Ardgillan Castle, Balbriggan.
* The name Ardgillan is derived from the Irish "Árd Choill" meaning "High Wood".
* Ardgillan is a large country house with castellated embellishments built by the Rev. Robert Taylor in 1738. It stands on the elevated coastline commanding magnificent views of the Irish Sea. The house consists of two storeys over basement, which extend under the south lawns.
* Robert Taylor was a grandson of the Thomas Taylor who worked with William Petty on the mid 17th century Down Survey of Ireland. The house remained in the Taylor family until 1962 when the estate to Heinrich Potts of Westphalia. In 1982 the estate was sold to the County Council.
* The ground floor rooms and kitchen are open to the Public by guided tour. You can also take a free online audio visual tour of the house by clicking here. Upstairs there is a permanent exhibition of the Down Survey colour maps and text and the Hutton Coachbuilders drawings and text.
* The Castle is managed jointly with the Skerries Development and Community Association Limited
Getting There:
* The Park is located between Skerries and Balbriggan
* By Car. Signposted from the M1/N1 Dublin-Belfast road to Balbriggan. There are two car parks the first adjacent to the Main Entrance Gates and the second close to the Castle.
* By Bus: Bus 33 from Eden Quay in Dublin city centre. The bus passes under Ladies Stairs footbridge entrance to the park 3.5 Km north of Skerries.
* By Train: 4 Km walk from Balbriggan Station on the Dublin to Drogheda line.
Opening Times:
July & August 11.00am - 6.00pm
April to 30th September 11.00am - 6.00pm
October to 31st March: 11.00am - 4.30pm
23rd December to January 1st inclusive Closed
Facilities:
Coffee Shop in castle is open during Castle opening hours.
In mid-summer a second coffee shop is open beside the Walled Garden
Guided Tours of the Castle are provided at regular intervals during the day
Admission:
Admission to the castle is free and the cost of the guided tours is:
Adult €6
Senior Citizens & Students €4
Family €12
Group Rate €4
Guided Tour of Walled Garden on Thursdays at 3.30 pm during June, July & August €5
Group Rate by Appointment €4.50
Toilets
Other Attractions at Ardgillan:
* The Rose Garden, Victorian Conservatory, Walled Garden and The National Plant Collection of Shrubby Potentillas.
* The Ice-House and Lady's Stairs.
* The Ardgillan Gardens brochure is available from the Fingal County Council Parks Division, County Hall Swords, Co. Dublin. Tel (01) 8905629.
* Ardgillan Playground
Contact Us:
Parks Division
Telephone (01) 849 2212
Facsimile (01) 849 2786
Email: Parks@fingalcoco.ie
Or contact the Castle directly at ardgillancastle@fingalcoco.ie
or check out the Castle Website at www.ardgillancastle.ie
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