As you can see as I work my way though the contents of Mark Bence-Jones’s A Guide to Irish Country Houses [1], there are thousands of “big houses” in Ireland – though many are “houses of middle size.” It’s not clear why some houses are included in Bence-Jones’s book and others are not. If it were up to me, I’d compile a more defined list – I’d like to compile a list of houses built before 1700, for example, to have a more clear cut-off, and another list of houses built before 1800. I would also like to group houses by architect, and I will do that eventually, I hope! But Bence-Jones gives us a good idea as to what exists – albeit he includes some important houses that no longer exist.

Note that the majority of these are private houses, not open to the public. I discovered “my bible” of big houses by Mark Bence-Jones only after I began this project of visiting historic houses that have days that they are open to the public (Section 482 properties).

This is a project I have been working on for a while, collecting pictures of houses. Enjoy! Feel free to contact me to send me better photographs if you have them! I’ll be adding letters as I go…

[1] Mark Bence-Jones. A Guide to Irish Country Houses (originally published as Burke’s Guide to Country Houses volume 1 Ireland by Burke’s Peerage Ltd. 1978); Revised edition 1988 Constable and Company Ltd, London.

Cabinteely House (formerly Clare Hill), Cabinteely, Dublin – sometimes open to public

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2020/06/06/covid-19-lockdown-20km-limits-and-places-to-visit-in-dublin/

Cabra Castle, County Cavan, on section 482 in 2019-2025 – hotel 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2021/03/28/cabra-castle-kingscourt-county-cavan/

Cabra (or Cabragh) House, Co Dublin – demolished 1948

Cahercon (see Cahircon), County Limerick

Caherelly Grange, Herbertstown, Co Limerick 

An old castle, not lived in since mid-C19.

Cahir Castle, Cahir, Tipperary – OPW

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2024/03/29/cahir-castle-county-tipperary-an-office-of-public-works-property/

Cahircalla, Ennis, Co Clare – nursing home

Cahircon House (or Cahercon or Cahiracon), Killadysert, Co. Clare

The National Inventory tells us that Cahercon is a “five-bay three-storey over basement late-Georgian house, built c. 1790, with limestone cut-stone projecting Ionic porch to centre. Three-bay two-storey over basement flanking wings with full-height canted bay windows, lean-to conservatory to left hand side and two-bay single-storey bay to right hand side, added 1873. Five-bay single-storey return, added c. 1990, to accommodate use as convent and school.”

Cahirduggan, Midleton, Co Cork

A two storey house of late-Georgian appearance.  

Cahir-Guillamore, Kilmallock, Co Limerick 

Cahirmoyle, Ardagh, Co Limerick 

Cahirnane House (or Cahernane), Co Kerry – accommodation

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/10/19/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-county-kerry-munster/

Cahore House, Cahore, Co Wexford 

Cairndhu, Larne, County Antrim

A two storey, many-gabled Victorian house, given a Chinese flavour by the design of the ornate open-work bargeboards, and of the elaborate wooden verandah and balcony running along most of the front. 

Caledon, County Tyrone

Callinafercy House, Milltown, Co Kerry 

A Victorian Tudor house of 1861, built for Robert Leeson, grandson of 1^st Earl of Milltown. 

Camass House, Bruff, Co Limerick  

Camla Vale, Monaghan, Co Monaghan

Camlin Estate, Co Donegal  – demolished  

Camolin Park, Camolin, Co Wexford

A square block of superior quality, dating from first half of C18. Good doorcase with segmental pediment. The seat of the Annesleys, Earls of Mountnorris and Viscounts Valentia, sold by them 1858. A ruin for many years, demolished ca 1974.

Camphire, Cappoquin, Co Waterford 

Cangort, Shinrone, Co Offaly

Cangort Park, Shinrone, Co. Offaly 

Capard, Rosenalis, Co Laois

Cappagh House, Cappagh, Co Waterford (Old and New, section 482) 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2023/12/09/cappagh-house-old-and-new-dungarvan-co-waterford/

Cappamurra, Dundrum, Co Tipperary  

A two storey house with round-headed windows in its upper storey and windows of unusual shape below. 

Cappoquin House, Waterford – section 482 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2021/01/24/cappoquin-house-gardens-cappoquin-co-waterford/

Carbury Castle, Co Kildare (or Castle Carbury or Carbery)  – ruin 

Careysville, (Ballymacpatrick Castle), Clondulane, Fermoy, County Cork

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/05/17/places-to-visit-and-stay-munster-county-cork/

Cargins Park, Roscommon, Co Roscommon

A two storey three bay Victorian house with a porch.

Carker House, Doneraile, Co Cork  

A two storey C18 house, 6 bay front; two bay breakfront, with small pediment-gable; tripartite round-headed doorcase.

Carnagh House, New Ross, Co Wexford 

Carnalea House, County Down 

Carnalway Glebe, Kilcullen,  Co. Kildare 

Carnelly, Ennis, Co. Clare

A 3 storey mid-C18 house of pink brick, built for George Stamer almost certainly to the design of his brother-in-law Francis Bindon.

Carnew Castle, Carnew, Co Wicklow 

Carramore, Ballina, County Mayo

Carrick Barron, or Carrickbarrahane, Stradbally, Co. Waterford  

Carrick-on-Suir, Co Tipperary, The Castle (see Ormonde Castle), Carrick Castle 

Carrickblacker, Portadown, County Armagh – demolished 

Carrickmore House (formerly Carrickmore Hall), County Tyrone

Carrig Park, Mallow, Co Cork

  A two storey bow ended Georgian house. 

Carrigacunna Castle, Killavullen, Co Cork  

A two storey early nineteenth century house alongside an old tower-house above the River Blackwater.

Carrigaholt Tower and the Cottage, Shannon, County Clare

Bence-Jones writes of the cottage: “A C19 house of random ashlar consisting of a 2 storey centre with pointed windows, flanked by single-storey gabled wings; overlooking the mouth of the Shannon, close to the ruins of an old castle of the MacMahons which was captured by the O’Briens of Thomond and afterwards passed to the Burton family. Now rebuilt, but the old C18 pink brick garden walls still survive.“

 Carriglas Manor, Longford

Carriglea, Dungarvan, Co Waterford 

Carrigmore, Ballineen, Co Cork 

A two storey house in the late Georgian manner, built 1842 by James Lysaght on the site of an earlier house, known as Connerville, which had formerly belonged to the Conner family and which he purchased from them. 

Carrigmore, Montenotte, Cork, Co Cork  

A very handsome C19 Classical house…Now ruinous.

Carrignavar, Co Cork

A late C19 castellated house incorporating some fragments of an old castle.  

Carrigoran, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Co Clare – demolished in the 1980s 

Carrigrenane, Little Island, Co Cork  

A pleasant square late-Georgian house of two storeys over a basement on a promontory jutting out into Lough Mahon.

Carrigrohane Castle, Carrigrohane, County Cork

Detached four-bay three-storey over basement and with dormer attic house, built c.1850, incorporating fabric of an earlier building.   

Carrowdore Castle, Donaghadee, County Down 

A Georgian Gothic castle built 1818 by Nicholas de la Cherois-Crommelin. 

Carrowgar (see Moy House)

Carrowgarry, Beltra, Co Sligo – coffee roasters 

A Victorian house built ca 1880 by A.J. Crichton.

Carrowmore (also known as Fairfield House), Aughrim, Co Galway 

A plain three storey 5 bay Georgian house.

Carrowmore House, Carrowmorelacken, Co Mayo

Carrowroe Park, Roscommon, Co Roscommon 

An early C19 Classical house of two storeys and three bays, pedimented breakfront with Wyatt window over Doric portico. The front prolonged by single-storey wings with pairs of pedimented pavilions, those on one side being wider apart; blind wall with pilasters on one side, windows on the other. Garden front with two arched loggias joined by colonnade.

Carstown, Drogheda, Co Louth

Carton House, Kildare – hotel 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2024/06/04/carton-house-county-kildare-a-hotel/

Cashel Palace, Cashel, Co Tipperary – hotel

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/10/19/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-county-tipperary-munster/

Cashel House, Cashel, Connemara, County Galway

Casino at Marino, County Dublin – Office of Public Works

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2023/11/09/office-of-public-works-dublin-the-casino-at-marino/

Castle Archdale, Irvinestown, County Fermanagh – house a ruin but War museum in stables

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/04/03/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-ulster-counties-fermanagh-monaghan-and-tyrone/

Castle Bellingham, County Louth – hotel 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/10/28/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-county-louth-leinster/

Castle Bernard (formerly Castle Mahon), Bandon, Co Cork – ruin  

Castle Bernard (see Kinnity Castle), Kinnity, Co Offaly – hotel 

Castle Blunden, County Kilkenny – whole house rental

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/10/28/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-county-kilkenny-leinster/

Castle Browne (Clongowes Wood College), Clane, Co Kildare

Castle Caldwell, Belleek, County Fermanagh

“A C18 house of two storeys over a basement, on the shores of Lough Erne, with a delightful Georgian “pasteboard Gothic” façade… The house was ruinous by the end of C19.” 

Castle Carbery (see Carbury Castle), Carbury, County Kildare 

Castle Cooke, Kilworth, Co Cork – ‘lost’  

The old castle of Dungallane was acquired by Thomas Cooke, a Cork Quaker merchant, in second half of C17, and subsequently named Castle Cooke.

Castle Coole (see Castlecoole), County Fermanagh

Castle Cor, Kanturk, Co Cork – ‘lost’  

Castle Crine, near Sixmilebridge, Co Clare –

A castellated late-Georgian house, demolished in 1955. 

Castle Daly, Loughrea, Co Galway – ‘lost’ 

Castle Dillon, Armagh, County Armagh

A large and austere mansion of 1845 by William Murray; built for Sir George Molyneux, 6^th Bt, to replace a rather low and plain mid-C18 winged house, which had itself replaced the second of two earlier houses again.  

Castle Dobbs, Carrickfergus, County Antrim

An early C18 house in the manner of Sir Edward Lovett Pearce, built 1730 by Arthur Dobbs, Surveyor-General of Ireland, Governor of North Carolina, agriculturalist and organizer of expeditions to discover the NW passage from Hudson’s Bay to the Pacific.  

