Tullynally Castle & GardensTullynally castle is a gothic revival castle, with a maze of fairytale towers and turrets piercing the skyline. The Pakenhams have lived there for over 350 years and it is very much a family home. Note the conservatory on the east wing, a touch of suburbia? Well not quite, this ‘home’ has some 120 rooms, but there are lots of childrens’ toys lying around which hint at ordinary family life this huge castle has witnessed down through the years. And like any family it has had its share of eccentric characters, heroes of war turned clerics, great explorers, philanthropists and patrons of the arts. They often hold musical evenings with chamber quartets and piano recitals, I am told the acoustics in the great hall are perfect. Access to the castle is limited and by appointment for obvious reasons, but it is a treasure trove and well worthwhile visiting if you get the opportunity.
The gardens, however are open all through the summer, and are quite magical and other worldly, they always have been. I used to visit often when my children were young, back then you simply left a donation in the box provided and let yourself in. Very often we saw no-one and no-one bothered us. Thankfully it is still as quiet and peaceful. The walled garden smacks of lazy Victorian summer afternoons spent idling on the lawns or gathering cut flowers and fresh vegetables for the house from the kitchen garden. Various generations have added their stamp to the gardens, they now boast Tibetan and Himalayan styled gardens complete with temples and pagodas for you to sit and meditate in, it could be called the tao of Tullynally Castle. 10 Other things to do and see near Tullynally Castle.... 1 Loughcrew complex of burial mounds, passage graves, solar and lunar allignement. Great legend of Hag witch.... 2 Fore Abbey medieval monastry also famous for motorbike racing. 3 The Lakes Loughs Derrevaragh, Ennell, Coole fabled home of many Irish fairytales, children of Lir. 4 Mullaghmeen Forest largest beech forest in Europe, a delight in spring carpeted in bluebells. 5 Johnathan Swift Park at Lilliput, yes you read that correctly there is such a place on the shores of Lough Ennell. The dean of St Patricks is believed to have gotten his inspiration for the tale of the little people, Gullivers Travels 1726 from watching people at a distance across the lake in Belvedere. 6 The Hill of Uisneach believed to be the ‘other’ centre of Celtic Ireland, Tara being the most well known and celebrated seat of the High Kings of Ireland. Dedicated to Lugh and famous for 6metre high ‘Cat Stone’. 7 Corlea Bog Trackway a very interesting OPW site displaying a section of ancient bog road which provided safe passage for the high kings of Ireland en route to Uisneach. 8 Clonmacnoise an ancient monastic settlement on the banks of the river Shannon, ruined churches, high crosses and round towers. 9 Lockes Distillery reputedly the oldest in the world. The real deal, it even smells right, free tastings with the guided tour at Kilbeggan, County Westmeath. 10 Belvedere House a very peculiar yet fascinating history, beautiful grounds and lakeside walks, fabulous walled garden, restaurant and exhibition centre.
For more information on Tullynally Castle please click here.
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