I love starting a new year. The new listing for Section 482 properties won’t be published until February or March, so at the moment we will have to rely on 2021 listings (January listings below).
I had an amazing 2021 and visited lots of properties! As well as those I’ve written about so far, I am hoping to hear back for approval for a few more write-ups. Last year Stephen and I visited thirteen section 482 properties, thirteen OPW properties, and some other properties maintained by various groups.
The Section 482 properties we visited were Mount Usher gardens and Killruddery in County Wicklow; Killineer House and gardens in County Louth; Salthill Gardens in County Donegal; Stradbally Hall in County Laois; Enniscoe in County Mayo; Tullynally in County Westmeath; Kilfane Glen and Waterfall in County Kilkenny; Killedmond Rectory in County Carlow; Coopershill, Newpark and Markree Castle in County Sligo and Wilton Castle in County Wexford.
The OPW properties we visited were Dublin Castle, the Irish National War Memorial Gardens, National Botanic Gardens, Rathfarnham Castle, St. Stephen’s Green, Iveagh Gardens, Phoenix Park and Royal Hospital Kilmainham in Dublin; Emo Court, County Laois; Portumna Castle, County Galway; Fore Abbey in County Westmeath; Parke’s Castle, County Leitrim; and Ballymote Castle, County Sligo.
We also visited Duckett’s Grove, maintained by Carlow County Council; Woodstock Gardens and Arbortetum maintained by Kilkenny County Council; Johnstown Castle, County Wexford maintained by the Irish Heritage Trust (which also maintains Strokestown Park, which we have yet to visit – hopefully this year! it’s a Section 482 property – and Fota House, Arboretum and Gardens, which we visited in 2020); Dunguaire Castle, County Clare, which is maintained by Shannon Heritage, as well as Newbridge House, which we also visited in 2021. Shannon Heritage also maintains Bunratty Castle, Knappogue Castle and Cragganowen Castle in County Clare, King John’s Castle in Limerick, which we visited in 2019, Malahide Castle in Dublin which I visited in 2018, GPO museum, and the Casino model railway museum. We also visited Belvedere House, Gardens and Park – I’m not sure who maintains it (can’t see it on the website).
We were able to visit two historic properties when we went to view auction sales at Townley Hall, County Louth and Howth Castle, Dublin.
Finally some private Big Houses that we visited, staying in airbnbs, were Annaghmore in County Sligo and Cregg Castle in Galway.
Here are the listings for January 2021:
Cavan
Cabra Castle (Hotel)
Kingscourt, Co. Cavan
Howard Corscadden.
Tel: 042-9667030
Open dates in 2021: all year, except Dec 24, 25, 26, 11am-12 midnight
Fee: Free
Corravahan House & Gardens
Corravahan, Drung, Ballyhaise, Co. Cavan
Ian Elliott
Tel: 087-9772224
Open dates in 2021: Jan 4-5, 11-12, 18-19, 25-26, Feb 1-2, 8-9, 15-16, 22-23, Mar 1-2, 8-9, May 4- 5, 9-12, 16-19, 23-26, 30-31, June 1-4, Aug 14-31, Sept 1-2, 9am-1pm, Sundays 2pm- 6pm
Fee: adult €10, OAP/student/child €5
Clare
Newtown Castle
Newtown, Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare
Mary Hawkes- Greene
Tel: 065-7077200
www.newtowncastle.com , www.burrencollege.ie
Open dates in 2021: Jan 4-May 31, Mon-Fri, June 1-30 Mon-Sat, July 1-Aug 31 daily, Sept 1-Dec 17 Mon-Fri, 10am-5pm
Fee: Free
Cork
Blarney Castle & Rock Close
Blarney, Co. Cork
C. Colthurst
Tel: 021-4385252
Open dates in 2021: all year except Christmas Eve & Christmas Day, Jan-Mar, Mon-Sat, 9am- sundown, Sun, 9am-6pm