Castle Dodard, Lismore, County Waterford 

Castle Durrow, Co Laois – a hotel, gardens open to public 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/10/27/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-county-laois-leinster/

Castle Ellen, Athenry, County Galway – on 482 in 2019-2025 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2023/05/31/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-county-galway/

Castle Ffogarty, Thurles, Co Tipperary

A rather insubstantial C19 castle; burnt 1922 and now a ruin except for one tower which has been rebuilt. 

Castle Ffrench, Ahascragh, Co Galway 

An elegant ashlar-faced house of three storeys over a basement, built in 1779 for Sir Charles ffrench, Mayor of Galway; replacing a late C17 house on a different site which itself replaced a castle built by the ffrench family soon after they bought the estate in late C16. 

Castle Forbes, County Longford 

Castle Forward, Newtowncunningham, Co Donegal – ruin  

Castle Freke, Rosscarbery, Co Cork  

Castle Gore (or Old Castle, Deel Castle), Ballina, Co Mayo

Castle Grace, Clogheen, Co Tipperary  

Castle Grove, County Donegal – accommodation  

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/10/27/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-county-donegal-ulster/

Castle Hacket (or Castlehacket), Belclare, Co Galway 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2023/05/31/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-county-galway/

Castle Harrison, Charleville, Co Cork – ‘lost’  

C18 house…sold 1956 and subsequently demolished

Castle Hewson, Askeaton, Co Limerick 

Castle Howard, Avoca, Co Wicklow – section 482 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2020/11/13/castle-howard-avoca-county-wicklow/

Castle Hume (see Ely Lodge), County Fermanagh 

Castle Hyde, Fermoy, County Cork

Castle Ievers, Croom, Co Limerick 

Castle Irvine (or Necarne Castle), Irvinestown, County Fermanagh 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/04/03/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-ulster-counties-fermanagh-monaghan-and-tyrone/

Castle Kelly, see Aughrane Castle, County Galway 

Castle Kevin, Mallow, Co Cork  

Castle Kevin, Annamoe, County Wicklow 

Castle Lackin, near Ballycastle, Co Mayo

A plain two storey late Georgian house, with a wide curved bow at one end of its garden front; simple entablatures over ground floor windows. A vast complex of outbuildings at rear of the house, partly surrounded by a high battlemented wall with castellated gate piers. “Eyecatcher” folly on hill opposite. Now the house and outbuildings are in ruins and some of the wall has collapsed.

Castle Leslie, County Monaghan – section 482 in 2019, hotel 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2020/08/07/castle-leslie-glaslough-county-monaghan/

Castle Lough, Co Tipperary 

A two storey five bay Georgian house with a high roof.

Castle Lyons, Fermoy, Co Cork – ‘lost’  

A C16 fortified mansion, built on the foundations of the castle of the O’Lenans, from whom the place too its name; principal seat of the Earls of Barrymore. …The house was burnt 1771, through the carelessness of a workman, and never rebuilt. 

Castle MacGarrett, Claremorris, County Mayo

Castle Mahon (see Castle Bernard) – ruin  

Castle Martin, Co Kildare 

Castle Martyr (or Castlemartyr), Co Cork – hotel  

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/05/17/places-to-visit-and-stay-munster-county-cork/

Castle Mary, Cloyne, Co Cork – ‘lost’  

Castle Matrix, Rathkeale, Co. Limerick (also called Castle Mattress)

Castle Morres, Kilmaganny, Co Kilkenny

Castle Neynoe (Ballysumaghan House), Balintogher, Co Sligo

 “A small symmetrical Gothic-Revival castle with a central bow carried upwards as a three storey tower. Seat of the Neynoes. Now a ruin.” 

Castle Oliver (also known as Clonodfoy), Kilfinane, Co Limerick

Castle Otway, Templederry, Co Tipperary

Castle Park, Limerick, Co Limerick

Castle Pollard (formerly Kinturk), Co Westmeath  

Castle Ring, Dundalk, Co Louth 

A two storey five bay gable-ended C18 house with simple round-headed doorway.

Castle Saffron (see Creagh Castle), Co Cork  

Castle Saunderson, Co. Cavan – a ruin, can visit 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2020/07/03/county-cavan-historic-houses-to-see-and-stay/

Castle Shane, Co Monaghan

Castle Sheppard, Borrisokane, County Tipperary – ruinous

Castle Strange, Athleague, Co Roscommon- ruin 

Castle Talbot, Blackwater, County Wexford 

Castle Taylor, Ardrahan, Co Galway  – ruin 

Castle Townshend, Co Cork  – accommodation, hotel  

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2025/04/25/the-castle-castletownshend-co-cork-accommodation/

Castle Upton, Templepatrick, County Antrim

Castle Ward, Strangford, County Down 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2023/10/06/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-county-down-northern-ireland/

Castle Widenham (or Blackwater Castle), Castletownroche, Co Cork

Castle Wilder (also known as Cloughdoo), Abbeyshrule, County Longford

Castle Willington, Nenagh, Co Tipperary 

Castle Wray, Letterkenny, Co Donegal – ruins  

Castlebar House, Castlebar, Co Mayo – burned

Castleblayney (see Blayney Castle), County Monaghan

Castleboro House, County Wexford – ruin

Castlecaulfeild, County Tyrone – ruin

Castlecomer House, Co Kilkenny

Castlecoole, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh – open to the public 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2024/03/21/castle-coole-county-fermanagh-a-national-trust-property/

Castlecor, Ballymahon, County Longford 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2024/03/16/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-county-longford-leinster/

Castlefield, Co Kilkenny 

A three storey bow-fronted Georgian house, the bow having a trefoil window and battlements. Pillared porch. 

Castlegar, Ahascragh, Co Galway 

The grandest of Sir Richard Morrison’s villas, built from 1803 onwards for Ross Mahon, afterwards 1^st Bt; replacing an earlier house. 

Castlegarde, Cappamore, Limerick   

Castlegrove, Tuam, County Galway

Castlehacket (see Castle Hacket), Belclare, Co Galway 

Castlehaven House, Castletownsend, Co Cork

Castlemaine Lodge, Hare Island, Athlone, Co Westmeath (or Hare Island)

Castlemore, Tullow, Co. Carlow – ruins

Castlerea, Killala, Co Mayo – demolished 1937

Castlerea House, Co Roscommon – demolished

Castlerichard, (see Glencairn Abbey) Co Waterford 

Castlesize, Sallins, Co Kildare 

A two storey late C18 house of seven bays, the two outer bays on either side projecting slightly. 

Castletown Castle, Dundalk, Co Louth 

Castletown Castle/ House, Co Carlow

Castletown House, County Kildare  – open to public

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2024/03/15/castletown-house-and-parklands-celbridge-county-kildare-an-office-of-public-works-property/

Castletown Castle, Dundalk, County Louth

Castletown Conyers, Ballyagran, Co Limerick 

Castletown ‘Cox’ Kilkenny 

Castletown Manor, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh – demolished 

Castletown Manor, Pallaskenry, Co Limerick – demolished

Castleview, Conna, Co Cork (see Glynnatore)  

Castlewellan, County Down 

Cavangarden, Ballyshannon, Co Donegal – B&B  

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/10/27/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-county-donegal-ulster/

Cecil Manor, Augher, County Tyrone

Celbridge Abbey, Celbridge, Co Kildare 

Celbridge Lodge, Co Kildare 

Chaffpool, Ballymote, Co Sligo – derelict 

Chanter Hill, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh 

A two storey house built 1780 as a Glebe for Rev Thomas Smyth DD. Front of one bay between two three sided bows.

Charlemont Fort, County Armagh (see Roxborough Castle, County Tyrone) 

Charlesfort, Kells, Co Meath 

A two storey house of ca 1800, with a lower wing. 

Charlesfort, Co Wexford 

Charlestown House, Clara, Offaly 

Charlestown, Clogher, Co Roscommon 

The house is no longer extant but extensive estate architecture survives.

Charleville, Co Cork – gone  

A fine house built 1661 to his own design by the 1^st Earl of Orrery, who at the same time developed the nearby town which is named Charleville after Charles II. The house stood on one side of a fortified enclosure, it had extensive gardens and a park. It was burnt 1690 during the Williamite war by the troops of Berwick and not rebuilt

Charleville, Castlebar, Co Mayo 

A square C18 house, now in ruins.

Charleville, Enniskerry, Co Wicklow – section 482 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2020/09/18/charleville-county-wicklow/

Charleville Forest Castle, Tullamore, County Offaly 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2024/08/29/charleville-forest-castle-tullamore-county-offaly-sometimes-open-to-public-run-by-charleville-castle-heritage-trust/

Charleville Park (also known as Sanders Park), Charleville, Co Cork –

A three storey six bay late C18 house, built by Christopher Sanders, now divided into flats.  

Chief Secretary’s Lodge, Dublin (see United States Ambassador’s Residence) 

Church Hill, Maghera, County Down

An early to mid-C18 two storey gable-ended house of five bays; extended towards the end of C18 to form a new drawing room, the addition begin of the same height as the original front; and also gable-ended; but single-storey, with a three sided bow in its front and end walls.  

Churchill House, Chapeltown, County Kerry 

Churchtown House, Churchtown, County Kerry – whole house accommodation

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/10/19/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-county-kerry-munster/

Cill-Alaithe, Killala, Co Mayo 

Clandeboye, County Down

Clanwilliam House, County Antrim (see Danesfort) 

Clara House, Clara, County Offaly

Three-bay two-storey over basement house, built c.1800, with attic, conservatory to rear and projecting entrance porch added to front. 

Clare Hill (see Cabinteely House), Co Dublin 

Clare Park, Ballycastle, County Antrim 

Claremont, Claremorris, Co Mayo 

Clarisford, Killaloe (Bishops’ Palace), Co Clare

The Palace of the (C of I) Bishops of Killaloe, a late C18 block of three storeys over a basement in a demesne by the River Shannon outside the town.

Clashenure House, Ovens, Co Cork

Classiebawn Castle, County Sligo 

Cleggan Lodge, Ballymena, County Antrim

Originally a hunting lodge, owned at various times by the O’Neills and the O’Haras. 

