Killeen Castle, Dunsany facts for kids
Killeen Castle (Irish: Caisleán an Chillín) is a historic castle located in Dunsany, County Meath, Ireland. The castle you see today is a restored version of a building from the 1800s. It was badly damaged by fire in 1981.
This castle stands on a site where a castle has been since about 1180. Killeen Castle was built as one of two castles guarding a main road to the north. The other castle is Dunsany Castle, which is still standing. The land around Killeen Castle was owned by the Cusack family, and later the Plunkett family, from 1172 all the way to 1951.
Contents
Castle History: A Journey Through Time
The Early Days: The Cusack Family
The first building at Killeen Castle was likely a Norman fort, perhaps made of wood. It was built for the de Lacy lords and given to the Cusack family in 1172. Geoffrey de Cusack was the first family member to own it.
Around 1181, Geoffrey de Cusack built the stone castle. You can even see the date carved above the doorway! The Cusack family lived in Killeen Castle for over 250 years. Lady Joan de Cusack, who lived in 1441, and her husband, Sir Christopher Plunkett, built a church next to the castle. This church is now a special national monument.
Imagine what the castle was like long ago! An old description from August 1st (a feast day) tells us about it. It had four tall towers with battlements and five floors of narrow window openings. The castle sat on a small hill. To get in, you used a steep wooden staircase. Inside, on the first floor, was the Great Hall. Rushes covered the stone floor. There was a long table, benches, and a fancy wooden armchair for the Lord of the Manor. A thick green and white curtain covered one wall. Across from the entrance was a fireplace with logs burning. The right wall held the Lord's armor, hunting trophies, and a feathered lure for falconry.
The Cusack family, who were the Lords of Killeen, lived, fought, and grew their lands in these surroundings for 225 years. Then, in 1399, the castle passed to the Plunkett family when Lady Joan de Cusack married Christopher Plunkett.
The Plunkett Family Takes Over
Sir Christopher Plunkett was the first Plunkett to own the castle. He became the 1st Baron Killeen. He divided his land between his two oldest sons. The second son received the nearby Dunsany Castle and later became the 1st Baron Dunsany. The older branch of the family continued as Barons of Killeen, and later became Earls of Fingall.
The castle grew over time. By the 1400s, it was a medium-sized fortified tower house.
The two parts of the family stayed close over the centuries. During the difficult time of the Penal Laws (laws that made things hard for Catholics), the Dunsany branch of the family changed their religion to the Church of Ireland. They held Killeen Castle safely for the older branch, who remained Roman Catholic. When the laws changed, Killeen Castle was given back to the original family branch.
In the late 1600s, the castle started to fall apart. It was rented out and not fixed up until around 1779. At that time, some of the castle grounds were improved, and new features were added.
From 1803 to 1813, a lot of work was done on the castle by Francis Johnston. Then, in 1841, much of the castle was taken down and rebuilt by The 9th Earl of Fingall. He used many of the old materials. The castle was rebuilt to look like a smaller version of Windsor Castle. Two new towers were added, with the dates 1181 and 1841 carved on them. When it was finished, people said Killeen Castle had 365 windows!
After the Plunkett Family
The 12th Earl of Fingall (who lived from 1896 to 1984) was the last Earl to own the castle. He sold Killeen Castle and its remaining land in 1951 to Sir Victor Sassoon. The Earl stayed on to manage the horse breeding farm near the castle. In 1953, the Earl and Countess moved to a new house built on the land, and most of the castle's furniture and items were sold.
Sir Victor Sassoon passed away in 1961. His family sold the estate in 1963 to Daniel Wildenstein, a French art dealer and a big racehorse owner.
The last Earl moved from the estate to other places nearby. He passed away in 1984 and is buried at Dunsany Church.
In 1978, the castle and its land were sold to Basil Brindley, who continued to run the horse farm. Sadly, on May 16, 1981, the castle was burned down in an arson attack. It was left empty for many years. The land and buildings were sold again in 1989.
New Life for Killeen Castle
In 1989, new plans were made for the castle. These plans were changed a few times. They included turning the castle into a fancy hotel, building a championship golf course, and adding more than a hundred luxury homes on the estate. After many talks and changes, the plans were approved. Special rules were put in place to protect parts of the old castle grounds and features, like a holy well. Work on the new development started in 2005.
In August 2006, it was announced that Killeen Castle would open in 2009 as a 179-room luxury golf and spa hotel under The Luxury Collection brand. However, in early 2009, Starwood (the hotel company) pulled out of the project. The developers, Snowbury, had to make the plans smaller because of a slowdown in tourism.
Golf at Killeen Castle
On December 14, 2006, after more than a year of trying, Killeen Castle was chosen to host the 2011 Solheim Cup. This was a very big deal because it was the first time Ireland had ever hosted this important golf event! This happened even though the golf course hadn't been built yet.
The 18-hole championship golf course was designed by the famous golfer Jack Nicklaus. It opened in 2008. The course hosted the Ladies Irish Open in August 2010 and 2011. These events helped get ready for the Solheim Cup.
A special golf school called "Dave Pelz Scoring Game School" also opened at Killeen Castle in June 2008. This school focuses on improving a golfer's game when they are within 100 yards (91 m) of the hole.
What You Can Find at Killeen Castle
The Killeen Castle estate has many interesting features. These include the castle itself, a large stable yard, a church (sometimes mistakenly called "Killeen Abbey"), a holy well known as the "Lady Well," a pond, a walled garden, and other historical elements.
The church, which is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, was built around 1425. It is in the Gothic style and has a cemetery next to it. This church is protected as a National Monument.
Killeen Castle in Movies
In 1966, parts of the movie Casino Royale were filmed at Killeen Castle. The famous director John Huston directed these scenes. For the movie, the castle was given a different name: 'Castle McTarry'.
More Information
- Dunsany, County Meath, April 1991: Carty/Lynch - The History of Killeen Castle; Mary Rose Carty, ISBN: 0-95173820-8
