Castletown House and Parklands
Ireland’s first and finest Palladian mansion
Castletown House and Parklands
Ireland’s first and finest Palladian mansion
Parklands currently open daily from 8:30 to 17:30. From 11 April 2025 these hours will be from 07:00 - 20:00.
Castletown House, the Courtyard Café and Biodiversity Gardens are currently closed with a proposed reopening date for mid to late May 2025
Castletown House and Parklands
Castletown is set amongst beautiful eighteenth-century parklands on the banks of the Liffey in Celbridge, County Kildare.
The house was built around 1722 for the speaker of the Irish House of Commons, William Conolly, to designs by several renowned architects. It was intended to reflect Conolly’s power and to serve as a venue for political entertaining on a grand scale. At the time Castletown was built, commentators expected it to be ‘the epitome of the Kingdom, and all the rarities she can afford’.
The estate flourished under William Conolly’s great-nephew Thomas and his wife, Lady Louisa, who devoted much of her life to improving her home.
Today, Castletown is home to a significant collection of paintings, furnishings and objets d’art. Highlights include three eighteenth-century Murano-glass chandeliers and the only fully intact eighteenth-century print room in the country.
It is still the most splendid Palladian-style country house in Ireland.
Highlights
Gallery
Opening Times
Parklands
Daily: 08:30 – 16:30
From 11 April 2025 – Daily 07:00 – 20:00
Castletown House will reopen mid to late May 2025
Getting Here
Castletown is easily accessible by public transport.
By Bus:
From Dublin City Centre: The C4 goes from Ringsend Road via City Centre Quays to Celbridge village. Alight at stop 3907 and the Castletown Gates are in front of you.
The 120 bus (operated by Go-Ahead) goes from Dublin City Centre towards Edenderry. Take the 120 to stop 7085, English Row and walk up Main Street to the Castletown Gates.
By Train:
From Hazelhatch rail station, take the W61 bus to Main Street Celbridge, stop number 3907 and the Castletown Gates are in front of you.
By Car
Please note that there is no visitor car parking, or general vehicular access by car, in the grounds of Castletown House.
Coming from Dublin on the M4, take exit 5 (Leixlip East, Celbridge East). Proceed on the R403 to Celbridge village. Take a right when you go over the bridge and the Castletown gates are at the top of this road facing you. There is very limited parking available in Celbridge Village. Visitors should ensure that they park legally.
Click the relevant icon below to open Maps directions
Facilities
- Baby Changing
- Bike Trail
- Brochure
- Car park
- Card Accepted
- Exhibition
- Gift Shop
- Lift
- Picnic Area
- River Walk
- Toilets
- Walking trails
- Wheelchair Accessible Toilet
- WiFi
Restrictions
- Dogs on lead
- Hold hand rail
- Stay back from edge
- Uneven walkways
Nearby sites to visit
Castletown House and Parklands
Maynooth Castle
A glimpse of life in a Norman fortress
Approx. 5.5 km from Castletown House and Parklands
Farmleigh House and Gardens
An eclectic Edwardian mansion and the Irish state guesthouse
Approx. 11.5 km from Castletown House and Parklands
Phoenix Park and Biodiversity Centre
Where Dublin goes to breathe
Approx. 13.3 km from Castletown House and Parklands
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