| Location | Malahide, County Dublin, Ireland (Google Maps) |
| Open for Visitors | Yes |
| Owned by | Fingal Pastoral Proprietary Limited |
| Official Website | Malahide Castle |
| Rooms Available | Yes (Weddings, Meetings, Events) |
Erected in the 12th century on the greens of Malahide, Malahide Castle and Gardens is a marvellous medieval age castle with an 800-year-old heritage. It has over 260 acres of land converted into a parkland estate forming the Malahide Demesne Regional Park.
History
The history of this estate goes back to the 1185s when King Henry II’s Knight Richard Talbot was granted the “lands and harbour of Malahide.” This estate remained home to the Talbot family for more than 700 years. The castle survived many wars including the Battle of Boyne and The First World War. The castle played a significant role in the first world war since its base ground acted as a mooring-out base for airships from RNAS Anglesey in Wales. They conducted anti-submarine operations in the Irish Sea.
The Talbot family had a reputation of being a disputed family. Between the 1185s and 1970s, the castle was attacked by many intruders, including Cromwellian soldiers, when the castle was occupied by Myles Corbet, Lord Chief Baron of Ireland. The last Baron De Malahide lived in the castle until his death in 1973 when the castle was inherited by his sister Rose and subsequently sold to the Irish State in 1975.
Architecture
Malahide Castle has been a major attraction for over 30 years. The original building was just a wooden fortress built on the land later superseded by a stone structure on the site of the presently established castle. The castle’s work continued for many years, and over the centuries, rooms and fortifications were added. The castle was modified, refurbished, and strengthened until it took its current form. There have been a lot of changes in the castle. Today, it is a square-shaped castellated building with circular towers flanking the corners.
The castle and courtyard went major repair in the year 2012 when all the major attractions and necessities of the palace were greatly enhanced. The walled botanical gardens and glasshouses have been restored and contain Lord Milo Talbot’s remarkable collection of Southern hemisphere and other plants. There is also a concert venue opened in the lands of the castle where a lot of popular stars have performed. The Castle and 260-acre Demesne are a getaway in the middle of urban development. It is a complete vacation for visitors, including both greenery lovers and history enthusiasts.
Tourism
Working with Fingal County Council, which owns the whole demesne, the castle has operated as a very famous tourist attraction. The castle is available to be visited through a fee and only on a guided tour basis.
Some of the castle’s best-known rooms are the Oak Room and the Great Hall, which display Talbot family history. The Talbot Botanic Gardens are situated right behind the castle and offer a wonderful variety of plants and lawns. The garden includes a Victorian conservatory. The gardens showcase the plant collecting passion of the 7th Lord Talbot de Malahide. There is also an exercise trail, a cricket pitch, and several other pitches. There are also cafes and other facilities available in the vicinity.
Movie Features
Out (II) (2014)– A short drama film directed by Shane Collier shot a few scenes at Malahide Castle.
Innocent (2018)- Directed by Richard Clark, the TV Series revolves around Tara’s murder which shot a few scenes at the castle and featured it in the first few episodes of the series.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What was Malahide Castle used for?
The castle was the home to the Talbot family for more than 700 years. Today, it functions as a tourist attraction by Dublin Tourism, attracting a lot of visitors regularly.
- Why was the Malahide Castle built?
The land was granted by King Henry II to knight Richard Talbot as the “lands and harbour of Malahide.” This estate remained home to the Talbot family for more than 700 years.
- Who built Malahide Castle?
Sir Richard Talbot was granted the land of the site by King Henry II, who in turn used it to build family premises for him.
Have you visited this castle before?? If yes, why not share some beautiful pictures with us!!
You can email us your pictures of the castle at castrumtocastle@gmail.com. Please use the name of the castle in the subject line.
Also, don’t forget to mention your name and social media profile link if you want the credits!
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Saurabh Sharma
Meet Saurabh Sharma, a tech pro with a master's from Latvia's Riga Technical University. He's great with computers, focusing on Cloud Computing and DevOps. But here's the cool part – Saurabh has traveled to places like Nordic, Baltic, and other parts of Europe. And guess what? He's into European history, monuments, castles, and museums. Whether he's coding or exploring, he's always curious, showing a love for different places and histories.
