Places to visit: Historical

Russborough House

Russborough House

Country Estates, Dublin A to Z, Further Afield A to Z, Historical

Russborough House is a stunning Palladian mansion designed in 1741 by Richard Cassels. It is one  of the most beautiful houses in Ireland. It was purchased by Sir Alfred and Lady Beit in 1952 to house their impressive art collection. The mansion and its world class art collection were left to the Irish State in 1978. The estate is home to a wide range of activities, from the public tours of the house, to privately booked workshops with craftspersons based on the grounds.

Attractions available include a top class house tour, a very detailed exhibition (in the main house basement) covering the life and times of the Beits, a 20,000 sq ft maze, an 18th Century walled garden, a children’s playground, a gift shop, and a café. One can also visit the work of a range of artisans.

Don’t miss out on the compact Beit cinema, the music room and an opportunity to enjoy some of Alfred Beit’s extensive photograph collection in the separate 3D auditorium. There are also extensive walks in a beautifully landscaped setting.

Parkland – Russborough sits on over 200 acres of beautiful parkland, scattered with historical landmarks such as an 18th Century ice house, a hippodrome, a Japanese bridge, and a lime kiln.

The 18th century walled garden is a partnership between Russborough and the Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland.

National Bird of Prey Centre – Located in the Parklands area, you can view hawks, falcons, eagles and owls from around the world, along with the recently re-introduced red kite, golden eagle and white tailed sea eagle. It offers various experiences which require advanced booking. Public tours may be available during peak periods, see the centre’s website: nationalbirdofpreycentre.ie for details.

Sheepdog Demonstrations – Michael Crowe, a local farmer, hosts sheepdog demonstrations at Russborough. Visitors can see working border collies in action. The beautiful views and scenery at Russborough create the perfect backdrop. Come and learn a little about the Wicklow cheviot and many other breeds of sheep, being managed by expertly trained sheepdogs. They are based on a nearby farm, but may also available for bookings at Russborough House. Group bookings only, check their website for details.

Opening Hours:
The parkland at Russborough is open seven days a week from 2nd January to 23rd December, 9am to 6pm.
House tours run on the hour from 10am to 4pm, 7 days a week (booking recommended).
The Walled Garden opens:
Tues & Thu 12pm – 4pm
Weds & Sat 10.30am – 3:30pm
Sun 2pm – 5pm

Opening times and availability of attractions are seasonal and subject to change. There are also attractions and special events which must be booked in advance. It is recommended to check the website for the details.

Contact & Pricing:
russborough.ie
[email protected]
Russborough, Blessington, Co Wicklow
Tel: 045 865 239
Adults from €12 (House tour admission); concessions
Car parking fee €4

Slane Castle

Slane Castle

Castles, Dublin A to Z, Further Afield A to Z, Historical

Slane Castle is an impressive historic building, the work of famous architects James Gandon, James Wyatt & Francis Johnston. The parklands were laid out by Capability Brown. King George IV stayed here in 1821. U2 recorded “The Unforgettable Fire” here in 1984. Slane has been in the same family’s hands since 1701. It was lovingly restored after a devastating fire in 1991 and became a famed venue for open air rock concerts.

Opening Hours:
The Castle’s opening hours change with the season, and often by the week due to weddings and events.
Check here for this week’s opening hours.
Guided tours of the house are available, but may only open for booking a week or 2 in advance, with times depending on the seasonal demand. Check the website for availability.
Castle Tour tickets include admission to the new Walking Trail.

Contact & Pricing:
slanecastle.ie
[email protected]
Tel: 041 988 4477
Slane, Co. Meath
Adults €14; concessions
Private tours can be booked for €25 pp, (minimum 6 people).

Trim Castle

Trim Castle

Castles, Dublin A to Z, Further Afield A to Z, Historical

Trim Castle, the largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland, was constructed over a thirty-year period by Hugh de Lacy and his son Walter. Hugh de Lacy was granted the Liberty of Meath by King Henry II in 1172 in an attempt to curb the expansionist policies of Richard de Clare (Strongbow). Construction of the massive three storied Keep, the central stronghold of the castle, was begun around 1176 on the site of an earlier wooden fortress. This massive twenty-sided tower, which is cruciform in shape, was protected by a ditch, curtain wall and moat.

Opening Hours:
Opening times vary seasonally, open 10am – 5pm during peak season.
Due to high demand, access cannot be guaranteed during the summer months. Please arrive early to avoid disappointment. Guided tours only.
Closed on 25, 26, 31 December  & 1 January.

Contact & Pricing:
heritageireland.ie/places-to-visit/trim-castle
[email protected]
Tel: 085 887 0240
Trim, Co. Meath.
Adults €5; concessions. Parking available nearby for €3
Free admission on the first Wednesday of every month.

Wicklow Gaol

Wicklow Gaol

Dublin A to Z, Further Afield A to Z, Historical

Wicklow Gaol is a recreation of 18th Century prison life. Located in the town of Wicklow,  construction of the prison started in 1702. There has been a prison on the site since the late eighteenth century up to 1924.

Prisoners were held at Wicklow Gaol during the 1798 Rebellion and the Great Famine, and many were held there prior to penal transportation. Prisoners were “transported” to distant UK colonies from 1789-1856, including over 600 men involved in the 1798 Rebellion. At the height of the Great Famine, the number of prisoners swelled to 780.

The prison was extended in 1822 to a design by William Vitruvius Morrison, and further extended 1842-1843. It was demoted to the status of ‘bridewell’, a prison for petty offenders awaiting their court date, in 1877.

Between 1900 and 1918, the prison was dormant. However, the Gaol was re-opened in 1918 to cater for the holding of many Sinn Fein members and their supporters. Wicklow Gaol closed its doors for the final time as a prison 1924.

In 1995 renovations began, and it reopened as a museum in 1998, claiming to be one of the world’s most haunted buildings, due to the long history of suffering associated with it.

The Wicklow Gaol Day Tour – step into the past. Meet Mary Morris the Matron and her husband, the ill-mannered old Gaoler; then board the convict ship HMS Hercules for a rough voyage to the New World. Enjoy the atmosphere of one of Ireland’s most historic buildings, with an animated snapshot of life in an historic Irish prison.

The Gates Of Hell Virtual Reality Experience – this fully immersive experience transports visitors back in time to Wicklow Gaol in the 1700’s – a grim 3-dimensional world of corruption, rebellion and dark dungeons. Some of the Gaol’s most notorious prisoners are featured and there may even be a guest appearance from one of the Haunted Gaol’s famous ghosts! This experience includes the regular day tour, but with an added 20min 3D-VR show.

Adults only spooky night tours are also available on occasion. Take an eerie night tour of Ireland’s most haunted building. Mingle with the ghosts, enter the solitude and board the transportation ship. There is no advanced schedule for these tours, but they are usually arranged in October/November. Check the website to see if a night tour is available for booking.

Opening Hours:
Open 7 days a week at 10.30am – 4:30pm, last entry for Day Tours is at 4.15pm.
Part-guided with recorded multilingual audio tours.
Usually closed Dec 16 – Jan 7 and on Good Friday.

Contact & Pricing:
wicklowshistoricgaol.com
[email protected]
Tel: 04 046 1599
Kilmantin Hill, Wicklow Town, Co. Wicklow
Day Tour: Adults €12.50; concessions
Virtual Reality Tour: Adults €18.50; concessions
Free parking available for ticket holders.