Apr-May, 9am-6pm, June-Aug, Mon-Sat, 9am-7pm, Sun, 9am-6pm, Sept, Mon-Sat, 9am-6.30pm, Sun, 9am-6pm,
Oct, Nov, Dec daily 9am-6pm,
Fee: adult €18, OAP/student €15, child €10, family and season passes
Brideweir House
Conna, Co. Cork
Ronan Fox
Tel: 087-0523256
Open dates in 2021: Jan 1-Dec 24, 11am-4pm
Fee: adult €10, OAP/student €5, child free
Woodford Bourne Warehouse
Sheares Street, Cork
Edward Nicholson
Tel: 021-4273000
www.woodfordbournewarehouse.com
Open dates in 2021: all year except Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, 1pm-11pm
Fee: Free
Donegal
Portnason House
Portnason, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal
Madge Sharkey
Tel: 086-3846843
Open dates in 2021: Jan 18-22, 25-29, Feb 1-5, 8-12, Aug 14-30, Sept 1-17, 20-23, 27-28, Nov 15- 19, 22-26, Dec 1-3 6-10, 13-14, 9am-1pm
Fee: adult €8, OAP/student/child €5
Dublin City
Bewley’s
78-79 Grafton Street/234 Johnson’s Court, Dublin 2
Peter O’ Callaghan
Tel 087-7179367
Open dates in 2021: all year except Christmas Day,
11am-7pm Fee: Free
Hibernian/National Irish Bank
23-27 College Green, Dublin 2
Dan O’Sullivan
Tel: 01-6755100
Open dates in 2021: all year, except Dec 25, Wed-Fri 9.30am-8pm, Sun 11am-7pm, Sat, Mon, Tue, 9.30-7pm
Fee: Free
Powerscourt Townhouse Centre
59 South William Street, Dublin 2
Mary Larkin
Open dates in 2021: All year except New Year’s Day, Easter Sunday, Easter Monday, Christmas Day, St. Stephen’s Day & Bank Holidays, Mon-Sat, 10am-6pm, Thurs, 10am-8pm, Sundays, 12 noon-6pm
Fee: Free
10 South Frederick Street
Dublin 2
Joe Hogan
Tel: 087-2430334
Open dates in 2021: Jan 1-24, May 1, 3-8, 10-15, 17-22, 24-27, Aug 14-22, 2pm-6pm
Fee: Free
County Dublin
“Geragh”
Sandycove Point, Sandycove, Co. Dublin
Gráinne Casey
Tel: 01-2804884
Open dates in 2021: Jan 28-29, Feb 1-5, 8-12, 15-22, May 4-31, Aug 14-22, Sept 1-3, 2pm-6pm Fee: adult €7, OAP €4, student €2, child free
Meander
Westminister Road, Foxrock, Dublin 18,
Ruth O’Herlihy,
Tel: 087-2163623
Open dates in 2021: Jan 4-8, 11-15, 18-22, 25-29, May 1, 4-8, 10-11, 17-22, June 8-12, 14-19, 21- 26, Aug 14-22, 9am-1pm
Fee: adult €5, OAP/child/student €2
Tibradden House
Mutton Lane, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16
Selina Guinness
Tel: 01-4957483
Open dates in 2021: Jan 14-17, 23-24, 28-29, Feb 4-7, 11-12, 19-21, 26-28, May 3-13,16, 18-20, 23-27, June 2-4, 8-10, 14-16, 19-20, Aug 14-22, weekdays 2.30pm-6.30pm, weekends 10.30am-2.30pm
Fee: adult/OAP €8 student €5, child free, Members of An Taisce the The Irish Georgian Society (with membership card) €5
Galway
Woodville House Dovecote & Walls of Walled Garden
Craughwell, Co. Galway
Margarita and Michael Donoghue
Tel: 087-9069191
www.woodvillewalledgarden.com
Open dates in 2021: Jan 29-31, Feb 1-28, Apr 1-13, 11am- 4.30pm, June 1, 6-8, 13-15, 21-22, 27- 29, July 10-11, 17-18, 24-25, 31, Aug 1-2, 6-8, 13-22, 27-29, Sept 4-5, 11am-5pm Fee: adult/OAP €6, child €3, student, €5, family €20, guided tours €10
Kerry
Derreen Gardens
Lauragh, Tuosist, Kenmare, Co. Kerry
John Daly
Tel: 087-1325665
Open dates in 2021: all year, 10am-6pm
Fee: adult/OAP/student €8, child €3, family ticket (2 adults and all children under 18 and 2 maps) €20
Kildare
Farmersvale House
Badgerhill, Kill, Co. Kildare
Patricia Orr
Tel: 086-2552661
Open dates in 2021: Jan 18-31, Feb 1-6, July 23-31, Aug 1-31, 9.30am-1.30pm
Fee: adult €5, student/child/OAP €3, (Irish Georgian Society members free)
Harristown House
Brannockstown, Co. Kildare
Hubert Beaumont
Tel: 087-2588775
Open dates in 2021: Jan 11-15, 18-22, Feb 8-12, 15-19, May 4-28, June 7-11, Aug 14-22, Sept 6-10, 9am-1pm