Cleariestown Hall, Cleariestown, County Wexford 

Clearmont, Claremorris, County Mayo

Clermont, Co Wicklow– school then sold 2005 

Clifden Castle, Clifden, Co Galway – ‘lost’ 

Clifden House, Corofin, Co Clare

A two storey seven bay early C18 house. Central niche over Doric doorcase of stone. Seat of the Burton family, which produced the C19 portrait painter and miniaturist Sir Frederick Burton. 

Cliff, Ballyshannon, Co Donegal – demolished in late 1940s  

The Cliffs, Baily, Co Dublin

A C19 house added to at various times in the present centry, and full of Edwardian charm.

Clifton, Montenotte, Cork, Co Cork – convalescent home  

Two storey five bay early C19 house, with a single storey two bay wing balanced by conservatory, behind which is a chapel, with a lantern.  

Clinshogh, Co Dublin (see Woodlands) 

Clobemon Hall, Ferns, County Wexford

Cloghans, Co Mayo 

Clogher House, Ballyglass, Co Mayo

Clogher Palace (subsequenty Clogher Park), Clogher, County Tyrone

Cloghroe House, Blarney, Co Cork

A Georgian house built on the site of an old castle.

Clogrenane (or Clogrennan), Carlow, Co Carlow – a ruin 

Clohamon House, near Ferns, Co Wexford 

Clonacody, Fethard, County Tipperary – accommodation

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/10/19/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-county-tipperary-munster/

Clonageera House, Durrow, Co Laois 

Clonalis House, Castlerea, Co Roscommon – accommodation and section 482 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2020/10/16/clonalis-castlerea-county-roscommon/

Clonard, near Wexford, Co Wexford 

Clonattin House, Gorey, Co Wexford

Clonboy, O’Brien’s Bridge, County Clare – demolished

Clonbrock, Ahascragh, Co Galway  – ‘lost’ 

Cloncarneel (see Clown), Co Meath

Cloncorick Castle, Carrigallen, Co Leitrim

A two storey early to mid C-19 Tudor-Gothic house with buttresses and stepped gables. 

Cloncoskraine, Dungarvan, Co Waterford 

Clonearl, Daingean (formerly Philipstown), Offaly

Clonebraney, Crossakeel, Co Meath – only a ruinous wing remains. 

Clonfert Palace, Eyrecourt, Co Galway – ‘lost’ 

Clonganny House, Wexford – accommodation 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2023/11/15/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-county-wexford/

Clongill Castle, Co Meath – ruin 

Clongowes Wood, Co Kildare (see Castle Browne) 

Clonhugh, Multyfarnham, County Westmeath 

Clonleigh, Ballindrait, Co Donegal – demolished

Clonlost House, Killucan, Co Westmeath

A tall Georgian block with a central pedimented attic. Now a ruin.

Clonmannon, Rathnew, Co. Wicklow – plans for retirement home 

Clonmeen, Banteer, Co Cork – whole house airbnb  

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/05/17/places-to-visit-and-stay-munster-county-cork/

Clonmore House, Piltown, Co Kilkenny 

Clonodfoy, Co Limerick (see Castle Oliver) 

Clonshavoy, Co Limerick 

The Irish Tourist Association surveyor writes in 1944 that the house was interesting as it was the remains of a very old Elizabethan house. He says that more than half the house was pulled down as it was unsafe “and the present eastern wing is a reconstruction”. Photograph from the Irish Tourist Association Survey 1943-44. 

Clonshire House, Adare, Co Limerick 

Clonskeagh Castle, Co Dublin

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2024/04/25/clonskeagh-castle-dublin/

Clontarf Castle, Clontarf, Co Dublin  – hotel 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2023/05/26/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-dublin-city-and-county/

Clontead More, Coachford, Co Cork

Clontra, Shankill, Co Dublin

A delightful Ruskinian Gothic villa, almost certainly by Sir Thomas Newenham Deane, and possibly designed by his brilliant younger partner, Benjamin Woodward.

Clonyn Castle, County Westmeath 

Clonyquin (or Clooneyquin or Cloonyquin), Elphin, Co Roscommon – demolished

Cloonacauneen Castle, Co Galway  

An old tower-house with a two storey three bay castellated wing attached

Cloonamahon, Collooney, County Sligo 

Clooncahir, Mohill, Co Leitrim 

A plain two storey four bay house of ca 1820.

Clooney House, Clooney, Co Clare – ruin

Originally a two storey five bay C17 house of the Bindon family, which produced the C18 amateur architect and portrait painter Francis Bindon. The house burnt C19 and the property was sold by the impecunious Burton Bindon, who emigrated to Australia; his daughter and her husband Joseph Hall subsequently returned to Ireland and bought back Clooney. They rebuilt the burnt-out shell of the house in a rich Victorian Italianate style, … Unfortunately the Hall’s finances did not last out; he is said to have gambled and she was extravagant; so that by early C20 the house was once again ruinous. 

Cloughdoo (see Castle Wilder), County Longford

Cloverhill, Belturbet, Co Cavan 

Clown (now known as Cloncarneel), Trim, Co Meath 

Colebrook Park, County Fermanagh

An austere Classical house of 1825 by William Farrell; built for Sir Henry Brooke, 1^st Bt of 2^nd creation. 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/04/03/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-ulster-counties-fermanagh-monaghan-and-tyrone/

Coleraine Manor House (formerly Jackson Hall), Coleraine, County Derry 

Colganstown, Newcastle, Co Dublin – 482

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2020/05/21/colganstown-house-hazelhatch-road-newcastle-county-dublin/

 Collierstown House, Collierstown, Co Meath 

A late C18 house, built ca 1775.

Collis Sandes House (see Oak Park) 

Collon House, Ardee Street, Collon, Louth (also Oriel Temple)  – accommodation and tours 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/10/28/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-county-louth-leinster/

Combermere, Glounthaune, Co Cork – Danish consulate

An early c19 “gentleman’s cottage” mostly of one storey, with a small castellated wing.   

Conlig (or Little Clandeboye) House, County Down 

Convamore, Ballyhooly, Co Cork – ‘lost’  

Conway, Dunmurry, County Antrim 

A two storey Victorian house with a symmetrical front of two shallow curved bows and a central projection; on either side of which runs a pillared and balustraded veranda, joining at one end to a single-storey wing, and at the other to a pilastered conservatory. Became hotel; suffered irreparable bomb damage 1970.

Cookstown House, Co Meath (see Corbalton Hall) 

Coolamber, Street, Co Westmeath

Coolamber Manor, Lisryan, County Longford 

Coolavin, Monasteraden, Co Sligo

Multiple-bay two- and three-storey stone house, built 1898, to designs by architect James Franklin Fuller.  

Coolbawn House, near Enniscorthy, Co Wexford – ruin 

Coolcarrigan House and Gardens, Naas, County Kildare – section 482 in 2019  

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2020/05/31/coolcarrigan-house-and-gardens-coill-dubh-naas-county-kildare/

Coolderry House, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan – lost 

A two storey late C18 house of five bays between two semi-circular bows. …Sold 1920 by Col G.J. Brownlow, afterwards demolished.

Coole, Millstreet, Co Cork

A long and low two storey Georgian house with a plain seven bay front. 

Coole Abbey, Fermoy, Co Cork 

A house built ca 1765 by Henry Peard; attributed, on stylistic grounds, to Davis Duckart. 

Coole Park, County Galway  – ‘lost’ 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2023/05/31/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-county-galway/

Cooleville, Clogheen, County Tipperary

Coolhull Castle, County Wexford

Coolkelure, Dunmanway, Co Cork

A late-Victorian house of stone, with gables of timber open-work in the Swiss manner and a pyramidal roofed tower. 

Coollattin (also known as Malton), Shillelagh, Co Wicklow – golf club 

Coolmain Castle, Kilbrittain, Co Cork

Coolmore, Carrigaline, Co Cork

A large late C18 block built 1788 by W.W. Newenham to replace a house built ca 1701 built by Thomas Newenham. 

Coolmore, Thomastown, Co Kilkenny 

Coolnamuck, Carrickbeg, Co Waterford

“A three storey C18 block…Formerly the seat of a branch of the Wall family. It is said that one of the families who owned it in the past lived very extravagantly; and when, as a result, they went bankrupt, they committed mass suicide by driving their coach over the cliff at Tramore. In the present century, the main block became derelict; a house was made in the wing, which in recent years was the home of Mr C.C. Sanders. The house has now been demolished.”

Coolready (see St. Catherine’s)

Cooper Hill, Clarina, Co Limerick

Coopershill, Riverstown, Co Sligo – 482, accommodation 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/01/11/coopershill-house-riverstown-co-sligo/

Coppinger’s Court, Cork, Co.Cork – ruin  

An impressive early to mid C17 semi-fortified house built by Sir Walter Coppinger; with gables, machiolations and mullioned windows. Now a ruin.

Cor Castle, Innishannon, Co Cork

A small, early Gothic Revival castle, its doorway being a Gothicized Venetian window in the Batty Langley manner

Corbally, Taghadoe, Co Kildare 

A small early C18 gable-ended house of two storeys over basement. 

Corballymore (formerly Summerville), Dunmore East, Co Waterford 

Corbalton Hall (formerly Cookstown House), Tara, Co Meath

Corduff, Ballinamore, Co Leitrim 

A two storey five bay house probably of late C18. 

Corick, Clogher, County Tyrone – hotel

https://www.corickcountryhouse.com

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/04/03/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-ulster-counties-fermanagh-monaghan-and-tyrone/

Corkagh House, Clondalkin, Co Dublin – demolished 

Corkbeg, Whitegate, Co Cork – demolished

A square two storey early to mid-C19 house on an island just inside the entrance to Cork Harbour joined to the mainland by a causeway; built to replace an earlier house by the water’s edge.

Corke Lodge, Bray, County Wicklow  – the gardens are open to the public as Section 482. www.corkelodge.com

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2023/05/26/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-dublin-city-and-county/

Cornacassa, Monaghan, Co Monaghan

Cornahir (or Cornaher), Tyrrellspass, Co Westmeath 

Corradoo, Ballinafad, Co Sligo 

A house built 1768 by William Phibbs, of Hollybrook, for use as a school.

