Howth Castle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Howth Castle
General information
Status	Private dwelling house
Type	Castle
Architectural style	Various including Medieval defensive, Gothic, Georgian, Arts and Crafts
Address	Howth
Town or city	Howth, County Dublin
Country	Ireland
Coordinates	53°23′10″N 6°04′46″W / 53.3862°N 6.0794°W / 53.3862; -6.0794
Groundbreaking	c1235
Technical details
Material	limestone, Portland stone Georgian door and window surrounds
Design and construction
Architect	Francis Bindon (1738) Richard Morrison (1810, gates) Francis Johnston (1825, minor alterations) Richard Morrison (1840, stables and other minor alterations) Joseph Maguire (1872, Gate lodge)
Developer	Various Lords, Barons and Earls of Howth
Other designers	James Hogan & Sons (1875, interior plasterwork)
Renovating team
Architect	Edwin Lutyens (1910-11, tower, loggia, chapel, corridors)
Civil engineer	Frederick William Higginbotham (1910-11)

Howth Castle is a very old and important building located near the village of Howth in County Dublin, Ireland. It sits on a large piece of land. For many centuries, this castle was the home of the St Lawrence family. They had lived in the area since the Normans arrived in 1180. The family leaders held important titles like Lord Howth and later Earl of Howth.

The castle and its land were passed down through the family until 2019. At that time, they were sold to a company called Tetrarch Capital. The estate still includes a lot of the Howth Head area. This means it has wide open heathlands and many of Howth's famous cliff walks. From these walks, you can see amazing views of Dublin Bay and the island of Ireland's Eye.

Today, the grounds around the castle have golf courses and a hotel. There are also beautiful gardens to explore. You can even find an ancient collapsed tomb and small streams flowing through the estate.

In 2018, the family announced they would sell the castle and its lands. The new owners planned to make the hotel and golf course into a fancy resort. A part of the land near the castle was later sold to a home-building company.

History of Howth Castle

Ancient Beginnings: Bronze Age Settlement

On the castle grounds, there is a very old stone tomb called Aideen's Grave. It is about 3,000 years old! Legend says it is the resting place of a mythical figure named Aideen. This old story even inspired a poem called 'Aideen's Grave'.

Viking Times in Howth

Later, around 1,000 years ago, Vikings started raiding the Irish coast. Places like Lambay Island and Howth were important Viking spots. You can still see Viking names in these areas today.

From Norman Castle to Grand House

The St Lawrence family became the main landowners in Howth around 1179 or 1180. Their first castle was made of wood and stood near Howth village. Around 1235, the wooden castle was moved to where the stone castle is now.

The oldest parts of the stone castle you see today were built in the 1450s. Over the years, different Lords of Howth added more to the castle. In 1911, a famous architect named Edwin Lutyens redesigned parts of the castle.

The castle's land used to be much bigger. It included many areas of northern Dublin. But over time, much of this land was sold off. In the later 1900s, parts of the castle's land were turned into golf courses. A hotel with a bar, restaurant, and spa was also opened.

Howth Castle Today

In the early 2000s, a cookery school opened at the castle. A cafe also opened, and sometimes you could even take guided tours of the castle.

In October 2018, the family announced they had sold the property. The golf club and other facilities stayed open for a while. The new owners planned to make the hotel into a luxury place. It was also possible that new homes would be built on some of the land.

The Legend of Grace O'Malley

There's a famous story about Howth Castle from 1576. A powerful Irish leader and "pirate queen" named Gráinne O'Malley visited Howth. She tried to visit the 8th Baron Howth at the castle. But she was told the family was eating dinner, and the castle gates were closed to her.

Gráinne O'Malley was very upset by this. So, she took the Baron's grandson and heir! He was eventually set free. But only after the Baron promised to always keep the castle gates open for unexpected visitors. He also had to set an extra plate at every meal. This way, no one would ever be turned away again.

Exploring the Castle and Grounds

The Castle Building

The first Lord of Howth, Almeric Tristram, came to Ireland in 1177. He probably built a simple wooden castle near the harbor. The first record of a castle on the current site is from 1235. This one was also made of wood.

The oldest stone parts of the castle we see now are from around 1450. These include the main tower and the gate tower.

Inside the Castle

Most of the furniture and decorations inside the castle were sold in 2021. Some parts of another old house, Killester House, were moved to Howth Castle. This included a beautiful marble fireplace.

The Castle Grounds

Howth Castle, 1819, an engraving after George Petrie

The grounds around the castle are famous for their wild rhododendron gardens. These gardens are open to the public in the summer. You can also see some of the oldest beech hedges in Ireland here. They were planted way back in 1710!

Sometimes, guided tours of the castle were available on weekends. In the past, the grounds had many more features. There was a rock garden, a "sundial garden," an orchard, and even a moat. These features are not used anymore. There was also a small sunken garden and a formal garden.

Several small streams flow through the estate. One of them, called the Bloody Stream, ran in front of the castle.

Today, the more distant parts of the estate are open to the public for walking. These areas are protected because they are so special. In the 1900s, much of the old landscape was changed. This was done to create the Deer Park golf courses and a hotel.

The "Kitchen in the Castle Cookery School" was started by two family members. It is located in the castle's old Georgian kitchens.

The National Transport Museum of Ireland is also on the castle grounds. It has many old vehicles like lorries, fire engines, and tractors. You can also see a restored Hill of Howth No.9 Tram there.

Howth Park Racecourse (1829 - 1842)

From 1829 to 1842, there was a horse racecourse on the castle grounds. It was called Howth Park Racecourse. The 3rd Earl of Howth, Thomas St Lawrence, loved horses and started it.

Important people from all over Ireland came to these races. At first, only members of special racing clubs could enter. But later, races were opened up for tradesmen and citizens too. The races stopped in 1842. However, horse racing later started again nearby at Baldoyle Racecourse.

See also

In Spanish: Castillo de Howth para niños