Fee: adult/OAP/student €10, child €5
Kildrought House
Celbridge Village, Co. Kildare
June Stuart
Tel: 01-6271206, 087-6168651
Open dates in 2021: Jan 1-20, May 18-26, Aug 11-31,10am-2pm
Fee: adult €6, OAP/student/child €3, child under 5 years free, school groups €2 per head
Moyglare Glebe
Moyglare, Maynooth, Co. Kildare
Joan Hayden
Tel: 01-8722238
Open dates in 2021: Jan 4-8, 11-15, 18-22, 25-29, May 1-31, Aug 14-22, Sept 4-7, 8.30am-12.30pm Fee: adult €6, OAP/student/child €3
Kilkenny
Kilkenny Design Centre
Castle Yard, Kilkenny
Joseph O’ Keeffe, Tel: 064-6623331
Open dates in 2021: all year,10am-7pm
Fee: Free
Laois
Ballaghmore Castle
Borris in Ossory, Co. Laois
Grace Pym
Tel: 0505-21453
Open dates in 2021: all year, 9.30am-6pm
Fee: adult €5, child/OAP €3, student free, family of 4, €10
Leitrim
Manorhamilton Castle (Ruin)
Castle St, Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim
Anthony Daly
Tel: 086-2502593
Open dates in 2021: Jan 7-Dec 21, National Heritage Week, Aug 14-22, closed Sat & Sun, 10am- 5pm
Fee: adult €5, child free
Limerick
Ash Hill
Kilmallock, Co. Limerick
Simon and Nicole Johnson
Tel: 063-98035
(Tourist Accommodation Facility)
Open dates in 2021: Jan 15-Oct 31, Nov 1-29, Dec 1-15, 9am-4pm Fee: adult/student €5, child/OAP free
Glebe House
Bruff, Co. Limerick
Colm McCarthy
Tel: 087-6487556
Open dates in 2021: Jan 4-29, May 10-28, Aug 13-22, Sept 13-24, Mon-Fri, 5.30pm-9.30pm, Sat- Sun, 8am-12 noon
Fee: Free
Mayo
Brookhill House
Brookhill, Claremorris, Co. Mayo
Patricia and John Noone
Tel: 094-9371348
Open dates in 2021: Jan 13-20, Apr 13-20, May 18-24, June 8-14, July 13-19, Aug 1-23, 2pm-6pm
Fee: adult €6, student €3, OAP/child/National Heritage Week free
Meath
Cillghrian Glebe now known as Boyne House Slane (or Stackallan)
Slane, Co. Meath
Alan Haugh
Tel: 041-9884444
Open dates in 2021: all year, National Heritage Week, Aug 14-22, 9am-1pm Fee: Free
Dardistown Castle
Dardistown, Julianstown, Co. Meath
Lizanne Allen
Tel: 086 -2774271
Open dates in 2021: Jan 9-31, Feb 11-21, May 15-21, Aug 14-31, Sept 1-30, 10am-2pm Fee: adult €6, student/OAP €5, child free
Gravelmount House
Castletown, Kilpatrick, Navan, Co. Meath
Brian McKenna
Tel: 087-2520523
Open dates in 2021: Jan 1-13, May 10-30, June 1-20, Aug 14-22, 9am-1pm Fee: adult €6, OAP/student/child €3
Moyglare House
Moyglare, Co. Meath
Postal address Maynooth Co. Kildare
Angela Alexander
Tel: 086-0537291
Open dates in 2021: Jan 1, 4-8, 11-15, 18-22, 25-29, May 1-21, 24-28, 31, June 1-3, Aug 14-22, 9am-1pm
Fee: adult €7.50, OAP/student/child €5
St. Mary’s Abbey
High Street, Trim, Co. Meath
Peter Higgins
Tel: 087-2057176
Open dates in 2021: Jan 25-29, Feb 22-26, Mar 8-12, Apr 12-16, May 24-30, June 21-27, July 19- 25, Aug 14-22, Sept 13-17, 20-24, 2pm-6pm
Fee: adult €5, OAP/student/child €2
Tankardstown House
Rathkenny, Slane, Co. Meath
Tadhg Carolan, Tel: 087-7512871
Open dates in 2021: All year including National Heritage Week, 9am-1pm
Fee: Free
Monaghan
Castle Leslie
Glaslough, Co. Monaghan
Samantha Leslie
Tel: 047-88091
(Tourist Accommodation Facility)
Open dates in 2021: all year, National Heritage Week, events August 14-22 Fee: Free
Offaly
Ballybrittan Castle
Ballybrittan, Edenderry, Co. Offaly
Rosemarie
Tel: 087-2469802
Open dates in 2021: Jan 3-4, 10-11, 17-18, 23-24, 30-31, Feb 6-7, 13-14, 20-21, 27-28, Mar 6-7,13- 14, 20-21, 27-28, May 1-2, 8-9, 15-16, 22-23, June 12-13,19-20, 26-27, July 3-4,10- 11,17-18, 24-25, 31, Aug 14-22, Sept 4-14, 2pm-6pm.