Corries, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow

Corville, Roscrea, Co Tipperary

A C18 house with a breakfront centre.  

Costello Lodge, Costello, Co Galway

“A fishing lodge in Connemara, owned earlier this century by J. Bruce Ismay, head of the White Star Line at the time of the sinking of the Titanic and one of the survivors from that ill-fated ship. Burnt 1922 and rebuilt 1925; a two storey house with gables, dormer gables and pantiled roof.” 

Court Hill, Dunboyne, Co Meath 

An elegant mid-C19 neo-Classical villa in the style of J.S. Mulvany, of one storey over a basement and three bays; the centre bay being raised as a pedimented attic. Flanking service tower. Remodelled in Edwardian period.

Courtown, Kilcock, County Kildare 

A plain two storey house of ca 1815, built by John Aylmer to replace the earlier house here, which was burned and looted 1798 during the ownership of his father, Michael Aylmer, who had been unable to rebuilt it, not having received sufficient compensation from the state. Five bay front, with strip pilasters. Much enlarged ca 1900 by J.A. Aylmer, who added a wing at right angles to the original block to form a new entrance front, with a three sided bow and an open porch, at one side of a pedimented projection; containing, among other rooms, a hall with a massive oak staircase. 

Courtown House, Courtown, Co Wexford

A C18 house overlooking the sea at Courtown Harbour, much altered and enlarged C19 after being sacked during 1798 Rebellion. The front of the house…Sold post WWII, subsequently demolished.

Craddenstown, County Westmeath 

Cragleigh House, Ennis, Co Clare

A two storey three bay early C19 house with Wyatt windows and fanlighted doorway, standing in front of an older building to which it is linked.

Craigavad House, County Down 

“A restrained Classical house on the shores of Belfast Lough, built ca 1852 for John Mulholland, afterwards 1^st Lord Dunleath, to the design of the Belfast architect Thomas Turner. Top-lit central hall with a circular gallery and a glazed dome. Now a golf club.”

Craigavon, Strandtown, County Down 

“A two storey Victorian house with a front of two bays on either side of a central bow. Round-headed windows in lower storey, camber-headed windows above. Pavilion with pedimented portico at back of house, joined to main block by orangery. The home of James Craig, 1^st Viscount Craigavon, 1^st Prime Minister of Northern Ireland. Given to the nation.” 

CRAIGAVON HOUSE is owned and run by the Somme Association, a charity which cares for elderly war veterans. The future of Craigavon House remains uncertain.

Craigdun or Craigdunn Castle, Dunminning, County Antrim

A Victorian Scottish Baronial castle of basalt, built by Edmund McNeill. 

Cranagh Castle, Templemore, Co Tipperary 

A three storey house of 1768 built on to a medieval round tower.

Cranaghan House, Ballyconnell, Co Cavan – Slieve Russell hotel? 

Cranmore House, Ballinrobe, Co Mayo 

Cratloe Woods House, Cratloe, County Clare  – private, used to be public, in public woods 

A long, low two storey gable ended C17 house one room thick. Its principal elevation, of thirteen bays, with Georgian sash windows and central three sided bow, is now the garden front; a new entrance front, in simple style with timbered porch, having been added to other side ca 1850 to provide a corridor and larger staircase, possibly to the design of James Pain, who gave the garden front bow a Tudor-Revival gable and heightened the chimneystacks, also in Tudor-Revival style.

Crawfordsburn Park, Bangor, County Down 

Originally a two storey five bay gable-ended house overlooking Belfast Lough. Triple window above fanlighted doorway. Return. Enlarged in C19 gable style. Now a hospital and much altered.

Creagh, Skibbereen, Co Cork

A pleasant Regency house of two storeys over basement, built ca. 1820.  

Creagh Castle/House, Doneraile, Co Cork

Creagh House, County Mayo

Crebilly House, County Antrim 

A two storey C19 Italianate house which from its appearance could be an early work of Sir Charles Lanyon. 

Creevaghmore, Ballymahon, Co Longford 

Cregg Castle, Fermoy, Co Cork

A home of mid-C18 appearance, of three storeys over a basement; the top storey being treated as an attic, above the cornice. 

Cregg Castle, Corrandulla, Co Galway

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2023/05/31/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-county-galway/

Crevenagh House, Omagh, County Tyrone

Crobeg, Doneraile, Co Cork – demolished in 1980s  

Crocknacrieve, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh 

Crom Castle, Newtown Butler, County Fermanagh 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/04/03/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-ulster-counties-fermanagh-monaghan-and-tyrone/

Cromore House, Portstewart, County Derry 

A mid-C18 house of two storeys with a dormered attic and four bays, enlarged and remodelled 1834 by John Cromie, who added a two storey wing on either side, of the same height as the centre; with a single large many-paned window in each storey. 

Cromwellsfort, Co Wexford 

Croney Byrne, Rathdrum, Co Wicklow – courtyard accommodation 

https://croneybyrne.ie

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/10/20/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-county-wicklow-leinster/

Cronroe, Ashford, Co Wicklow – Bel Air hotel and equestrian centre 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/10/20/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-county-wicklow-leinster/

Crossdrum, Oldcastle, Co Meath

Crosshaven House, Crosshaven, Co Cork – whole house rental  

A three storey house built 1769 by William Hayes, wiht two identical fronts of crisp grey ashlar which almost certainly derive from Isaac Ware’s design for Clifton Hill House, Bristol. https://www.crosshavenhouse.ie/

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/05/17/places-to-visit-and-stay-munster-county-cork/

Crossogue House, Ballycahill, Co Tipperary

An early Victorian house with a high basement. 

Crotto, Kilflynn, Co Kerry – ‘lost’ 

Crowhill, Annaghmore, County Armagh

A two storey late Georgian house; five bay front with one bay pedimented breakfront. 

Cuba Court, Banagher, Co Offaly – demolished 

Cuffesborough, Durrow, Co Laois

A three storey house of 1770 which from both elevation and plan would appear to have been built about thirty years earlier. 

Culdaff House, Carndonagh, Co Donegal  

Cullamore, Carney, Co Sligo 

Cullane, Sixmilebridge, Co Clare – ruin

A Georgian house with a bow window, overlooking the lake. Had a good scrolled overmantel in one room. Now a ruin.  

Culmore House, Ballykelly, County Derry 

A good quality late-Georgian house of brilliant red brick, built 1805.

Cultra Manor, Craigavad, County Down 

Originally a large plain house with a central bow and a battlemented parapet. Towards the end of the C19, or in the opening years of C20, Robert Kennedy, a diplomat who eventually became Minister to Uruguay, replaced the house with a long two storey mansion built of rubble and ashlar facings, which he named Cultra Manor. 

Cultra Bishops’ Palace, Cultra, County Down 

“A gabled Victorian house with a battlemented tower at one corner.” 

Curragh, Lisnaskea, County Fermanagh

A two storey three bay house with quoins, said to have been originally built ca 1699-1700.  

Curragh Chase, Adare, Co Limerick

Curraghmore, Ballinrobe, Co Mayo 

Curraghmore, Portlaw, County Waterford – section 482 in 2019 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2020/08/01/curraghmore-portlaw-county-waterford/

Curraglass, Co Cork – ‘lost’  

Currarevagh, Oughterard, Co Galway – accommodation 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2023/05/31/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-county-galway/

Curravordy (see Mount Pleasant), Co Cork  

Cuskinny, Cobh, Co Cork  

Note that the majority of these are private houses, not open to the public. I discovered “my bible” of big houses by Mark Bence-Jones only after I began this project of visiting historic houses that have days that they are open to the public (Section 482 properties).

This is a project I have been working on for a while, collecting pictures of houses. Enjoy! Feel free to contact me to send me better photographs if you have them! I’ll be adding letters as I go…

Bagenalstown House, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow

Bailieborough Castle (also known as Lisgar House or The Castle), Co Cavan  – demolished 

Balheary House, Swords, Co Dublin  – demolished 2005 

Ballaghtobin, Callan, Co Kilkenny 

Ballea Castle, County Cork 

This is great, I am finding new places to stay! See their website https://balleacastle.com

Ballibay House (or Ballybay), Ballibay, Co Monaghan – demolished 

Ballin Temple (or Ballintemple), Tullow, Co Carlow – demolished 

Ballina Park, Ashford, Co Wicklow 

Ballinaboola House, Co Wexford

Ballinaboy, Clifden, Co Galway 

Ballinacarriga (or Ballynacarriga), Kilworth, Co Cork 

Ballinaclea (or Ballinclea), Killiney, Co Dublin – demolished 

Ballinaclough House, Nenagh, Co Tipperary 

Ballinacor House, Rathdrum, County Wicklow 

Ballinafad (or Ballinafed), Balla, Co Mayo 

They offer accommodation, see their website: http://www.ballinafadhouse.com

Ballinahina, White’s Cross, Co Cork 

Ballinahown Court (or Ballynahown, Bence Jones), Count Westmeath

Ballinahy, Co Tipperary (see Anner Castle) 

Ballinakill House, Waterford, Co. Waterford 

Ballinalacken, County Clare (see Ballynalacken)

Ballinaminton, Clara, Co Offaly 

Ballinamona, Cashel, Co Tipperary 

Ballinamona Park, Waterford 

Ballinamore House, Kiltimagh, Co Mayo 

Ballinclea, Killiney, County Dublin

Ballinderry Park, Ballinderry Park, Kilconnell, Ballinasloe, Galway

Ballinderry, Carbury, Co Kildare 

Ballindoon House (formerly Kingsborough), Derry, Co Sligo

Ballingarrane (formerly known as Summerville), Clonmel, Co. Tipperary 

Ballingarry, Co. Limerick: The Turret, see The Turret 

Ballinkeele, Ballymurn, Enniscorthy, Wexford  – whole house rental 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2023/11/15/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-county-wexford/

Ballinlough Castle, Clonmellon, Co. Westmeath or Meath – accommodation

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/10/28/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-county-meath-leinster/

Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo 

Ballinsperrig, (see Anngrove), County Cork

Ballintaggart, Colbinstown, Co. Kildare 

Ballinterry House, Rathcormac, Co Cork – accommodation 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/05/17/places-to-visit-and-stay-munster-county-cork/

Ballintober House, Ballinahassig, Co Cork  – demolished 

Ball’s Grove, Drogheda, Co Louth 

Bally Ellis, County Wexford

Ballyanahan (or Ballyenahan), Co Cork

Ballyanne House, New Ross, Co Wexford

Ballyarnett, Derry, County Derry 

Ballyarthur, Woodenbridge, Co Wicklow 

Ballybricken, Ringaskiddy, Co Cork

Ballybroony, Co Mayo 

Ballyburly, Edenderry, Co Offaly

Ballycanvan House, Waterford, Co Waterford  

Ballycarron House, Golden, Co Tipperary 

Ballycastle Manor House, County Antrim

Ballyclough, Kilworth, Co Cork – partly demolished 

Ballyclough House, Ballysheedy, Co Limerick

Ballyconnell House, Ballyconnell, Co Cavan

Ballyconnell House, Falcarragh, Co Donegal  

Ballyconra House, Ballyragget, Co. Kilkenny 

Ballycross, Bridgetown, Co Wexford  – demolished 

Ballycullen, Askeaton, Co Limerick 

Ballycurrin Castle, Co Mayo 

Ballycurry, Ashford, Co Wicklow 

Ballydarton, near Leighlinbridge, Co Carlow

Ballydavid, Woodstown, County Waterford

Ballydivity, Ballymoney, County Antrim

Ballydonelan Castle, Loughrea, Co Galway – ‘lost’ 

Ballydrain House, Drumbeg, County Antrim

Ballyduff, Thomastown, Co Kilkenny 

Ballydugan House, Portaferry, County Down

Used to provide accommodation, I’m not sure if it still does.

Ballyedmond, Midleton, Co Cork – demolished after 1960.  

Ballyedmond Castle, Killowen, County Down – can visit gardens. 

Ballyeigan, Birr, Co Offaly

Ballyellis, Buttevant, Co Cork

Ballyfin House, Mountrath, County Laois – hotel 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/10/27/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-county-laois-leinster/

Ballygally Castle, Larne, County Antrim – hotel

See my entry about it on my page of places to stay in County Antrim https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/03/21/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-ulster-county-antrim/

Ballygarth Castle, Julianstown, Co Meath 

Ballygawley Park, Ballygawley, Couny Tyrone

Ballygiblin, near Mallow, Co Cork – ruin  

Ballyglan, Woodstown, Co Waterford 

Ballyglunin Park, Monivea, Co. Galway 

Available for hire https://ballygluninpark.ie

Ballyhaise House, Ballyhaise, Co. Cavan – agricultural college 

Ballyheigue Castle, near Tralee, Co Kerry – ‘lost’  

Ballyhemock (or Ballyhimmock) (see Annes Grove), Co Cork  

Ballyhossett, Downpatrick, County Down 

Ballyin, Lismore, Co Waterford 

Ballykealey, Tullow, Co Carlow – now a hotel 

See my entry on places to stay in County Carlow https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/10/14/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-leinster-carlow/

Ballykeane, Redcross, County Wicklow

Ballykilbeg, County Down 

Ballykilcavan, Stradbally, Laois – runs a brewery 

Ballykilty, Quin, Co Clare 

Ballykilty, Co Limerick (see Plassey House) 

Ballyknockane, Ballingarry, County Limerick

Ballyknockane Lodge, Ballypatrick, Co. Tipperary

Ballylickey House, Bantry, Co Cork – hotel, Seaview House Hotel

See their website https://seaviewhousehotel.com

Ballylin House, Ferbane, Co Offaly – demolished 

Ballyline House (formerly White House), Callan, Co Kilkenny 

Ballylough House, Bushmills, County Antrim 

See my entry about it on my page of places to stay in County Antrim https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/03/21/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-ulster-county-antrim/

Ballymack House, Cuffesgrange, Co Kilkenny 

Ballymaclary House, Magilligan, Co Derry 

Ballymacmoy, Killavullen, Co Cork – coach house airbnb  

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/05/17/places-to-visit-and-stay-munster-county-cork/

Ballymacool, Letterkenny, Co Donegal – ruin  

Ballymagarvey, Balrath, Co Meath – wedding venue

See their website https://www.ballymagarvey.ie

Ballymaloe, Cloyne, Co Cork  – accommodation  

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/05/17/places-to-visit-and-stay-munster-county-cork/

Ballymanus, Stradbally, Co Laois

Ballymartle, Kinsale, County Cork

Ballymascanion (the Cottage), Co Louth  

Ballymascanlon House, Louth  – hotel 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/10/28/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-county-louth-leinster/

Ballymena Castle, County Antrim – demolished

Ballymoney Park, Kilbridge, County Wicklow

Ballymore, Cobh, Co Cork

Ballymore Castle, Laurencetown, Co. Galway 

Ballymore, Camolin, Co Wexford – museum 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2023/11/15/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-county-wexford/

Ballymoyer House, Belleek, County Armagh – demolished

Ballynacourty, Co Limerick

Ballynacourty, Tipperary, Co Tipperary (see Ballinacourty) 

Ballynacree House, Ballymoney, County Antrim – available for accommodation

Available for accommodation, https://ballynacreehouse.com

Ballynaguarde, Ballyneety, Co Limerick

Ballynahinch Castle, Connemara, Co. Galway  – hotel

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2023/05/31/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-county-galway/

Ballynahown Court, Athlone, Co Westmeath (see Ballinahown Court) 

Ballynalacken Castle, Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare – hotel 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2023/01/20/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-county-clare/

Ballynaparka, Cappoquin, Co Waterford 

Ballynastragh, Gorey, Co Wexford

Ballynatray House, Glendine, Co Waterford – 482 gardens in 2023 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2023/12/21/ballynatray-estate-county-waterford-p36-t678-gardens-only/

Ballyneale House, Ballingarry, Co Limerick 

Ballynegall, Mullingar, Co Westmeath

Ballynoe (or Newtown), Tullow, Co Carlow

Ballynoe House, Rushbrooke, Co Cork

Ballynoe, Ballingarry, Co Limerick

Ballynure, Grange Con, Co Wicklow 

Ballyorney House, Enniskerry, County Wicklow

Ballyowen (formerly New Park), Cashel, Co Tipperary

Ballyquin House, Ardmore, Co Waterford 

Ballyragget Grange, County Kilkenny (see The Grange)

Ballyrankin, Ferns, County Wexford

Ballysaggartmore, Lismore, Co Waterford – lost 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/05/26/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-munster-county-waterford/

Ballysallagh House, Johnswell, Co Kilkenny 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/06/17/ballysallagh-house-johnswell-co-kilkenny/

Ballyscullion, Bellaghy, County Derry – Ballyscullion Park 

Wedding venue https://www.ballyscullionpark.com

Ballyseede Castle/ Ballyseedy, Tralee, county Kerry – section 482 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2023/09/02/ballyseede-castle-ballyseede-tralee-co-kerry/

Ballyshanduffe House (also known as The Derries), Portarlington, Co Laois 

Ballyshannon House, Ballyshannon, Co Donegal  

Ballyteigue Castle, Kilmore Quay, County Wexford

Ballytrent House, Broadway, Co Wexford – one wing rental 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2023/11/15/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-county-wexford/

Ballytrim, County Down 

Ballyvolane, Co Cork  – demolished  

Ballyvolane, Castlelyons, Co Cork – Hidden Ireland accommodation  

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/05/17/places-to-visit-and-stay-munster-county-cork/

Ballyvonare (also called Ballinavonear), Buttevant, Co Cork   

Ballywalter Park, Newtownards, Co Down 

See their website https://ballywalterpark.com

Ballyward Lodge, County Down 

Ballywhite House, Portaferry, County Down 

Ballywillwill House, near Castlewellan, County Down 

Balrath, Kells, Co Meath – section 482 and accommodation

See https://balrathcourtyard.ie 

Balrath Bury, County Meath 

Baltiboys, Blessington, Co Wicklow  

Baltrasna, Oldcastle, Co Meath 

Balyna, Moyvalley, Co Kildare – weddings (Moy Valley Hotel)

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2023/06/08/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-county-kildare/

Bancroft House, County Down 

Bangor Castle, County Down

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2023/10/06/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-county-down-northern-ireland/

Bannow House (originally Grange House), Bannow, Co Wexford 

Bansha Castle, Bansha, Co Tipperary 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/10/19/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-county-tipperary-munster/

Bantry House & Garden, Bantry, Co. Cork – section 482, and accommodation  

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/12/01/bantry-house-garden-bantry-co-cork/

Barbavilla, Collinstown, Co Westmeath 

Barberstown Castle, Kildare  – hotel 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2023/06/08/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-county-kildare/

Bargy Castle, Tomhaggard, Co Wexford 

Barmeath Castle, Dunleer, Drogheda, Co Louth – section 482 in 2019 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2020/10/23/barmeath-castle-dunleer-drogheda-county-louth/

Barnabrow, Cloyne, Co Cork – accommodation and wedding venue

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/05/17/places-to-visit-and-stay-munster-county-cork/

See their website https://www.barnabrowhouse.ie

Barnane, near Templemore, Co Tipperary

Barne, Clonmel, Tipperary 

Baronrath House, Straffan, Co Kildare

Barons Court, Newtownstewart, County Tyrone

See their website https://barons-court.com

Baronston House (or Baronstown), Ballinacargy, Co Westmeath

Barraghcore House, Goresbridge, Co Kilkenny 

Barretstown Castle, Ballymore Eustace, Kildare  – children’s camp 

Barretstown House, Newbridge, Co Kildare 

Barrowmount, Co Kilkenny 

Barrymore Lodge, Castlelyons, Co Cork 

Barryscourt Castle, Carrigtwohill, Co Cork  – ruin, open to public 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/01/19/office-of-public-works-properties-munster/

Baymount, Clontarf, Co Dublin (Manresa) – owned by Jesuits 

Beamond House, Duleek, County Meath or Beaumond House, Duleek, Co Meath 

Beardiville House, County Antrim 

Bearforest, Mallow, Co Cork 

Beaulieu, Drogheda, County Louth 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2021/03/17/beaulieu-county-louth/

