Farmleigh facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Farmleigh |
|
|---|---|
Facade
|
|
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Edwardian |
| Location | Castleknock, Dublin, Ireland |
| Coordinates | 53°21′54″N 6°21′36″W / 53.365°N 6.36°W |
| Current tenants | Used when Heads of Government and Heads of State visit Ireland. |
| Construction started | 18th century (with significant reconstruction from 1881) |
| Renovated | 1881–1884, 1896, 1901, 1999–2001 |
| Renovation cost | €23 million (for 1999 works) |
| Owner | Government of Ireland |
Farmleigh is a very special house in Dublin, Ireland. It is the official guest house for the Irish government. This means important leaders from other countries stay here when they visit. Farmleigh used to be one of the homes of the famous Guinness family.
The house is located in Castleknock, on a hill overlooking the River Liffey. It is also near the large Phoenix Park. The Farmleigh estate is huge, covering about 78 acres. It has beautiful private gardens with many old trees. You can find cypress, pine, and oak trees there. There is also a boating pond, a walled garden, and a sunken garden. The estate is even home to a rare type of cow called Kerry cattle.
The Government of Ireland bought Farmleigh in 1999. They paid €29.2 million for it. After buying it, a government group called the Office of Public Works (OPW) spent about €23 million. This money was used to fix up the house, gardens, and glasshouses. In total, Farmleigh cost the Irish government €52.2 million. It was opened for people to visit in July 2001.
Farmleigh's Past: A Look Back in Time
Farmleigh started as a small, two-story house in the mid-1700s. It was built in the Georgian style. The Coote and Trench families owned it first. Later, in the 1870s, the Farmleigh Bridge was built. This bridge helped bring electricity from a nearby mill to the house.
In 1873, a man named Edward Guinness bought Farmleigh. He was a great-grandson of Arthur Guinness, who started the famous Guinness brewery. Edward bought the house when he married his cousin, Adelaide Guinness. He later became known as the 1st Earl of Iveagh.
Edward Guinness made many big changes to Farmleigh. Between 1881 and 1884, he added a new section to the west side of the house. He also added a third floor. An Irish architect named James Franklin Fuller designed these changes. In 1896, a large ballroom was added. A Scottish architect, William Young, designed it. The beautiful glass conservatory was built in 1901.
Many parts of Farmleigh show what the 1st Earl of Iveagh was like. His love for art and travel can be seen in the gardens and the house's design. There are also special tapestries that he collected during his travels in Europe. The Earl's library, which is now on loan to the government, has some of the oldest books printed in Ireland. After the 1st Earl, Farmleigh was passed down to his son, Rupert, the 2nd Earl of Iveagh. The Guinness family owned the estate for the rest of the 20th century.
Farmleigh Today: A State Guest House
The Irish government bought Farmleigh from the 4th Earl of Iveagh in 1999. The main reason for buying and fixing up Farmleigh was to use it for important state events. It is a special guest house for leaders and important people visiting Ireland.
Many famous visitors have stayed at Farmleigh. These include:
- The Prime Minister of China
- The Prime Minister of Ethiopia
- The King of Malaysia
- Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair
- The Governor-General of New Zealand
- Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
- U.S. President Joe Biden
While it hosts important guests, Farmleigh is also open to the public. In 2009, over 246,000 people visited the estate.
There is also a building on the grounds called the Steward's Lodge. In 2006, it was fixed up. Some people thought it might become an official home for the Taoiseach (Ireland's Prime Minister). Former Taoiseach Brian Cowen and his successor, Enda Kenny, have both stayed there sometimes when in Dublin.
Today, the Office of Public Works (OPW) manages Farmleigh. The gardens and estate are mostly open for everyone to enjoy. The main house is usually open for special tours. Farmleigh also hosts fun events like craft and food markets. It has even been a place for public concerts, like the RTÉ proms, held in a big tent on the grounds.
See also
In Spanish: Farmleigh para niños
