Stately homes
One of the pinnacles of Ireland’s early modern architectural achievement found its expression in the stately homes and their associated formal gardens, situated across the country.
Many of these houses are beautifully decorated with original furnishings and contain a treasure trove of artefacts and relics from the families who once lived in them.
Find out about the extraordinary inhabitants of these places and their fascinating lives. Discover the story of Elizabeth St Leger of Doneraile Estate, the first woman Freemason in the world; of the celebrated painter Derek Hill, who lived and worked at Glebe House from the 1950s until the 1980s; or of Daniel ‘the Liberator’ O’Connell, one of the greatest figures of Irish history, whose ancestral home was Derrynane House in County Kerry.
Battle of the Boyne
Where two kings fought for Europe’s future
Castletown House and Parklands
Ireland’s first and finest Palladian mansion
Derrynane House
The childhood home of Daniel O’Connell
Doneraile Estate
North Cork’s ‘real-life Downton Abbey’
Emo Court
A magnificent example of neo-classical architecture
Farmleigh House and Estate
An eclectic Edwardian mansion and the Irish state guesthouse
Glebe House and Gallery
Explore a world-class collection of art
Ilnacullin – Garinish Island
An island garden of rare beauty