Beaumond House, Duleek, Co Meath 

Beauparc, Co Meath – section 482 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/07/22/beauparc-house-beau-parc-navan-co-meath/

Bective House, Bective, Co Meath 

Bedford House, Listowel, Co Kerry 

Beech Park, Clonsilla, Co Dublin 

Beechmount, Rathkeale, Co Limerick 

Beechwood Park, Nenagh, Co Tipperary

Beechy Park (formerly Bettyfield), Rathvilly, Co Carlow

Belan, Co Laois

Belan, County Kildare – ‘lost’ 

Belcamp House (also known as Belcamp Hutchinson), Balgriffin, County Dublin  – a college 

Belcamp Hall, Balgriffin, County Dublin

Belcamp Park, Balgriffin, County Dublin

Belfast Castle, County Antrim 

See my entry on my page Places to visit and stay in County Antrim https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/03/21/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-ulster-county-antrim/

Belfort, Charleville, Co Cork – demolished 1958  

Belgard Castle, Clondalkin, Co Dublin 

Belgrove, Cobh, Co Cork – demolished 1954  

Bellaghy Castle and Bawn, Bellaghy, County Derry

Bellair, Ballycumber, County Offaly 

Bellamont Forest, Cootehill, Co Cavan

Bellarena, Magilligan, County Derry 

Belle Isle, Lisbellaw, County Fermanagh 

Belle Isle, Lorrha, Co Tipperary 

Belleek Castle (or Manor, or Ballina House), Ballina, Mayo  – gives tours and hotel 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/05/15/places-to-stay-and-visit-in-connacht-leitrim-mayo-and-sligo/

Bellegrove (also Rathdaire), Ballybrittas, Co Laois – (demolished) 

Belleview, Co Cavan

Belleville Park (see Bellville) Cappoquin, County Waterford

Bellevue, Tamlaght, County Fermanagh

Bellevue, Co Galway (see Lisreaghan) – ‘lost’ 

Bellevue House, Slieverue, Co Kilkenny 

Bellevue, Co Leitrim 

Bellevue, Borrisokane, County Tipperary

Bellevue, Delgany, Co Wicklow

Belline, Piltown, Co Kilkenny 

Bellinter House near Bective, County Meath – hotel and restaurant 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/10/28/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-county-meath-leinster/

Bellmont House, Mullingar, County Westmeath

Bellville Park (or Belleville, formerly Bettyville), Cappoquin, Co Waterford 

Bellwood, Templemore, Co Tipperary 

Belmont, Banbridge, County Down

A hotel, https://www.belmontbanbridge.co.uk

Beltrim Castle, Gortin, County Tyrone

Belvedere, Mullingar, County Westmeath– open to visitors 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2024/05/23/belvedere-house-gardens-and-park-county-westmeath/

Belvedere, County Down 

Belvoir, Sixmilebridge, Co Clare – ruin 

Belvoir Park, Newtownards, County Down – demolished 1950s 

Benburb, County Tyrone: Manor House

Benekerry (or Bennekerry), near Carlow, Co Carlow

Bennett’s Court, Cobh, Co Cork – medical clinic  

Benown (also known as Harmony Hall), Athlone, Co Westmeath 

Benvarden House, Dervock, County Antrim

The gardens are open to the public in the summer, https://www.benvarden.co.uk

Berkeley Forest, New Ross, Co Wexford

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2023/11/15/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-county-wexford/

Bermingham House, Tuam, Co Galway 

Bert (or De Burgh Manor), Athy, Co Kildare 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2023/06/08/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-county-kildare/

Bessborough, Blackrock, Co Cork 

Bessborough, Piltown, Co Kilkenny (Kidalton College) 

Bessmount Park, Drumrutagh, Co Monaghan

Bettyfield (see Beechy Park), County Carlow

Bingfield, Crossdoney, Co Cavan

Bingham Castle, Belmullet, Co Mayo

Birchfield, Co Clare – ‘lost’ 

Birdstown House, Muff, Co Donegal  – burnt ca 1984  

Birr Castle, Co Offaly – open to public 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2025/07/21/birr-castle-county-offaly-section-482/

Bishops’ Palace, (see Clarisford), Killaloe, County Clare 

Bishops’ Palace, Cork, Co Cork

Bishop’s Palace, Derry, County Derry 

Bishops’ Palace, Raphoe, Co Donegal  – a ruin  

Bishop’s Palace, Cultra, County Down

Bishop’s Palace, Dromore, County Down

Bishop’s Palace, Kilkenny, County Kilkenny  

Bishopscourt, Straffan, Co Kildare 

Black Castle, Navan, Co Meath

Black Hall, Termonfeckin, Co Louth 

Blackhall, Clane, Co Kildare 

Blackrock, Bantry (see Bantry House), Co Cork  

Blackwater Castle (or Castle Widenham), Castletownroche, Co Cork

Available for hire, see my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/05/17/places-to-visit-and-stay-munster-county-cork/

Blanchville, Gowran, Co Kilkenny 

Coachyard accommodation, see https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/10/28/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-county-kilkenny-leinster/

Blandsfort, Abbeyleix, Co Laois 

Blarney Castle, Co Cork – section 482 – open to the public  

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/09/23/blarney-castle-rock-close-blarney-co-cork/

Blarney House & Gardens, Blarney, Co Cork – section 482 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/09/30/blarney-house-gardens-blarney-co-cork/

Blayney Castle, or Hope Castle, County Monaghan

Blessingbourne, Fivemiletown, County Tyrone

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/04/03/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-ulster-counties-fermanagh-monaghan-and-tyrone/

Blessington House, Co Wicklow

Bloomfield, Claremorris, Co Mayo – demolished 

Bloomfield, Co Westmeath 

Bloomsbury House, Kells, County Meath 

Boakefield, Ballitore, Co Kildare 

Bogay, Newtowncunningham, Co Donegal 

Bolton Castle, Moone, Co Kildare 

Bonnettstown Hall, Kilkenny, Co Kilkenny  

Boomhall, County Derry 

Borris House, County Carlow – section 482 in 2019 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2020/10/04/borris-house-county-carlow/

Borrismore House (formerly Marymount), Urlingford, Co Kilkenny 

Bowen’s Court, Kildorrery, County Cork – demolished 1961  

Boyne House (see Stackallan) County Meath

Boytonrath, Cashel, Co Tipperary 

Bracklyn Castle, Killucan, Co Westmeath 

Brade House, Leap, Co Cork

Braganstown, Castlebellingham, Co Louth 

Braganza, Carlow, Co Carlow – converted into apartments

Breaghwy (or Breaffy), Castlebar, Co Mayo – hotel

Brianstown, Cloondara, Co Longford 

Bridestown, Glenville, Co Cork

Bridestream House, Knocknatulla, Co Meath 

Brightsfieldstown, Minane Bridge, Co Cork – demolished 1984  

Brittas Castle, Clonaslee, Co Laois – ruin 

Brittas, Nobber, County Meath 

Brittas Castle, Thurles, Co Tipperary 

Brockley Park, Stradbally, Co Laois – a ruin 

Brook Lodge, Glanmire, Co Cork – new house  

Brook Lodge, Halfway House, Co Waterford 

Brookfield House, County Down 

See https://www.abandonedni.com/single-post/brookfield-house

Brooklands, Belfast

Browne’s Hill House, Chapelstown, Co Carlow

Brownhall, Ballintra, Co Donegal 

Brownlow House, Lurgan, County Armagh – National Trust 

See my entry on my page https://irishhistorichouses.com/2023/10/05/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-county-armagh-northern-ireland/

Brownsbarn, Thomastown, Co Kilkenny 

Brownswood, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford 

Bruree House, Bruree, County Limerick

Bullock Castle, Dalkey, Co Dublin

Buncrana Castle, Buncrana, Co Donegal

Bunowen Castle, Co Galway  – ‘lost’ 

Bunratty Castle, Co. Clare – open to public 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2023/01/20/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-county-clare/

Burgage, Leighlinbridge, Co Carlow

Accommodation is available in the mews, www.themews.ie/

Burnchurch House, Bennettsbridge, Co Kilkenny  

Burnham House, near Dingle, Co Kerry 

Burntcourt Castle, or Burncourt, or Everard’s Castle, Clogheen, Co Tipperary 

Burrenwood Cottage, County Down 

Burton Hall, County Carlow – demolished

A three-bay single-storey over basement granite built residence remains, built c. 1725, originally wing of the larger house, which was demolished around 1930.

Burton Park (formerly Burton House), Churchtown, Co Cork – section 482 in 2019  

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2024/02/08/burton-park-churchtown-mallow-county-cork-p51-vn8h/

Burtown House and Garden, Athy, Co Kildare – section 482 in 2019 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2023/06/08/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-county-kildare/

Busherstown, Moneygall, County Offaly 

Bushfield, Co Kerry (see Kilcoleman Abbey) 

Bushy Park, Terenure, Co Dublin – apartments 

Butlerstown Castle, Tomhaggard, Co Wexford 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2023/11/15/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-county-wexford/

Buttevant Castle, Buttevant, Co. Cork  – ruin  

Byblox, Doneraile, Co Cork – demolished  

Yesterday I posted the first of my entries based on Mark Bence-Jones’s Guide to Irish Country Houses [1] but today I have updated it with links to my relevant entries, about the places which are open to the public or which provide accommodation. I will make sure to include them in further entries. Do let me know if I need to update my site or include other accommodation etc. Here’s the updated page: https://irishhistorichouses.com/2025/09/26/a-guide-to-irish-county-houses-by-mark-bence-jones-contents-and-pictures-houses-beginning-with-a/

[1] Bence-Jones, Mark. A Guide to Irish Country Houses published by Constable and Company Limited, London, 1988, previously published by Burke’s Peerage Ltd as Burke’s Guide to Country Houses, vol. 1 Ireland, 1978.

Note that the majority of these are private houses, not open to the public. I discovered “my bible” of big houses by Mark Bence-Jones only after I began this project of visiting historic houses that have days that they are open to the public (Section 482 properties).

