Malahide CastleMalahide Castle was until 1975 the longest and oldest inhabited castle in Ireland. The same family had lived there from 1185 when the Richard Talbot was granted ‘the lands and harbour of Malahide’ by King HenryII in return for rendering "one archer with a horse and coat-of-mail forever". When the last male heir Milo died in 1973 the estate passed to his sister Rose who unfortunately was forced to sell the castle and its contents to pay the death duties. The Irish Government bought the castle but sadly the priceless furniture which was unique to the castle was lost forever. A travesty that would not happen nowadays but back then there was little respect for what was seen as the heritage of the protestant ascendency.....
However it is a very fine castle with a great history recorded in the generations of various Talbot portraits hanging in the great hall. One particularly sad story, tells of how the family sat down to breakfast on the morning of the Battle of the Boyne in 1690 not knowing that fourteen of them would be dead by nightfall. But the family survived making various additions to the house like the twin round towers and the banqueting hall panelled in same oak that graces Westminster Abbey. With the original gothic style tracery windows letting in a strained light Malahide castle is very atmospheric and believed to be haunted by several ghosts not surprisingly given its history. Milo seems to have been a bit eccentric but a gifted plantsman who travelled the world and had another ‘Malahide’ estate in Tasmania, where his sister Rose went to live after she sold the castle. She died on Feb 14 of this year 2009 aged 93, the last chatelaine and Talbot of Malahide Castle. Open all year round there is an admission charge for the castle and gardens but the parklands and playground are FREE 10 Other things to do and see in the area are... 1 Visit the Castle Garden a unique plant collectors paradise of over 5000 rare species. 2 Take a journey back in time at the Fry Model Railway which showcases well known Dublin landmarks. 3 Indulge your inner child at Taras Palace the largest Dolls House in Europe with a unique collection of miniature furniture. 4 Blow the cobwebs away with a bracing walk through the parklands which remain much the same as they always have for some 800 years. 5 Let the kids loose in the castle playground. 6 Take a stroll around the pretty village of Malahide with it nice new marina. 7 Have a 'grand' carvery lunch or afternoon tea in the Grand Hotel old fashioned luxury. 8 Drive the oastal route out around Portmarnock to Sutton Village. 9 Take a left on out to Howth Harbour, great seafood restaurants. 10 Or veer right back into Dublin via St Annes Park and Dollymount Strand.
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