Clan Rising
Barretstown Castle today

Ireland · Still standing

Barretstown Castle

Barretstown Castle is a country house-style castle in Ballymore Eustace, County Kildare, Ireland, built on the site of a late 12th-century Anglo-Norman stronghold. The present building shows medievalising, asymmetrical massing and a crenellated tower; it is set in parkland and today houses the Barretstown camp for children.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1967

Today

Still standing

As it stood in 1967

What Barretstown Castle looked like in its prime.

Compact, asymmetrical stone house with a short, square crenellated tower set against lower gabled ranges with slate roofs; walls are pale rubble stone partly covered in climbing ivy (often red in autumn) and punctuated by a prominent arched entrance and a painted red main door. The castle sits back from a sweeping gravel drive within wooded parkland of specimen trees, with an open forecourt lawn and, to the front, a man-made lake added in the 20th century.

Its story

The story of Barretstown Castle.

Barretstown Castle stands on the site of a late 12th-century Anglo-Norman castle at Ballymore Eustace, County Kildare. Its first historical mention is a 1547 inquisition after the Dissolution of the Monasteries, which listed it as property of the Archbishop of Dublin, from whom the Crown promptly confiscated it. Thereafter it was held by the Eustace family on a series of "permanent leases".

In the 17th century Sir Walter Borrowes married a daughter of the Earl of Kildare and acquired the estate, which his family kept for over 200 years; Sir Erasmus Borrowes, 8th Baronet, remodelled the house in a romantic, asymmetrical medieval style. After the Borrowes family left Ireland, the Scotsman Sir George Sheppard Murray bought Barretstown in 1918, converting the estate into a stud farm and planting the exotic trees that still dominate the landscape.

Elizabeth Arden acquired the castle from the Murrays in 1962; after her death in 1967 the biscuit magnate Garfield Weston took up residence, and the Weston family presented the estate to the Irish government in 1977. Used for a time for conferences and by the Irish National Stud, it now hosts the Barretstown camp for sick children.

Step inside

6 places to explore in 1967.

The record describes 6 distinct spots at Barretstown Castle, including the full exterior approach. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Approach along the main driveArched entrance and red-painted main doorForecourt lawn and low enclosing wallTop of the square crenellated towerSouth façade with climbing ivyLakeside view added by later owner

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The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1967, a photoreal reconstruction that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.

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Whose castle

Clans who held Barretstown Castle.

The families that held Barretstown Castle for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.

  • Eustace

    Held by the Eustace family on a series of permanent leases after 1547.

  • Borrowes

    Held by the Borrowes baronets for over 200 years, from the 17th century until 1918.

  • Murray

    Held by the Murray family, 1918–1962, who ran the estate as a stud farm.

  • Weston

    The Weston family held Barretstown from 1967 until presenting it to the Irish state in 1977.

Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Barretstown Castle.

Tallaght Stadium, IrelandStadiumTallaght Stadium21 km awayGlendalough, IrelandMonasteryGlendalough24 km awayKilmainham Gaol, IrelandMuseumKilmainham Gaol29 km away

Questions about Barretstown Castle

What is the history of Barretstown Castle?

Barretstown Castle has a late 12th-century Anglo-Norman origin. Its first recorded mention was in a 1547 inquisition after the Dissolution of the Monasteries, when it belonged to the Archbishop of Dublin before confiscation by the Crown. The Eustace family then held it on permanent leases, followed by the Borrowes family, the Murrays, Elizabeth Arden and the Westons. It now hosts a camp for sick children.

Why was Barretstown Castle built, and what was it used for?

Barretstown Castle was established as an Anglo-Norman stronghold in the late 12th century. It later became a country house, remodelled in a romantic medieval style, and its use changed again after the estate was presented to the Irish government in 1977. It was used for conferences and by the Irish National Stud before becoming a camp for sick children.

When was Barretstown Castle built?

The castle site dates from the late 12th century, although the date when the present building was first raised is not recorded. The surviving house was later remodelled by Sir Erasmus Borrowes, 8th Baronet, in a romantic, asymmetrical medieval style.

Which family or clan held Barretstown Castle?

Barretstown Castle was held by the Eustace family after 1547, on a series of permanent leases. The Borrowes baronets held it for over 200 years from the 17th century until 1918, followed by the Murray family from 1918 to 1962. The Weston family held it from 1967 until presenting the estate to the Irish state in 1977.

Where is Barretstown Castle?

Barretstown Castle is in Ballymore Eustace, County Kildare. It stands within wooded parkland, set back from a sweeping gravel drive and beside a man-made lake added in the 20th century. The site is in Ireland.

What did Barretstown Castle look like in its prime?

Barretstown Castle is a compact, asymmetrical stone house with a short square crenellated tower and lower gabled ranges beneath slate roofs. Its pale rubble-stone walls are partly covered in climbing ivy, and the entrance has a prominent arch and a painted red main door. It sits in wooded parkland with a forecourt lawn and a later man-made lake.

Is Barretstown Castle still standing, or is it a ruin?

Barretstown Castle is still standing and intact. The present building was remodelled in a romantic, asymmetrical medieval style by Sir Erasmus Borrowes, 8th Baronet, and Elizabeth Arden later reconstructed, redecorated and refurnished it. The castle is not described as a ruin or as demolished.

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