This is a project I have been working on for a while, collecting pictures of houses. Enjoy! Feel free to contact me to send me better photographs if you have them! I’ll be adding letters as I go…

[1] Mark Bence-Jones. A Guide to Irish Country Houses (originally published as Burke’s Guide to Country Houses volume 1 Ireland by Burke’s Peerage Ltd. 1978); Revised edition 1988 Constable and Company Ltd, London.

Abbeville, Malahide, Co Dublin

“A house built for Rt Hon John Beresford, Taster of the Wines in the Port of Dublin, brother of the 1^st Marquess of Waterford and one of the most powerful men in Ireland at the end of C18; its name commemorating the fact that Bereford’s first wife came from Abbeville in Northern France. Of two storeys over a basement; front of 7 bays between two wide curved bows prolonged by singe-storey 1 bay wings, each with a fanlighted triple window and an urn on a die. Pilastered entrance doorway. Good drawing room with alcove, ceiling of Adamesque plasterwork and husk decoration on walls, incorporating circular painted medallions.” [1]

Abbeylands, Whiteabbey, Co Antrim – burnt 1914

“A two storey Victorian house, vaguely Italianate, but with mullioned windows in the centre of its symmetrical front. Shallow curved bows on either side of front, single storey Ionic porch; narrow pedimented attic storey, with three narrow windows, in centre. Burnt 1914 by Suffragettes.” (!) [1]

Abbeyleix House, County Laois

Abbeyville, Ballymote, Co Sligo – lost

Abbotstown House (formerly also known as Sheephill), Castleknock, Co Dublin – sports centre 

Aberdelghy, Lambeg, Co Antrim

Aclare House,  Drumconrath, Co Meath

Adare Manor, County Limerick – hotel

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2023/07/21/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-county-limerick/

Adelphi, Corofin, Co Clare

Affane House, County Waterford

Aggard, Craughwell, County Galway

Aghaboe, Ballybrophy, County Laois

Aghada House, Aghada, Co Cork – gone

Aghade Lodge, Tullow, Co Carlow

Aghadoe House, Killarney, County Kerry

Aghamarta Castle, Carrigaline, Co Cork – house with ruined castle

Aghern, Conna, Co Cork – stud farm

Ahanesk or Ahanisk, Midleton, Co Cork

Aharney, County Laois

Aherlow Castle, Bansha, County Tipperary  – ruin restored, runs courses 

Allenton, Tallaght, Co Dublin – Demolished in 1984

Altamira, Liscarroll, Co Cork

Altamont, Kilbride, Co Carlow – gardens open to public /

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/02/21/office-of-public-works-properties-leinster-carlow-kildare-kilkenny/

Altavilla, Rathkeale, Co Limerick 

Altidore Castle, Kilpeddar, Greystones, Co Wicklow – section 482

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2020/06/25/altidore-castle-kilpeddar-greystones-county-wicklow/

Ampertain House, Upperlands, County Derry 

Anaverna, Dundalk, Co Louth 

Anketill Grove (or Ancketill’s Grove or Anketell Grove), Emyvale,  County Monaghan – gate lodge accommodation 

Anna Liffey House, Lucan, Co Dublin 

Annagh, Riverstown, Co Tipperary – ruin 

Annaghdown House, Carrandulla, Co Galway 

Annaghlee, Cootehill, Co Cavan – gone

Annaghmore, Tullamore, Offaly – recent sale 

Annaghmore, Collooney, Sligo  – accommodation, airbnb 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/10/19/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-county-sligo-connaught/

Annaghs Castle, Glenmore, Co Kilkenny 

Annamakerrig (or Annaghmakerrig, Tyrone Guthrie Centre), Newbliss, Co Monaghan – artist residence 

Annemount, Glounthaune, Co Cork – Fire in 1948, destroyed 

Anner Castle (formerly Ballinahy), Clonmel, Co Tipperary  

“An impressive C19 castle of random ashlar, built in 1860s by Rev. N.H. Mandeville to the design of a Cork architect, William Atkins; incorporating an old square castle of the Mandeville family which had up to then been known as Ballinahy, but which was renamed Anner Castle after being enlarged and transformed. Impressive entrance front with two octagonal battlemented and machicolated towers. Burnt 1926 and only front part rebuilt.” [1]

Annerville, Clonmel, Co Tipperary  

Annes Grove (formerly Ballyhemock or Ballyhimmock), Castletownroche, Co Cork – gardens open to public; gate lodge accommodation

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/01/19/office-of-public-works-properties-munster/

Annesbrook, Duleek, Co Meath 

Annestown House, County Waterford – B&B 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/05/26/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-munster-county-waterford/

Anngrove (formerly Ballinsperrig), Carrigtwohill, Co Cork – demolished by ca. 1965

Antrim Castle, County Antrim – open to the public 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/03/21/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-ulster-county-antrim/

Antrim Castle gardens and Clotworthy House, County Antrim – estate and gardens open to the public, the Castle was destroyed by fire. The stable block, built in the 1840s and now known as Clotworthy House, is used as an arts centre.

Aras an Uachturain, (formerly Vicegreal Lodge and before that, Phoenix Lodge), Phoenix Park, Dublin  

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2023/10/17/office-of-public-works-dublin-aras-an-uachtarain-phoenix-park/

Arbutus Lodge, Montenotte, Co. Cork  – apartments  

Arch Hall, Co Meath  – lost 

Archbishop’s Palace (or Armagh Palace), County Armagh 

Archerstown, Thurles, Co Tipperary  – ruin 

Ardagh House, County Longford

Ardamine, Gorey, Co Wexford – Destroyed by IRA in 1921  

Ardavilling, Cloyne, Co Cork  – burned 2017, being rebuilt  

Ardbraccan House, Navan, Co Meath 

Ardbrack House, Kinsale, Co Cork 

Ardcandrisk House, County Wexford 

Ardee House, Co Louth – hospital 

Ardfert Abbey, County Kerry   – Destroyed by IRA by fire in 1922. 

Ardfinnan Castle, Ardfinnan, Co. Tipperary 

Ardfry, County Galway  – ruins 

Ardgillan Castle, Balbriggan, County Dublin  – open to public

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/10/15/places-to-visit-in-dublin-ardgillan-castle-balbriggan-county-dublin/

Ardglass Castle (also known as The Newark), County Down

Ardigon, Killyleagh, County Down

Ardkeen, Waterford, Co Waterford – hospital 

Ardmore, Passage West, Co Cork

Ardmore Place, Bray, Co Wicklow – film studio 

Ardmulchan, Beauparc, Co. Meath 

Ardnalee, Carrigrohane, Co Cork 

Ardnargle, Limavady, County Derry 

Ardo (also known as Ardogena), Ardmore, Co Waterford

Ardowen House, Co Sligo 

Ardoyne House, Edenderry, County Antrim 

Ardress House, Charlemont, County Armagh (National Trust), open to public 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2023/10/05/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-county-armagh-northern-ireland/

Ardrum, Inniscarra, Co Cork – demolished  

Ardrumman House, Ramelton, County Donegal (supplement)

Ards, Sheephaven, Donegal - demolished ca 1965  

Ardsallagh, Navan, Co Meath 

Ardsallagh, Fethard, Co Tipperary 

Ardtully, Co Kerry  – burnt in 1921, ruin 

The Argory, Charlemont, County Armagh (National Trust) – open to the public

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2023/10/05/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-county-armagh-northern-ireland/

Armagh Palace, County Armagh (see Archbishops’ Palace, County Armagh)

Artramon House, Castlebridge, Co Wexford – B&B 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2023/11/15/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-county-wexford/

Ash Hill Towers, Kilmallock, Co Limerick  – hidden Ireland accommodation, was 482 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2023/04/06/ash-hill-kilmallock-co-limerick/

Ash Park, Feeny, County Derry (glamping) 

Ashbourne House, Co Cork  – no longer a hotel 

Ashbrook, County Derry – whole house rental accommodation 

See my entry on https://irishhistorichouses.com/2023/10/05/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-county-derry-northern-ireland/

Ashburn, Limerick, County Limerick 

Ashfield, Rathfarnham, Co Dublin 

Ashfield Lodge, Cootehill, Co Cavan – gone  

Ashford Castle, Cong, County Galway/ County Mayo  – hotel 

See my entry in https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/05/15/places-to-stay-and-visit-in-connacht-leitrim-mayo-and-sligo/

Ashgrove, Co Cavan

Ashgrove, Cobh, Co Cork – demolished  

Ashley Park, Nenagh, Co Tipperary  – accommodation 

See my entry: https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/10/19/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-county-tipperary-munster/

Ashline, Ennis, Co Clare

Ashton House, Castleknock, Co Dublin 

Ashurst, Killiney, Co Dublin 

Askeaton Castle, Limerick  

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/11/17/office-of-public-works-properties-in-county-tipperary/

Assolas, Kanturk, Co Cork 

Athavallie, Castlebar, County Mayo 

Athcarne Castle, Duleek, Co Meath

Athclare Castle, Co Louth 

Athgoe Park, Hazelhatch, Co Dublin 

Attyflin, Patrickswell, Co Limerick  

Auburn, Athlone, Co Westmeath – Now in use as offices

Aughentaine Castle, Fivemiletown, County Tyrone

This is a private home and the gardens are not open to the public: https://aughentaine.com

Augher Castle, County Tyrone (see Spur Royal)

Aughrane Castle, also known as Castle Kelly, Ballygar, Co Galway  – demolished 1951 

Aughnagaddy House, Ramelton, County Donegal (supplement)

Avondale House, County Wicklow – open to public 

See my entry https://irishhistorichouses.com/2022/10/20/places-to-visit-and-stay-in-county-wicklow-leinster/

Avonmore, Annamoe, Co Wicklow 

Ayesha Castle, Victoria Road, Killiney, Dublin 

Just a reminder to my readers, https://openhousedublin.com/whats-on/

I love Heritage Week, people are so generous with their time. I will be writing about it in the next couple of weeks but here is a quick preview of our week.

