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Malahide Castle

Malahide Castle will be closed to the public after 31st October 2011

Contact Fingal County Council on (01) 8905184

Council to deliver new €10.5 m euro Tourism project at Malahide Castle & Demesne

The Council is set to deliver a vastly enhanced tourist experience at Malahide Demesne. The project, which is being implemented by a cross-departmental, multi-disciplinary team within the Council, will provide a ground-breaking visitor experience for North County Dublin.  Seen as one of the most important and exciting tourism projects to be undertaken in the State in recent times, it will see:

• An updating of the Castle to allow greater physical mobility and to provide state of the art visitor facilities.

• An enhanced Interpretation Area within the Castle, which will bring alive the stories of the people who lived in the Castle.

• The opening up of the so-called “Secret Garden” – the Talbot Botanical Gardens, with enhancement of the already world-class gardens and substantially improved access and opening hours.

• A revamping of the Courtyard area to provide a garden museum and interpretation area.

• A new high quality retail and restaurant offering in the courtyard environs.

• Improved links between the Demesne and Malahide village.

The scheme has the backing of Fáilte Ireland who will co-finance the project, with grant funding of €3.75 million being made available from their own resources. Initial works are due to begin in April 2011, with a proposed “Grand Opening” of the new facilities scheduled for April 2012.

* Malahide Castle is situated in Malahide Demesne, which is 16 km  (10miles) north east of Dublin City off the R107. 

* In 1185 Henry II of England granted 600 acres of land in Malahide to Richard Talbot.  Malahide Castle was the home of the Talbot family until 1976 when the estate was sold to the Council.

* The castle was originally a Norman Tower House until the last quarter of the 18th century when it was extended and castellated.

* The remarkable apartments have not been modernised.  The principal rooms are the Oak Room, the Great Hall, the two Drawing Rooms, the Library, the Nursery and the Bedrooms which are furnished with period furniture. There is also a fine Portrait collection.

* The 5th Lord Richard Talbot married Emily, great grand daughter of James Boswell, biographer of Dr. Johnson and the contents of the Boswell house came to Malahide in 1914.  Among the items was the famous cabinet in which the world celebrated Boswell papers were discovered.

* The 7th Lord Milo Talbot was responsible for the internationally famous
 

Other Attractions and Facilities:


* Beside the Castle is the famous Talbot Botanic Garden (see separate leaflet) established by the late Lord Milo Talbot who had a particular interest in Southern Hemisphere plants particularly Australasian and Chilean species. Among the collection is the National Plant Collection  of the genus Olearia.

* Car-parking (3 car-parks) The main car park is 140 metres from Main Entrance, No 2 car park is just inside the main entrance gates and No. 3 car park is on the north side of the estate close to the Railway station.

Getting There:

Public Transport:  No. 42 bus from the City Centre, No. 230 from Dublin Airport and No. 102 bus from Sutton.  The Dublin to Drogheda train and the Dart serve Malahide Town, a walk of only minutes to a Park entrance.

Parkland of 268 acres with Woodland Walks, 9 hole Par 3 golf course, 18 hole Pitch and Putt course, Tennis Courts, Cricket pitch, Sports pitches, Children's Playground, Health Fitness Trail and Boules.