Gardens, Co. Westmeath – 4th Aug 2019 and 21st Aug 2021
Kilfane Glen & Waterfall, Co. Kilkenny (garden) – 23rd Aug 2021
The Old Rectory Killedmond, Borris, Co. Carlow – 1st July 2020 and 23rd Aug 2021

Wilton Castle, Bree, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford (accommodation) – 2nd and 3rd Nov 2021

[4] 2022
Springfield House, Co. Offaly – 8th January 2022
Ballysallagh House, Co. Kilkenny – 12 Feb 2022
Bewley’s, Grafton Street, Dublin 3 – 6 March 2022
Powerscourt House & Gardens, Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow – 11th Dec 2009 and 20th June 2012 and 12th March 2022
Beauparc House, Beau Parc, Navan, Co. Meath 15 March 2022
Martello Tower, Portrane, Co. Dublin – 23rd April 2022
Larchill, Kilcock, Co. Kildare – 8th May 2022
St. Mary’s Abbey, High Street, Trim, Co. Meath – 21st May 2022
Kildrought House, Celbridge Village, Co. Kildare – 28th May 2022
Hibernian/National Irish Bank, Dublin 2 – 25th June 2022
Blarney Castle & Rock Close, Blarney, Co. Cork – 7th June 2022
Blarney House & Gardens, Blarney, Co. Cork – 7th June 2022
Bantry House & Garden, Bantry, Co. Cork – 8th June 2022
Riverstown House, Riverstown, Glanmire, Co. Cork – 10th June 2022
The Church, Mary’s Street/Jervis Street, Dublin 1 – 25th June 2022
Oakfield Park, Oakfield Demesne, Raphoe, Co. Donegal (garden) – 2nd July 2022
Killineer House & Garden, Drogheda, Co. Louth – 16th July 2022
Dunsany Castle, Dunsany, Co. Meath – 30th June 2019 and 16th July 2022
St. George’s, Killiney, Co. Dublin – 6th Aug 2022

Ash Hill, Kilmallock, Co. Limerick (accommodation) – 12-15 Aug 2022
Beechwood House, Co. Tipperary – 13 Aug 2022
The Turret, Rylanes, Ballingarry, Co. Limerick – 13th Aug 2022
Glenville House, Glenville, Ardagh, Co. Limerick – 14th Aug 2022
Mount Trenchard House and Garden, Co. Limerick – 14th Aug 2022
Claregalway Castle, Claregalway, Co. Galway (accommodation) – 15th Aug 2022
Oranmore Castle, Oranmore, Co. Galway – 15th Aug 2022
Strokestown Park House, Co. Roscommon – 16 and 17th Aug 2022
King House, Boyle, Co. Roscommon – 18th Aug 2022
Lissadell House & Gardens, Co. Sligo – 19th Aug 2022
Manorhamilton Castle (Ruin), Co. Leitrim – 20th Aug 2022
Hilton Park House, Co. Monaghan (accommodation) – 21st Aug 2022

Fahanmura, 2 Knocksina, Foxrock, Dublin 18 – 11th Oct 2022
Powerscourt Townhouse Centre, Dublin 2 – 8th Dec 2019 and 21st March 2020 and 3rd Nov 2022 and 24th Nov 2022
39 North Great George’s Street, Dublin 1 – 10 Nov 2022
Hamwood House, Dunboyne, Co. Meath – 14th Nov 2022
Powerscourt Townhouse Centre, Dublin 2 – 8th Dec 2019 and 21st March 2020 and 3rd Nov 2022 and 24th Nov 2022

[5] ACCOMMODATION not yet visited: Unfortunately the accommodation is mostly too expensive for my budget!
The Old Rectory Lorum, Co. Carlow (accommodation)
Ballyvolane House, Castlelyons, Co. Cork (accommodation)
Lambay Castle, Lambay Island, County Dublin (accommodation)
Lisdonagh House, Caherlistrane, Co. Galway (accommodation)
Owenmore, Garranard, Ballina, Co. Mayo (accommodation)
Killeen Mill, Clavinstown, Drumree, Co. Meath (accommodation)
The Maltings, Castle Street, Birr, Co. Offaly (accommodation)
Temple House, Ballymote, Co. Sligo (accommodation)
Lismacue House, Bansha, Co. Tipperary (accommodation)
The Rectory, Cahir, Co. Tipperary (accommodation)
Woodbrook House, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford (accommodation)