Castle Gurteen de la Poer facts for kids
Gurteen de la Poer, also known as Gurteen le Poer, is a beautiful old house in County Waterford, Ireland. It looks like a castle from the Elizabethan era. You can find it on the south side of the River Suir, not far from Kilsheelan and about 8 kilometers (5 miles) east of Clonmel.
This large estate once belonged to the de la Poer family. They were an old Anglo-Norman family. Edmund, the 1st Count de la Poer, started building the current castle in 1863. It was built to replace an older house that was already there.
The famous architect Samuel Ussher Roberts designed this grand house. He was the great-grandson of another well-known architect, John Roberts. The design of Gurteen de la Poer might have been inspired by a Scottish architect named William Burn. Construction of the castle began in 1863 and finished in 1866. After Gurteen, Samuel Ussher Roberts also designed Kylemore Abbey in County Galway. Some features at Gurteen were also used at Kylemore. The same builder, Thomas Carroll, worked on both castles.
What Does Gurteen de la Poer Look Like?
The front of the castle has a big square tower. It also has a round turret attached to it. This part of the castle faces a courtyard with walls that look like a castle.
Inside, Gurteen de la Poer is very spacious. In the middle of the house is a huge main hall. Light comes in from the top of this hall. It has a gallery, which is like a balcony, divided by cool Gothic arches. Behind these arches, you'll find a grand staircase.
There are similar arches on the first floor gallery. Both the gallery and the staircase have fancy wrought iron railings. The library is filled with bookshelves and has red walls. The drawing room and the ballroom open up into each other along the garden side of the house.
The dining room is on the other side of the main hall. It's designed in a Victorian Baronial style. It has faded red walls above brown oak wood panels. The fireplace is made of carved oak. It features angels holding shields with the family's coat of arms. At the top of the fireplace, there's a carving of a stag's head with antlers and a cross. This is the family's special crest.
The History of the de la Poer Family
The de la Poer family says they are related to Sir Robert De Poer. He came to Ireland with a famous knight called Strongbow in 1172. Henry II of England gave Robert the City of Waterford and the land around it. He also made him a marshal of Ireland.
Edmund, the 1st Count de la Poer, was born in 1841 and lived until 1915. He was the one who ordered the building of Castle Gurteen de la Poer in 1863. He was given the title of 1st Count de la Poer in 1864. He held important positions in County Waterford. He was also a private assistant to Pope Pius IX.
His second son, John William Rivallon, became the 2nd Count. He was also a JP. He held the position of High Sheriff of County Waterford in 1913.
Edmond Robert Arnold was the eldest son of John William Rivallon. He became the 3rd Count in 1939. He sold Castle Gurteen in 1979. However, he kept the right to live in a part of the castle called the West Wing. He passed away in 1995 when he was 84 years old.
Gurteen de la Poer Today
In 1998, a famous artist named Gottfried Helnwein bought Castle Gurteen. He started working to restore the castle and its gardens. As of 2016, he lives and works there with his family.
Since Helnwein moved in, many interesting guests have visited the castle. These include people from the entertainment world like Sean Penn, Sir Ben Kingsley, Marilyn Manson, Lisa Marie Presley, Priscilla Presley, and Beck. Important people from politics have also visited. These include ambassador William Stamps Farish III, and former President of the Seychelles James Mancham.
In December 2005, Marilyn Manson and Dita Von Teese had their wedding at the castle. It was a private ceremony. In December 2014, The New York Times newspaper published a long article about the Helnwein family living at Castle Gurteen de la Poer.
