Gregans Castle facts for kids
Gregans Castle is the name for two interesting buildings in County Clare, Ireland. One is a really old tower house from the 1400s or 1500s. The other is a grand house built in the Georgian style around 1750. It's located near the village of Ballyvaughan in a special area called the Burren.
The older tower house used to belong to the O'Lochlainn family. The newer Georgian house is connected to both the O'Lochlainn and Martyn families. Today, the tower house has been fixed up and is a private home. The Georgian house is now a famous hotel!
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Location and the Burren
Gregans Castle is found in the Ballyvaughan valley, right in the middle of the Burren. The Burren is a truly unique place in Ireland. Imagine a landscape covered in grey limestone rocks that look like giant steps or terraces!
This area is also amazing because it has a mix of rare flowers from different parts of the world, like mountains, warm Mediterranean areas, and even cold Arctic regions. You can find beautiful orchids growing here. Besides the plants, the Burren is full of ancient history, with old burial tombs, stone forts, and ruins of old churches.
A Look Back: History of Gregans Castle
The old tower house at Gregans Castle was built in the 1400s or 1500s. It was the main home for the O'Lochlainn family, who were important leaders in the Burren region. They were even called the "Princes of Burren." The area around the castle was known as "the Barony of Gragans" for a long time. This name might have come from a word for a mountain bog, which is a type of wet, spongy land found on the hills nearby.
Changing Hands: The Martyn Family Arrives
Around 1641, a man named Owney More O'Loughlen owned Gregans. However, after some big changes in Ireland in the 1650s, his family lost control of the land. The land was then given to the Martyn family.
Interestingly, the Martyn family might have already been connected to the O'Loughlens. In 1632, a member of the O'Loughlen family had married into the Martyn family. So, when the land was given to a Martyn, it might have still stayed within a connected family line.
Instead of living in the old tower house, the Martyn family decided to build a new, stronger building nearby. Eventually, they moved into a two-story house where the hotel stands today.
Life at the New House
The Martyn family became quite important. One early Martyn was involved in a big battle in 1691. Later, many Martyns became lawyers and lived mostly in Dublin, the capital city. They often used the Gregans house as a summer getaway. Most of their large land, which was about 2,000 acres (around 8 square kilometers), was rented out to other people.
In 1866, Captain John Gregory Martyn came to live at Gregans permanently. He was a supporter of Charles Stewart Parnell, a famous Irish leader who wanted "Home Rule" for Ireland. Home Rule meant that Ireland would have more control over its own government, rather than being ruled directly by Britain. During this time, the house was made much bigger.
The Hotel Era Begins
After Captain Martyn passed away, his son, Francis Florence Martyn, continued to live at Gregans. He farmed a much smaller piece of land. During tough economic times, the house started to get a bit run down. Frank, who people thought was a bit unusual, even tried running a small inn and got a license to sell drinks in the 1940s.
Frank died in 1956. After his death, the house was sold to be turned into a hotel. The oldest part of the house that you can still see today is the old kitchen fireplace, which is now in a special room called the Martyn Suite. In 1967, the house officially opened its doors as Gregans Castle Hotel.
Gregans Castle Today
Today, the beautiful Georgian house is still a busy and popular hotel. People from all over the world come to stay there and enjoy the peaceful Burren. The old tower house, which was once a ruin, has been carefully restored and is now a private home.
