Tullynally Castle facts for kids
Tullynally Castle, also called Pakenham Hall Castle, is a large country house in County Westmeath, Ireland. It's located about 2 kilometers from the town of Castlepollard. This impressive building is designed in a Gothic style and has more than 120 rooms! The Pakenham family, who are now known as the Earls of Longford, have lived in this castle for over 350 years.
The castle is surrounded by beautiful gardens and parkland that cover twelve acres. These include lovely woodland gardens and walled gardens that were first created in the early 1800s. You can find a cool limestone grotto and pretty ornamental lakes there. More recently, a Chinese garden with a pagoda and a Tibetan garden with waterfalls and streams have been added.
You can find the castle's entrance about 1.5 kilometers outside Castlepollard on the Granard road. It's about 20 kilometers from Mullingar and 80 kilometers from Dublin. The castle grounds are usually open for visitors from April to September.
Contents
A Look Back: Tullynally Castle's Story
How the Pakenham Family Got the Land
The story of Tullynally Castle began in 1665. A soldier named Henry Pakenham was given this land as payment for his work in the army. His grandson, named Thomas, was later given the special title of Baron Longford in 1756.
Making the Castle Bigger and Grander
Thomas's grandson, another Thomas, inherited the title of 2nd Earl of Longford in 1794. He decided to make the 17th-century house much bigger. In the early 1800s, he changed it to the Gothic Revival style. This meant adding towers and even a moat around it! After these changes, it became the largest castle-like house in all of Ireland.
The Castle Through the Years
Since then, Tullynally Castle has been passed down through many generations of the Pakenham family. Today, the current owner is Thomas Pakenham, 8th Earl of Longford. It remains the largest house in Ireland that is still owned by a private family.
Famous Family Members
A well-known British Army general, Sir Edward Pakenham, grew up in this house. His older sister, Kitty, married Arthur Wellesley in 1806. Arthur Wellesley later became very famous as the Duke of Wellington.
Other Cool Castles in Westmeath
