Remembering Ireland: Malahide Castle

Good morning! It's Monday again, which means it's time for the second installment of Remembering Ireland, so let's get started.

On our first day in Dublin, we only had one day in which to see as much as we could -- this is due to the fact that we were only in Dublin on our first and last days of the trip. We arrived to the city exhausted and dirty. We were unable to get a room right away as it was only 7:30 in the morning, so I changed my clothes in their bathroom and freshened up as best as I could before heading over a block to a coffee shop called Roasted Bean. It was interesting getting a coffee in Ireland as opposed to America, because tea is the thing there while coffee is more of a novelty. This was a specialty coffee shop, and I had a pretty cappuccino.

After coffee, we stopped back at the North Star to see if they had a room for us, and they did! I showered straight-away, and we both napped for about an hour. After our brief nap, we went downstairs and talked to a gentleman that works in the lobby as a bit of a tourist guide. He recommended we go to Malahide Castle. We walked across the street to Connolly Station and caught the city train north to Malahide Castle. The castle is in the town of Malahide, which grew up around the castle, and takes about 20 minutes.

Waiting for the city train to take us to the village of Malahide.

A street in the village of Malahide.

The entrance to the grounds of Malahide Castle.

A view of the outside of the Castle Courtyard.

The Castle Courtyard is where the Visitor's Centre, Gift Shop, and Cafe are located. We decided on the Castle Tour as it's the only way to see the inside of the Castle. We were early for the next available tour, so we purchased our tickets, had a pear scone with clotted cream & tea at the Cafe, and bought a few items at the Gift Shop.

Side view of the Castle.

Front entrance of Malahide Castle.

Malahide Castle was built in the 12th Century, well parts of it anyway, and was owned continuously by the Talbot family who occupied it all the way up until 1975! It was too expensive to keep it in the family, especially as the family was down to one older woman. She and her brother, Lord Talbot, neither having ever gotten married or had kids, lived together there until his death. She then went to the family farm in Australia, and gave the Castle to the Shannon Heritage Foundation (SHF). The SHF is an Irish Government entity that exists to preserve Irish heritage. Every castle we went to in Ireland is owned and operated by the SHF. They work hard to keep Irish history alive.

Second floor landing.

Since the Castle stayed in the family until the 1970s, it was the only castle we went to in Ireland that was furnished.

The Oak Room.

Sorry for the blurry photograph, my old camera always tried its best, but I wish I would have had a better one. Anyway, this picture of the Oak Room, and our lovely tour guide, is my favorite. I loved this room. Dark walls and furnishings so dark, in fact, that the bright light penetrating from the window on the opposite wall still only illuminates a part of it.

The Small Drawing Room.

The Great Hall.

One of the bedrooms.

A bathroom.

Walking back to the train station from the Castle.

All in all, Malahide Castle & Gardens was an awesome place to spend the afternoon. The town was also lovely, and looking back I think I would have explored it more. For more information about Malahide Castle, and how you can visit, click on this link: Malahide Castle & Gardens.

See you next Monday for Limerick, Day One!

-H.A.