Barretstown Castle facts for kids
Barretstown Castle is an old castle in Ballymore Eustace, a town in County Kildare, Ireland. It stands where an even older castle was built in the late 1100s. Today, this special castle is home to the Barretstown camp. This camp helps children who are seriously ill.
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History of Barretstown Castle
Early Days of Barretstown Castle
The first time Barretstown Castle was mentioned in history was in 1547. This was during a special check of properties after the monasteries were closed. At that time, the castle belonged to the Archbishop of Dublin. But the King of England quickly took it for the Crown.
After that, the Eustace family held the castle. They had a special type of "permanent lease" to use the land.
New Owners and Changes
In the 1600s, a man named Sir Walter Borrowes married a daughter of the Earl of Kildare. This is how his family got the castle and its land. The Borrowes family owned Barretstown for over 200 years. Some family members, like Sir Kildare Borrowes, 5th Baronet, were important in Irish politics. They represented areas like Kildare County in the old Irish Parliament.
Later, in 1918, the Borrowes family left Ireland. A Scottish man named Sir George Sheppard Murray bought Barretstown. He turned the estate into a stud farm, which is a place where horses are bred. He also planted many interesting and unusual trees around the castle.
Famous Owners and Improvements
In 1962, a very famous businesswoman named Elizabeth Arden bought the castle. She was known for her beauty products. For five years, Elizabeth Arden worked hard to rebuild, redecorate, and refurnish the castle. Her style still influences how the house looks today. People say the castle's front door was painted red, just like her famous "Red Door" perfume. It is still red today!
After Elizabeth Arden passed away in 1967, a rich biscuit maker named W. Garfield Weston moved into the castle. He made the grounds even better. He added a beautiful lake in front of the castle, which is a lovely sight.
Barretstown Castle Today
The Weston family, who own the famous Brown Thomas department store in Dublin, gave the castle to the Irish government in 1977. For a while, the castle was used for important meetings and workshops. It was also part of the Irish National Stud, which is a famous horse breeding farm.
Barretstown Camp: A Place for Fun and Healing
The Irish government has given the castle and its grounds to the Barretstown Camp for 90 years. They rent it for a tiny amount of money each year – just €1.26!
Barretstown Camp is part of Paul Newman's SeriousFun Children's Network. It opened in August 1994 and welcomed 124 children. Paul Newman was a famous actor who started camps like this to help children with serious illnesses.
In 1995, after new buildings were finished, the camp helped almost 300 children. These children came from Ireland, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, the United States, and even areas affected by the Chernobyl disaster. By 2009, Barretstown expected to help 1900 children from all over Europe. It is a wonderful place where children can have fun and feel better.
