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
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 historic castle and large estate located just outside the village of Howth, in County Dublin, Ireland. For over 800 years, it was the family home of the St Lawrence family. They were important lords and earls who owned the land around Howth.

The estate is huge, covering much of the Howth Head peninsula. It includes beautiful heathland, famous cliff walks with amazing views of Dublin Bay, and even the island of Ireland's Eye. You can also find golf courses, formal gardens, and lovely rhododendron walks here. Several small streams flow through the estate, adding to its natural beauty.

In 2018, the family decided to sell the castle and its lands to an investment group. The new owners plan to turn the hotel and golf course into a fancy resort.

History of Howth Castle

Early Beginnings of Howth Castle

The St Lawrence family has been in charge of Howth since 1180. Their very first castle was made of wood and stood on Tower Hill, overlooking Balscadden Bay. The current Howth Castle has been on its spot for more than 750 years.

The first written record of a castle on the current site dates back to 1235. This early castle was also made of wood. The oldest parts of the stone castle you see today, like the main tower and gate tower, were built around 1450.

Changes Over Time

Over the centuries, the castle and its estate changed a lot. A famous English architect named Sir Edwin Lutyens redesigned parts of the castle in 1911. He worked on a 14th-century castle that overlooked Ireland's Eye and the coast.

The estate used to be much larger, including lands in northern Dublin like Kilbarrack and Raheny. However, these parts were sold off between the mid-1800s and mid-1900s.

In the second half of the 20th century, parts of the castle grounds were turned into golf courses. A hotel with a bar, restaurant, and spa was also opened. More recently, a cookery school and a cafe opened at the castle. Sometimes, you could even take guided tours to explore inside.

In 2018, the family announced the sale of the property. The golf club and hotel were planned for redevelopment.

The Legend of Gráinne O'Malley

There's a famous story about Howth Castle from 1576. A powerful Irish chieftain and "pirate queen" named Gráinne O'Malley visited the castle. However, the gates were closed, and she was told the family was eating dinner. This was considered very rude!

To get even, Gráinne O'Malley kidnapped the grandson and heir of the Baron of Howth. He was only released when the family promised two things:

• The castle gates would always be open to unexpected visitors.
• An extra plate would be set at every meal, just in case.

Even today, it is said that the descendants of the Baron still honor this agreement at Howth Castle.

Exploring the Castle and Grounds

Inside Howth Castle

The earliest parts of the stone castle, including the keep and gate tower, date back to around 1450. These parts show how strong and old the castle truly is.

Most of the furniture and decorations inside the castle were sold at an auction in 2021. However, some beautiful pieces from another old house, Killester House, were moved to Howth Castle. This includes a lovely marble fireplace in the Lutyens library.

The Beautiful Grounds

Howth Castle, around 1820

The grounds of Howth Castle are truly special. In 1892, Rosa Mulholland described them as having a "quaint old castle" in a "prim garden" with a "swan-inhabited pond." She also mentioned "dark beautiful woods" that felt like "cathedral-like aisles."

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

In the past, there were many other features like a rock garden, a "sundial garden," an orchard, and even a moat. While some of these features are no longer used, parts of the formal garden still remain. There's also a path that leads to the Swan Pond, which used to have a fern garden nearby.

Several small streams flow through the estate, adding to its natural charm. Some parts of the estate are treated almost like public parks, with walking trails for everyone to enjoy.

In the 20th century, the old landscape was changed to create the Deer Park golf courses. There was also a hotel called the Deer Park Hotel for many years.

Today, you can find the "Kitchen in the Castle Cookery School" here. It's run by members of the family in the castle's old Georgian kitchens. The National Transport Museum of Ireland is also located on the castle grounds. It has a cool collection of old lorries, fire engines, and even a restored Hill of Howth No.9 Tram.

Images for kids

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  Howth Castle and its surroundings.

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  Howth Castle, around 1820.