Fee: free – except in case of large groups a fee of €5 p.p.
Corolanty House
Shinrone, Birr, Co. Offaly
Siobhan Webb
Tel: 086-1209984
Open dates in 2021: Jan, Feb, July, Aug, Sept, daily 2pm-6pm
Fee: Free
Crotty Church
Castle Street, Birr, Co. Offaly
Brendan Garry
Tel: 086-8236452
Open dates in 2021: All year, except Dec 25, 9am-5pm
Fee: Free
High Street House
High Street, Tullamore, Co. Offaly
George Ross
Tel: 086-3832992
Open dates in 2021: Jan 4-8, 11-15, 18-22, 25-29, May 1-18, Aug 14-22, Sept 1-24, 9.30am-1.30pm Fee: adult/student €5, OAP €4, child under 12 free
Springfield House
Mount Lucas, Daingean, Tullamore, Co. Offaly Muireann Noonan
Tel: 087-2204569
www.springfieldhouse.ie
Open dates in 2021: Jan 1-14, 1pm-5pm, May 14-16, 24-28, July 2-4, 9-11, 16-18, Aug 7-29, 2pm- 6pm, Dec 26-31, 1pm-5pm
Fee: Free
Roscommon
Strokestown Park House
Strokestown Park House, Strokestown, Co. Roscommon
Ciarán
Tel: 01-8748030
Open dates in 2021: Jan 2-Dec 20, Jan, Feb, Mar 1-16, Nov, Dec,10.30am-4pm, March 17-Oct 31, 10.30am-5.30pm,
Fee: adult €14, €12.50, €9.25, OAP/student €12.50, child €6, family €29, groups €11.50
Tipperary
Beechwood House
Ballbrunoge, Cullen, Co. Tipperary
Maura & Patrick McCormack
Tel: 083-1486736
Open dates in 2021: Jan 4-8, 18-22, Feb 1-5, 8-12, May 1-3, 14-17, 21-24, June 11-14, 18-21, Aug 14-22, Sept 3-6, 10-13, 17-20, 24-27, 10.15am-2.15pm
Fee: adult €5, OAP/student €2, child free, fees donated to charity
Waterford
The Presentation Convent
Waterford Healthpark, Slievekeel Road,Waterford Michelle O’ Brien
www.rowecreavin.ie
Tel: 051-370057
Open dates in 2021: Jan 1-Dec 31, excluding Bank Holidays and Sundays, Mon-Fri, 8am-6pm, Sat, 10am-2pm, National Heritage Week, Aug 14-22
Fee: Free
Wexford
Clougheast Cottage
Carne, Co. Wexford
Jacinta Denieffe
Tel: 086-1234322
Open dates in 2021: Jan 11-31, May 1-31 August 14-22, 9am-1pm Fee: €5
Wilton Castle
Bree, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford
Sean Windsor
(Tourist Accommodation Facility)
Tel: 053-9247738
Open dates in 2021: all year
Wicklow
Castle Howard
Avoca, Co. Wicklow
Mark Sinnott
Tel: 087-2987601
Open dates in 2021: Jan 11-13, Feb 1-5, Mar 1-3, 22-24, June 10-12, 14-15, 19, 21-26, 28, July 5-9, 19-22, Aug 13-22, Sept 6-11, 18, 25, Oct 4-6, 11-13, 9am-1pm
Fee: adult €8.50, OAP/student €6.50, child €5
Mount Usher Gardens
Ashford, Co. Wicklow
Caitriona Mc Weeney
Tel: 0404-49672
Open dates in 2021: all year 10am-6pm
Fee: adult €8, student/OAP €7, child €4, no charge for wheelchair users
Powerscourt House & Gardens
Powerscourt Estate, Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow
Sarah Slazenger
Tel: 01-2046000
Open: All year, closed Christmas day and St Stephens day, 9.30am-5.30pm, ballroom and garden rooms Sun, 9.30am-1.30pm
Fee: Mar-Oct, adult €11.50, OAP €9, student €8.50, child €5, family ticket €26, Nov- Dec, adult €8.50, OAP €7.50, student €7, child €4, family ticket 2 adults + 3 children €18, children under 5 free
Irish Historic Houses 