Huntington Castle is a dream come true, an enchanted piece of Ireland‘s wondrous past carved straight from the pages of a fairytale.
If you dream of staying in a period Irish Castle, Huntington Castle is the perfect place for you to make your dreams come true, With magical gardens, enchanted woodlands and a history that crosses centuries of time.
Huntington Castle is were magic and enchantments come to life.
Contact Details
Huntington Castle, Clonegal, Country Carlow.
+353 (0)53 9377 160
www.huntingtoncastle.com
info@huntingtoncastle.com
Huntington Castle Gardens and Playground
May – September 1000 – 1700
Admission Fees
Adults: €5.00
Child: €2.50
Important Note- No dogs are allowed on the grounds.
Huntington Castle House
House Tours
Adults: €9.00
Child: €5.00
Family, Group, Student and senor rates are available.
Opening Hours
May, June, July August and September
Tour Information
Guided Tours operate daily at the following times.
1400, 1500, 1600 and 1700
Huntington Castle is a private residence so tours of the house are by guided tour only.
Visiting Huntington Castle
A jewel of Ireland’s Ancient East and a treasure that is so enchanting it is like it was plucked straight from a magical Fairytale. Huntington Castle has been one of My Real Ireland’s most wonderful visits to date.
It is almost impossible to describe the joy and wonder you feel approaching this magnificent location. You are stepping into the realm of wonder and luxury.
As I approached the Castle, lovingly surrounded by trees that protect the beautiful and historic entrance, it is impossible not to gasp at the beauty of this wondrous location.
The Castle is historic, wonderful and lovingly placed in its perfect and idyllic surroundings.
You feel as if you have left the outside world behind. Huntington Castle feels that it is protecting you from every thought that once occupied your mind. I felt a peace like I was in a different world of medieval wonder.
Huntington Castle a building strong silent and wondrous. Set in one of the most romantic settings Ireland has to offer. You get a feeling that you are being transported to another time.
Huntington Castle Tea Rome and Facilities.
When we arrived at Huntington Castle after I had composed myself, I was mesmerized by everything that was going on around me, a wonderfully breathtaking castle and gardens I didn’t think it could get any better but it did.
We entered the Tea Rooms and Gift Store. The gift store is full of beautiful items, with something to suit all budgets and ages. I loved the range of jams and chocolates. There is a wide range of locally made crafts and pottery. You are guaranteed to find the perfect gift or keepsake.
The Coffee was absolutely fantastic and served in a wonderfully traditionally vintage china cup and saucer.
It was tempting to eat the mouthwatering range of cakes, biscuit and scones. I have to admit I did buy some lovely cakes to take home; they were delicious.
Weddings at Huntington Castle.
Many of us dream of a fairytale Irish wedding in an ancient Castle surrounding by lush pastures and enchanted forests.
Huntington Castle can make that dream come true.
Huntington Castle is one of the most romantic locations in Ireland and has the facilities and atmosphere to create any dream wedding.
This is a unique and fantastic location for any wedding and promises to be a one of a kind wedding experience. Huntington Castle offers a full and wide range of wedding services from venue hire to wedding planning Huntington Castle has it all.
Huntington Castle is fully licensed to conduct civil wedding services and has the perfect location to create ever lasting perfect memories.
Huntington Castle Gardens will be a perfect and stunning location for you wedding photography with unique and romantic settings throughout the grounds and castle for more information please visit www.huntingtoncastle.ie or email info@huntingtoncastle.com
Family Fun at Huntington Castle
Huntington Castle is the perfect day out for any family young and old.
With its scenic walks and beautiful Castle it also offers a wide range of activities throughout the year. These include events around holidays such as Christmas, Halloween and Easter.
For a full and comprehensive updated schedule of Huntington’s entire Castle fun days please visit their facebook page or wwwhuntingtoncastle.com.
Huntington Castle is home to the beautiful woodland adventure playground. This is an amazing playground full of fun for all the family. There is even a special toddler play area that is one of the most wonderful ideas for younger children that we have seen.
Most don’t know this but Huntington Castle is also a Farm, this facility is a constant and ongoing project and for anyone who loves animals, this is just absolutely perfect. We had the pleasure of meeting the lovely Boris who is a beautiful pig and wanders freely around the Castle Grounds.
There are also chickens, lambs, sheep, cattle and the lovely Percy the peacock. Huntington on every level is a dream comes true.
Staying at Huntington Castle.
If you have ever dreamed of staying in a fairytale Irish Castle, Huntington Castle is a dream come true. Offering guests a unique and special opportunity to feel as if you are part of something exceedingly special.
With beautiful accommodation available where you can live out your dreams. Huntington Castle offers a number of options to visitors wishing to stay in this historic castle.
With many accommodation options available at Huntington Castle there is something to suit everyone. With bed and breakfast options available as well as self catering options, such as the Castle apartment and The Castle Gatehouse.
A History of Huntington. Castle and Gardens
Huntington Castle is a multiphase piece of architecture and the phase we see today was constructed to be a plantation castle during the plantations of Ireland by English settlers loyal to the Crown.
It was originally a defensive fortress in the 17th Century.
Due to the stratigic importance of Clonegal as an intermediate connecting situation between the road from Wexford to Dublin it was a perfect positioning for Cromwell to station his forces during the Cromwellian Rebellion of Ireland.
Congeal was captured by Cromwell himself as he marched to capture the powerbase of Killen in 1650.
