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Location
Dunsany, County Meath, Ireland
Description
Dunsany Castle is situated on an estate that comprises of marsh, wood and farmland with the River Boyne running along the back of the land. It is located in the village of Dunshaughlin, 6 miles from Trim.
Dunsany Castle is a grey stone castle built over 4 floors with four crenellated main towers. The castle is surrounded by a protective wall and has three entrances one with a gatehouse lodge and stewards house, another along a long drive has a tower lodge and the third on the Dunsany Bridge from the river which has a black stone lodge.
Also within the estate are the Church of St Nicholas, a 3 acre walled garden with fruit trees, vegetable plots and beehives and a gardener's cottage, ice house and farm with stable yards.
Facilities
The castle can be visited occasionally usually during the summer and at Christmas, but is still the home of the 20th Lord Plunkett and his family and therefore not always accessible.
Visitors can see the beautiful ceilings of the dining and billiard rooms which also hold portraits of past family members. On the first floor it is possible to visit the drawing room and library with its beehive ceiling from the early 1800's and from the second stairway part of the Dunsany Collection which is on display in the original 12th century kitchen.
History
The castle was originally thought to have been built in the 1180's with additional work being carried out during the 18th and 19th centuries.
In the 1400's the castle was owned by the Plunketts who divided their estates (Dunsany and Trim) between their sons; the youngest Christopher being given Dunsany. The family remained resident for many years without hindrance apart from the invasion of Cromwell when they were forced to leave.
Much of the estate was confiscated during the land reform in the early 20th century. The castle with its demesne being left under the ownership of the Plunkett family.
The Arts
Dunsany Castle and grounds have been used in the remaking of The Magnificent Ambersons and in the film Braveheart starring Mel Gibson
Other Castles in the Area
Aras an Uachtarain, County Dublin
Ardbraccan House, County Meath
Ashtown Castle, County Dublin
Athcarne Castle, County Meath
Barberstown Castle, County Kildare
Bective Abbey, County Meath
Bellinter House, County Meath
Carbury Castle, County Kildare
Castletown House, County Kildare
Dardistown Castle, County Meath
Dublin Castle, County Dublin
Gormanston Castle, County Meath
Liscarton Castle, County Meath
Maynooth Castle, County Kildare
Monktown Castle, County Meath
Rathfarnham Castle, County Dublin
Slane Castle, County Meath
Trim Castle, County Meath
Tully's Castle, County Dublin
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