We visited Counties Roscommon and Sligo and stayed in the beautiful Andresna House B&B on the shore of Lake Arrow. https://www.andresnahouse.com

Andresna House was probably built as a fishing or hunting lodge, and I will be adding it to my “Places to visit and stay in County Sligo.” Owners Andy and Myriam were unable to determine its precise age, but a nearby house with the same design was built in 1795. I like that the owners run the B&B with an emphasis on organic produce and bed linen – it is a haven of beauty, fine taste and tranquility.

Unfortunately we were only able to stay for one night as we had to get back to Dublin, but while in the area we visited Castlecoote in County Roscommon, Temple House in County Sligo and a property that is not on the Revenue Section 482 list but has been recently renovated and opened for B&B accommodation, Frybrook House in Boyle, County Roscommon https://frybrook.ie.

I was disappointed to learn that Temple House is no longer taking bookings for separate bedrooms for overnight guests, and is only available for group rental. I understand that it’s difficult to run a B&B (and they also served dinner) and I think Roderick and his family feel the need to step back from that end of hospitality. What a splendid house it is! The tour confirmed the Perceval links with Burton Park in County Cork, another Section 482 property https://irishhistorichouses.com/2024/02/08/burton-park-churchtown-mallow-county-cork-p51-vn8h/

At Temple House I met a historian who had worked in the Jacobean Kiplin Hall in Yorkshire, built in the 1620s for George Calvert, founder of Maryland in the United States. I was thrilled when she told me she is familiar with my website. It was great to receive a vote of confidence. She shared with me photographs of a visit she had made earlier in the week to the beautiful Raford House in Galway, a member of Historic Houses of Ireland which is not normally open to the public. This year the Historic Houses of Ireland participated in the Open Doors initiative, giving visitors an opportunity to explore homes that are not normally open to the public. https://www.ihh.ie I learned of the initiative too late to make plans, unfortunately – I do hope they do it again next year! I would have loved to avail of the opportunity to visit Ballydarton in County Carlow, Lohort Castle and Laurentinum House in Cork, Richmond House in Fermoy, Roundwood and Ballykilcalvan in Laois, Castlegarde in Limerick and Castlecor in Longford.

On Tuesday Stephen and I returned to Birr Castle for another tour – it’s so rich with living history, antiques, portraits, Gothic vaulting, brocades, enormous pelmets, crests and tapestries, I would need hours to take in its splendour and stories.

We had a little wander on the grounds to the formal gardens but didn’t have long until our tour at Bellefield House and Gardens nearby. Architect and landscape architect Angela Jupe left her beloved house, renovated outbuildings and nearly two acre walled gardens to the Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland, and the head gardener led tours during Heritage Week. The gardens are often open to the public during the year – check their website for details https://rhsi.ie/rhsi-bellefield/. I was excited that we were allowed to see inside the house as well as the garden on this Heritage Week tour. I love Angela Jupe’s taste in decor and furnishing, and her fondness for architectural salvage. Note that the coach house, renovated by Angela, can be rented as accommodation too. The website tells us that it has an accessible downstairs double bedroom and shower room and an upstairs mezzanine room with a double bed. There’s a fully equipped kitchen and an open plan living room and stove with access directly out onto the lower walled garden. For enquiries for both events in the large open space or accommodation, check the website.

Angela previously owned Fancroft Mill in County Tipperary, another Section 482 property which I look forward to visiting.

We enjoyed the tour of the garden and learned that good garden hygeine should help to cure our apple trees of their black spot infection. For the third time that week we sampled apples – or in the case of Castlecoote, delicious sweet apple juice.

Due to the heatwave we had to take a break from house visits in order to drive down to Wexford to water my vegetable garden. I was disappointed to realise that Ballyhack Castle, a tower house owned by the Office of Public Works but closed most of the time, was open for most of Heritage Week this year but closed on the days we were in Wexford!

However, we returned to Dublin to visit Howth Castle on Friday. Historian Daniel Eglington-Carey, who currently lives in the castle and gives tours, explained how the forecourt displays the different dates when parts of the castle were built. The St. Lawrence family settled in the location nearly 800 years ago and only moved out recently. None of the original structure remains, but the gate tower dates from 1450. My friend Gary and I really enjoyed the tour, and look forward to returning as a longer tour brings visitors to the Lutyens garden behind the castle. https://howthcastle.ie I’ll be updating my page soon with more about our visit.

I am preparing for my busiest week of the year: Heritage Week! All of the section 482 houses are open for a visit (except those listed as Tourist Accommodation). See my home page for opening times: https://irishhistorichouses.com

This year we were lucky enough to secure a place on a tour of Temple House in County Sligo, which is normally not open as it is on the section 482 list as accommodation, but this year they are giving tours on Sunday 17th – you have to book in advance but maybe there are still places left.

I can’t wait to identify the people in the portraits! I do hope we have time to do so, as it’s only a 45 minute tour.

We are staying in what looks like a historic farm house, Andresna House, on the border of Roscommon and Sligo. I look forward to finding out more about its history. https://www.andresnahouse.com

We’ll also be visiting Castlecoote in County Roscommon. It was always booked for accommodation in previous years when I asked to visit so I am happy to have this opportunity.

We may get to Frybrook house in Boyle as well.

We’re mainly based in Dublin and Wexford this year since we can’t afford to stay away from home – and I need to water my veggies in Wexford at some point during this heatwave!

We’re off to Birr again, where we spent time last year during Heritage week to see Crotty Church. This time we have booked a tour of the Castle. While in the area, we will also visit Bellefield house and gardens.

I’m excited that we also managed to book a place on the tour of Howth Castle. I was in it once before, for the book sale when it was sold after over 800 years of ownership. We only saw the impressive front hall and library so I can’t wait to see some more, although unfortunately it will probably be empty since contents were also sold.

I have also booked a tour of Rokeby in County Louth, which we visited years ago but I’d love to see again, to have our dose of Francis Johnston, also visiting Townley Hall.

Let us know if you have Heritage Week plans – you can share in the Comments section.

In previous years, we have been very busy during Heritage Week, and we visited houses before I embarked upon this project. In 2019 I read an article in the Irish Times about the Section 482 scheme and I decided to visit them and to blog 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.

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/

Heritage Week visits in previous years:

Old Glebe in Newcastle Lyons, County Dublin, during Heritage Week 2012:

Primrose Hill, County Dublin, 17th August 2013:

Huntington Castle, County Carlow, in August 2016:

In 2019 we visited Swainstown House in County Meath, Marlay Park house in Rathfarnham (we’ll be visiting again next month when it is open during Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown Heritage), Beaulieu in County Louth, and Harristown House and Blackhall Castle in County Kildare. Not all are on the Section 482 property list.

Swainstown House, County Meath, 19th August 2019

Harristown, County Kildare, 22nd August 2019

Blackhall Castle, County Kildare, 22nd August 2019

In 2020 during Heritage Week we went to Counties Cork and Waterford:

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
Drishane House, Castletownshend, Co. Cork – 20th Aug 2020

Kilshannig, County Cork, 14th August 2020

Dromana House, Cappoquin, Co. Waterford – 15th Aug 2020

Cappoquin, County Waterford, 15th August 2020

Drishane House, County Cork, 20th August 2020

Baltimore Castle, County Cork, 20th August 2020

In 2021 we headed to County Sligo and Mayo for Heritage Week then over to Counties Westmeath, Kilkenny and Carlow.

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

Markree Castle, County Sligo, 16th August 2021

Newpark, County Sligo, 16th August 2021

Enniscoe, County Mayo, 17th August 2021

Coopershill, County Sligo, 18th August 2021

The Old Rectory Killedmond, Borris, Co. Carlow – 1st July 2020 and 23rd Aug 2021, where we stayed in a shepherd’s hut.

Kilfane, County Kilkenny, 23rd August 2021

In 2022 during Heritage Week we travelled to Counties Limerick, Galway and on up to Roscommon, Sligo and Leitrim and home via County Monaghan! We treated ourselves to a stay in Ash Hill in County Limerick.

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

Beechwood, County Tipperary, 13th August 2022

Glenview, County Limerick, 14th August 2022

Mount Trenchard, County Limerick, 14th August 2022

Oranmore Castle, County Galway, 15th August 2022

Claregalway Castle, County Galway, 15th August 2022

King House, County Roscommon, 18th August 2022

Strokestown Park, County Roscommon, August 2022

Lissadell, County Sligo, 19th August 2022

Manorhamilton, County Leitrim, 20th August 2022

Hilton Park, County Monaghan, 21st August 2022

In 2023 during Heritage Week we visited Counties Waterford, Tipperary, and Cork:

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

That year we made a circle from around Clogheen County Tipperary, driving through it to our first airbnb in County Waterford and ending up nearby at our last airbnb in Ardfinnan in County Tipperary. We visited ten Section 482 properties!

Our last day in Heritage Week 2023, we visited Clashleigh House in Clogheen, County Tipperary. A beautiful house, it was used for some years as a rectory. We visited in the morning, so had time to drive down to Lismore in the afternoon to see the idyllic Lismore Castle gardens.

In 2024 during Heritage Week we went to the wonderful Charleville Woods Castle in County Offaly (which is not Section 482). 

On the Monday we went to see Tullynisk house. We were given a wonderful tour by its resident Alicia Clements, daughter of the Earl of Rosse, who married a descendant of Nathaniel Clements who built the Áras an Uachtaráin in the Phoenix Park.

Emo Park finally opened its doors albeit for just a few days during the week last year. 

We found ourselves with spare time after Emo Park as it was too rainy to wander the lush grounds, so we headed to Roscrea for more OPW properties: Damer House and Roscrea Castle. Unfortunately we weren’t allowed to take photographs inside Damer House except in the exhibition rooms. After a tour of Damer House we went across the bawn to tour Roscrea Castle. It is a treasure for the beautiful ancient town of Roscrea.

We went to Birr last year to attend a talk about the Crotty Schism which took place in the Catholic church in the mid 1800s.

On the Saturday we visited Ballybrittan Castle, which we were lucky to see before it changes hands to a new owner. Rosemarie warmly welcomed her visitors, sharing the home she lived in and loved for 27 years along with her late husband Jerry Healy, who served on the boards of the Irish Georgian Society and the Alfred Beit Foundation, which manages Russborough House, Co Wicklow.