The older part of the Castle is the large and imposing Tower house that would have been constructed in the 15th Century.
The Tower House would have been a tradition Irish Clan defensive feature that would have been the home of Caviness Family a powerful clan in this area of Ireland.
The long and disguised history of Huntington Castle has seen this stunning Castle in all its phases of life and history; bearing witness to some of Irelands most significant historic events. Huntington is also home to magnificent gardens.
Surrounded in myths and legends that trace back to Ireland’s oldest and most wondrous times.
Huntington Castles long and distinguished history traverses the centuries.
This area has its roots in the deep history of ancient Ireland to the modern. Huntington’s eternal history is fluid adapting to the time ensuring its survival in its present form.
Hunting castle was once the power centre of the ancient Edmonde family. With a long and distinguished past and connection to Ireland and this area since 1192 as part of the Norman conquest of Ireland.
The Esmonde Family is also associated with exceptional historic monuments such as Duncannon Fort and Johnstown Castle in County Wexford.
When they settled in Clonegal and built the first phase of Huntington Castle. The house is still in the hands of the Esmondes direct descendants the Durdin Robertson family.
The Durdin Robertson family still resides in this amazing Castle. Alexander and Clare Durdin Robertson have brought Huntington Castle into modern times and have lovingly preserved this magnificent building and grounds for future generations to enjoy.
They have put their mark on the history of Huntington Castle and strive to make your visit to Huntington Castle one to remember.
They are very dedicated and hands on with this building and are very much involved with the wonderful tours and facilities at Huntington Castle.
The Gardens at Huntington Castle.
The Gardens at Huntington Castle are world famous. These historic gardens are one of the most amazing gardens in Ireland and worth a visit for all the family.
The Gardens were primarily laid out and designed in the 1680’s by the Esmonde Family.
The Gardens at Huntington Castle feature stunning formal plantings and layouts that will take your breath away.
These Gardens are laid out in the Italian Parterre style of formal Garden as well as the French Lime Avenue.
Possibly one of the most famous features of The Huntington Castle Gardens is the internationally famous yew tree walk, is thought to be over 500 years old. Yew trees have strong connections to the religious belief systems of the Ancient Irish.
This walk is enchanting and holds a deep significance and connection to the Celtic peoples that would have lived in this area of Ireland The Gardens at Huntington Castle feature some exquisite water features and a beautiful lake.
There are also many unusual plants to be seen that are housed in the Green House area of the garden.
There are many exciting new projects and woodland conservations been carried out at Huntington Castle, showing the long-term dedication of the Durdin Robertson family.
The World Famous Ghosts of Huntington Castle.
There has been much speculation around the possibility of Huntington Castle being haunted. There are several myths and legends surrounding this magical place.
With a history that spans centuries it is not hard to see why legends have developed, giving Huntington castle and its gardens a sense of wonder.
For those who are believers in the supernatural there are stories connected to Huntington that will wet you appetite to want to learn more for yourselves.
Possibly one of the oldest tales associated with Huntington Castle connects this Castle to the Ancient peoples of Ireland and their most sacred people the Druids.
It is said that this area of Ireland was one of the most sacred places and had a population of Druids living here. This area is often engulfed in what myths call a Druid mist as legend states the Druids could conjure a mist or fog from no where.
Do the ghosts of these Ancients still walk these grounds, holding onto their sacred spaces, some would say yes.
There have been reports of sightings of Druidic apparitions for centuries both in the Castle and on the Castle grounds.
One of Huntington’s most wondrous features is a well known as the Druid Well that has never run dry and has saved the inhabitants of Huntington during several periods of War and Siege across the centuries.
This well is dedicated to the Irish Goddess a member of the Tuathe de Dannan, Brighid and this well is believed to have healing properties. There have been several reports of apparitions walking the halls of Huntington Castle.
One of these supernatural entities is said to be that of a tragic young soldier who hails from the days of the Cromwellian Rebellion, legend says he was an Irish rebel who wore the uniform of his enemy.
When he knocked on the door of Huntington his own men shot him in the eye, as they did not recognize him. Some say he still knocks on the Castle door and peers in through the grille.
Two former lady residents are also said to inhabit these halls, Barbara St Leger and her lady servant Honor Byrne, they are rumored to still wander the beautiful winding halls of Huntington.
Other spirits are said to be those of James Lesile, Bishop of Limerick who died peacefully at Huntington in 1170. For us with our own rumored connections to the famed Pirate Queen Grace O’Malley, this next apparition holds a special significance.
This apparition is said to be of the First wife of Lord Esmonde, Ailish O’Flaherty, the granddaughter of Grace O’Malley.
The O’Malley clan reportedly kidnapped their son so he could be raised as a Catholic, rather then as Protestant.
Ailish followed her son back to her family but Lord Esmonde quickly replaced her with his second wife. A furious Ailish is still said to haunt the grounds of the castle accompanied by a white cat.
Several members of the family have had there own dealings with the supernatural. One of Huntington’s most famous aspects was founded by Olivia Durdin- Robertson and her brother Lawrence.
They installed one of the Castles most intriguing possessions. Olivia, a world famous mystic and author, was responsible for turning the Castles basement area into a temple to the Egyptian Goddess Isis.
This space is filled with artifacts, shrines and altars transporting back to the world of Ancient Egypt.
Huntington Castle has featured in many television shows such as The Castle Ghosts of Ireland.