Castlegarde Castle

Overview

Castlegarde was built in the 1190’s by Donal Mor O’Brien King of Thomond helped by Aoifa, his sister – in – law  Strongbow’s wife. It is a 5 story Tower House with its own well. It was easily defended which was necessary to keep his family safe, built on a rare outcrop of Crimon rock, surrounded by a moat and protected by a bawn wall.
Waller O’Grady purchased Castlegarde in 1820 from the revenue. He added a beautiful gothic style 3 story extension on the east side of the tower designed by the famous Pain brothers, castellated the bawn wall, rebuilt the guard tower , built a walled-in garden and back yard while closing off the Moat. It is restored to preserve it as it was in 1820.

Brief History

Over 800 years of Castlegarde history would fill a book. Briefly, the O’Brien family lived in Castlegarde until it was confiscated by Queen Elizabeth 1st and given with a lot of land to Captain Bouchier in 1585. The family left Ireland in 1637 becoming Earl of Bath, leasing Castlegarde to the Bailey family. It was inherited by Rachel Fane in 1654, This family sold it to Marmaduke Coghill (Dublin) in 1735. He willed it to the Barron of Offaly as a marriage settlement for his niece. He got possession in 1738. The barron then became the first Earl of Charliville and died in 1764. The ownership from this to it being taken over by the revenue and the Bailey family moving out is being researched. The revenue sold it to Waller O.’Grady in 1820. Two generations later Hugh Hamon Massy O’Grady became the 7th Viscount Guillamore. He died in 1930 leaving it to his wife the Viscountess Mary who died in the same year leaving it to her nephew Hugh Edward Thompson. He introduced electricity and running water and left it to his son David in 1998. David with his wife Hazel have done a lot of restoration work and are your hosts when you visit on tour.

Main Features

This unique listed historic family home is the oldest continually inhabited castle in Ireland, situated on a 300 acre working dairy farm facing south towards the Galtee mountains. It has 3 Cut stone figures of gods over the entrance with Brian Boru over the front door. Inside the extension blends into the tower which is part of the living quarters and it has gargoyles on the Gallery ceiling. It has it’s own ghost “The Lady in Silk” who won’t be seen. but you can view the Murder Hole where she may have ended her earthly life. See the Crimon rock foundation of the tower 15 feet above ground. See the gods, the bawn, the magnificent tower and extension the moat position and inside the panelling, the gargoyles and so much more, while listening to the historic action stories told by David in the atmosphere on the actual site. It will make “History come alive” for you!

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