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Location
Malahide, near Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland
Description
Malahide Castle is set in over 250 acres of parkland close to the seaside town of Malahide, 9 miles north of Dublin.
The castle is a relatively small grey stone crenellated castle built over four floors and in good repair.
Facilities
Malahide Castle is open to the public and along with guided tours of its interior the castle also offers a host of other things for visitors to see and do.
Tara's Palace is a scale model of a dolls house that has been under construction since the 1980's. The house is based around the architecture of some of Ireland's greatest houses. Tara's Palace along with other doll's houses, dolls and classic toys dating back to the 1700's can be found in the courtyard of the castle. Continuing along the theme of miniatures, one of the world's largest working model railways with displays from the 1920's onwards and covering 2,500 square feet is also available to visit.
The castle's parkland can be visited freely and is a fine example of an 18th century landscaped park. There are woodland walks along with an exercise trail and sports ground where visitors can play tennis, cricket and many other lawn games.
The castle is open from April until September (closed Monday's) between 10am and 5pm and offers tearoom facilities and a gift shop.
History
Malahide is ranked amongst only a few castles in Ireland to have stayed within the original family for over 790 years. The Talbot's resided at Malahide castle from 1185 until 1975; with the relatively short exception of 11 years from 1649 when Oliver Cromwell confiscated the castle and granted it to Miles Corbet.
Corbet was one of the 59 members of Parliament to sign the death warrant for Charles I and when Charles II was restored as King Corbet was arrested and then hanged, drawn and quartered in 1662. During his imprisonment the castle was given back to the Talbot's.
The Talbot's added towers and enlarged the castle during the reign of King Edward IV in 1765 and were lucky to survive during the Battle of the Boyne when fourteen family member s were killed.
The castle was eventually sold to the state in 1975 by Rose Talbot in order to pay inheritance taxes.
The Arts
The Castle grounds have been used since 2007 as a concert venue for such artists as the Arctic Monkeys, Joe Cocker and Eric Clapton.
Legends
There are said to be five ghosts to haunt the castle, the most interesting that of Miles Corbet. At first he appears as a 'whole' ghost but then falls into four pieces.
Other Castles in the Area
Aras an Uachtarain, County Dublin
Ardgillan Castle, County Dublin
Ashtown Castle, County Dublin
Athcarne Castle, County Meath
Bremore Castle, County Dublin
Castletown House, County Kildare
Clontarf Castle, County Dublin
Dardistown Castle, County Meath
Dublin Castle, County Dublin
Gormanston Castle, County Meath
Howth Castle, County Dublin
Manderley Castle, County Dublin
Monktown Castle, County Meath
Pucks Castle, County Dublin
Rathfarnham Castle, County Dublin
Robswall Castle, County Dublin
Swords Castle, County Dublin
Tully's Castle, County Dublin
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