Merrion Castle facts for kids

Merrion Castle was an old castle located near Dublin, Ireland. It stood about 300 meters south of where the Merrion Gates are today. Built in the early 1300s, it became the main home for the powerful Fitzwilliam family from the 1500s until the early 1700s. This family later gained the title of Viscount Fitzwilliam.

Around 1710, the Fitzwilliams moved to a new home called Mount Merrion House. After they left, Merrion Castle slowly fell apart. It was completely taken down in 1780. Today, there are no parts of Merrion Castle left to see. It used to be where St. Mary's Home and School for the Blind is now. Old maps can show you exactly where it once stood.

Merrion Castle's Beginnings

The first time Merrion Castle is mentioned in history is around 1334. At that time, it belonged to Thomas Bagod. His family was also connected to another castle nearby, called Baggotrath Castle, built by Sir Robert Bagod.

Later, in the late 1300s, Sir John Cruise owned Merrion Castle. He was an important diplomat (someone who handles relations between countries) and a soldier. In the 1400s, both Merrion Castle and Baggotrath Castle came into the hands of the Fitzwilliam family. They became very important landowners in Dublin.

For a long time, Baggotrath Castle was the Fitzwilliams' favorite home. They even had a big fight with another family, the Cornwalsh family, over it in the 1440s. But during the time of Elizabeth I (in the late 1500s), Sir Thomas Fitzwilliam decided to make Merrion Castle the family's main residence.

Merrion Castle During the Civil War

During the English Civil War (a big conflict in England and Ireland), having a strong castle like Merrion so close to Dublin was very important. The Fitzwilliam family were loyal to the King (they were Royalists). They put many soldiers in the castle to protect it.

However, in June 1642, the castle was taken by the Parliamentary side (those who supported Parliament, not the King). It stayed in their control until the King was restored to power in 1660.

The second Viscount Fitzwilliam, Oliver Fitzwilliam, tried to get the castle back. He even had some influence with Henry Cromwell, the son of Oliver Cromwell (the leader of the Parliamentary side). But he didn't succeed right away. Even after the King returned, it took time for Oliver to get his lands back because of disagreements in Ireland. He finally got Merrion Castle back in 1663.

Life at the Castle and Its Decline

Even though Merrion Castle was damaged during the war, it was still a large and important home. Records from 1662-1663 show it had sixteen hearths (fireplaces), which meant it was one of the biggest private homes in Dublin.

Lord Tyrconnell, who was Oliver Fitzwilliam, worked hard to improve the castle in his later years. He died there in 1667. Merrion Castle remained the main family home until 1710. That's when Richard FitzWilliam, 5th Viscount FitzWilliam started building a new, grander home called Mount Merrion House.

After 1710, the castle was completely left empty. It quickly began to fall apart. By the late 1720s, it was mostly ruins. Old newspapers even reported that the site was full of large, wild brown rats, which they called "marmonts" back then. Brown rats were first seen in Ireland around 1722.

Artist Gabriel Beranger drew the castle ruins around 1765. Another person, Austin Cooper, surveyed them in May 1780. But when he visited again, the castle was being torn down. A book from 1837, The Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, said that some parts of the castle, covered in ivy, could still be seen at that time.

Images for kids

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  Watercolour of Merrion Castle, painted by Gabriel Beranger in the mid to late 18th century