Kinnitty Castle facts for kids
Kinnitty Castle, also known as Castle Bernard, is a grand 19th-century castle in Kinnitty, County Offaly, Ireland. It sits north of the Slieve Bloom Mountains. Today, this historic building operates as a hotel. Close by, you can find a pyramid built by the Bernard family, who once owned the castle.
Contents
A Look at Kinnitty Castle's Past
The Castle's Early Days
The very first castle in Kinnitty was destroyed in 1209. But don't worry, the Normans quickly rebuilt it in 1213! Around that time, an Augustinian abbey, called St Finnian's, was built near the castle. You can still see parts of it today, like the famous High Cross and some abbey walls.
Later, the O'Carrolls of Ely took over from the Normans. In 1630, William O'Carroll built a new castle very close to the old abbey. However, this castle was taken by the government in 1641. This was part of a big land change in Offaly, which was then called King's County.
New Owners and a Grand Design
In 1664, the King gave the castle and its land to Colonel Thomas Winter for his military service. His family later sold it to Thomas Bernard. He renamed the house Castle Bernard and passed it down to his son, also named Thomas Bernard, who was a Member of Parliament (MP).
In 1811, Lady Catherine Hutchinson, who was married to the younger Thomas, asked an architect named James Pain to make the castle bigger. He designed it in a gothic style, giving it the look you see today. After Thomas, his son Colonel Thomas Bernard became the owner. He was a very important person in King's County, serving as Lord Lieutenant and High Sheriff.
From Fire to Forestry to Hotel
Sadly, the Irish Republican Army burned the castle in 1922. But it was restored in 1928 with help from a government grant of £32,000. The Bernard family lived there until 1946. Then, it was sold to Lord Decies, who later sold it to the Irish state in 1951.
From 1955 to 1985, Kinnitty Castle was used as a Forestry Training College. It taught people how to manage forests. In 1994, the Ryan family from Limerick bought the castle. They turned it into a beautiful 37-bedroom, 4-star hotel and a popular place for weddings.
In 2008, a bank took over the castle, but it continued to operate as a hotel. Then, in 2015, new owners bought Kinnitty Castle. This group includes Irish and American investors, like Derek Warfield from the musical group The Wolfe Tones. Since 2015, the castle has been updated with many renovations. It continues to be a popular 4-star hotel, a venue for weddings, and a place for business meetings.
