homes historical ireland

Enjoy the gardens, great food, luxury guestrooms and the historical surroundings of the impressive Kilmokea House, in Campile in County Wexford. This accommodation is housed in a magnificent Georgian property built in 1794, and surrounded by 7 acres of exotic gardens on the banks of the River Barrow, creating the perfect setting for a peaceful break in the countryside.
The former rectory has undergone lavish restoration to provide the utmost in comfort and relaxation....

Moate Park 3 km from Roscommon on the Athlone Road, is a most beautiful residence. It was the ancient seat of the Murray family after which it is called - Ballymurray; they were deprived of it at the end of the 17th century, one of whom, Lawder Crofton, dared to contest an election against the all-powerful worthies, French and Sir Robert King. A dispute between Crofton and French led to a duel fought at the rere of Roscommon Castle.

In this, French was mortally wounded and his remai...

Dungiven Priory is one the oldest churches in Co. Derry. The earliest part is believed to be the nave erected in the12th century. It was reinforced in the 14th century with a highly decorated tomb, insertedin the wall. The tomb contains six stone Gallowglasses (Scottish mercenaries). There is an effigy of a knight, who is traditionally believed to be Cooey na nGall O'Cahan, a member of the O'Cahan's, a local ruling family in the Middle Ages. The chancel arch and the north door of the nave w...

Avondale passed to the Parnell family in 1795, and it was at Avondale on 27th June 1846 that one of the greatest political leaders of modern Irish history, Charles Stewart Parnell, was born. Avondale House is now a museum to his memory, and a major refurbishment programme has restored much of the House to its decor of 1850. Parnell spent much of his time at Avondale until his death in October 1891. Avondale is also synonymous with the birth of Irish Forestry. The state purchased Avondale i...

This romantic Tudor Gothic house designed by Daniel Robertson looks like the perfect setting for an early 19th century novel. And indeed there is a literary connection, apart from its geographical location in Maria Edgeworth and Oliver Goldsmith's Country. An earlier house belonging to the banking Newcomen family was rebuilt by Daniel Robertson for Thomas Lefroy, Lord Chief Justice of Ireland in 1837. Handsome young Thomas Lefroy had become an inamorato of Jane Austen when he was studying in...

The famous rebel, Michael Dwyer, was trapped in this cottage by the English in 1799, together with a small group of men. One of these men, Samuel MacAllister, drew the fire upon himself and was killed, but in this way enabled Dwyer to escape. The cottage is two-roomed, with rope chairs, a settle bed, a table with wooden vessels and a churn, a roasting spit, cooking utensils and pikes of the period displayed inside....

Legend says that the church was built in a single night to form a suitable resting place for the founder, St. Mochta, who died in 534. The monastery was plundered by the Vikings in 830 and 839, by Muircheartach, King of Aileach in 968 and by Gluniallar (Eagle-Knee) O'Flaherty in 978. the monastery was flattened by a storm in 986, burned in 1075 and again in 1111,1113, 1148, 1160, 1164 and 1166. the church possibly dates to the second half of the 12th century. It is a rectangular building wit...

A focal point of the northern midlands where the provinces of Leinster, Ulster and Connaught all converge, Longford, where history and literature, tragedy and triumph are all woven together, takes its name from the ancient stronghold of the O'Farrell family (Long Fort - Fort of the O'Farrells). Bordered to the West by the majestic River Shannon, Longford is a county of rolling plains and picturesque stretches of water. The highest point of the county, Cairn Hill, is only 279 m high, but from...