Huntington Castle, Clonegal facts for kids
Huntington Castle, also known as Clonegal Castle, is a historic castle located in Clonegal, County Carlow, Ireland. It was built in 1625 and has a fascinating past, from its early defensive days to becoming a private home with beautiful gardens.
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Huntington Castle's Rich History
The castle was originally built as a "plantation castle." This means it was used for defense when new settlers arrived in the area in the early 1600s. The very first part of the castle, a strong tower house, was built in the 1400s. It served as a stronghold for an old Irish family called the Caviness family.
Later, during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland in the 1600s, Clonegal village was very important. It was on the main road between Dublin and Wexford. Because of this, the castle was captured by Oliver Cromwell in 1650 when he marched towards Kilkenny.
Exploring Huntington Castle Today
Today, Huntington Castle is a private home, but it is also open to visitors for guided tours. You can explore its history and beauty during the months of June, July, August, and September.
The castle has even been a star itself! It was used as a filming location for Stanley Kubrick's famous movie, Barry Lyndon. Since 1976, a group called the Fellowship of Isis has had its base in the castle's basement. The castle also hosted the Solas Festival in August 2008. The castle is currently owned by Alexander and Claire Durdin Robertson.
Discovering Huntington Castle's Gardens
The beautiful gardens at Huntington Castle were mostly designed by the Esmonde family in the 1600s. You can see their work in the French lime trees along the main path and the lovely lawns next to the house. There are also fish ponds on either side of the central walk through the wilder parts of the garden. Many of the old yew trees that make up the "Yew Walk" were planted back then too.
The gardens are home to some of Ireland's most impressive trees. These include different types of hickory, a special cut-leaved oak, Siberian crabapple trees, and buckeye chestnuts. At the bottom of the wild garden, there's a lake that was built just for its beauty. Next to it, you can find one of the very first water turbine houses in Ireland. This clever system provided Huntington Castle with its own electricity as early as 1888! The River Derry, which separates County Wexford and County Carlow, flows along the edge of the gardens, making for peaceful woodland walks.
Myths and Legends of Huntington Castle
Huntington Castle has its share of old stories and myths. Some tales suggest that ghosts of ancient Druids have been seen in the fields and even inside the castle. These stories say that Druids could create mist or start fires with their powers.
The castle also has a special well that has never dried up. Because of this, it has helped save the castle many times during sieges, providing water when it was most needed.
