Castlemartin House and Estate
Encyclopedia
Castlemartin is the name of a historic house and estate, and the townland in which they sit, on the banks of the River Liffey
in Kilcullen
, County Kildare
, Ireland
. Formerly a key estate of the Eustace family, it is today one of the principal homes of media magnate Tony O'Reilly
, and his wife, Chryss Goulandris
, and includes major stud farm and cattle breeding operations, a restored medieval church and an icehouse.
The estate lies immediately adjacent to the town, to the west, and largely west of the River Liffey
, though a small part of the land has for centuries lain east of the river, above Kilcullen Heritage Centre and town hall / theatre / cinema. Accesses to the main body of the estate, secured with gates and cameras, are from the Newbridge Road, on the approach to Kilcullen from the Curragh
. The estate is bounded on one side by the Pinkeen Stream, a tributary of the Liffey, and the "Laurel Walk Woods."
There is no general access to the estate lands. This includes, despite promises at the time of restoration, to St. Mary's Church
(Castlemartin Chapel). Neither Castlermartin House nor the church can now be seen from the public roads, though the house is said to have a river view. The access issue was a factor in local opposition to an offer by O'Reilly to take the "Portlester Monument" into the estate; its subject, Rowland FitzEustace, 1st Baron Portlester
, had lived at Castlemartin in the 1400s.
Key occupants have included members of the Eustace family, and later the Carter family.
The house is located close to the Liffey and is reached from the main gates by way of a lime avenue, with two trees joining to form an arch at one point.
), founded c. 1200. The building was last substantially reconstructed in the 15th century (around 1490). Having fallen into ruin, St. Mary's was restored by Tony O'Reilly
between 1979 and 1980, under the supervision of former Inspector of National Monuments Percy LeClerc. This, the first restoration of a medieval church in Ireland, was authorised on the basis of close adherence to original forms and ongoing reasonable public access. As the religious status of the church was no longer clear, it was reconsecrated in 1981. At least two of Tony O'Reilly's children have married in the church, and his mother's funeral was held here. See main article
for more.
The one-storey gate lodge dates from the 1820s, and was renovated around 1980. It features a pyramidal profile roof with slate, clay ridge tiles and a rendered chimney stack, as well as square-headed window openings and timber casement windows.
The adjacent Grand Gate, a pair of decorative wrought iron open-work piers with cresting and iron double main gates with decorative panels and pedestrian gates, dates from c. 1750. In the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage it is described as follows:
. Some Irish donkeys are also resident. There are many rose plantations, and some outstanding trees, including a Monkey Puzzle tree.
Since the 1830s, a new main avenue has been made, though traces of the old remain, and much of the historic woodland has been removed, notably around the main house.
Entries in the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage for Castlemartin note the survival of sections of wrought iron railings from around 1830, on rubble stone boundary walls.
In addition to the boundary Pinkeen Stream, there are a number of artificial water channels on the land.
The stud, which holds animals locally as well as in France, England, Australia, South Africa and the USA, has 155 broodmares (at three locations) and 105 horses in training at the beginning of 2008. The Stud races horses in the colours of Belvedere College
and of Lady O'Reilly's Skymarc Farm (France).
, Ballymore Eustace
, and of Harristown, held Castlemartin from the 13th century. This "Old English
" family, once one of the most prominent in Kildare, had intermarried with other Norman families such as the Talbots of Malahide
and the Plunketts of Dunsany (twice). Castlemartin belonged to a Eustace widow who remarried to Captain Thomas Lee
in about 1580. In 1591 the castle burnt down "by the means of lewd servants", according to Lee. The property reverted to the Eustaces, and was the favourite home of Sir Maurice Eustace
(d. 1665), Lord Chancellor of Ireland
from the 1660 Restoration
.
In its current form, Castlemartin was built by a Dublin banker and Member of Parliament, Francis Harrison, in 1720. It is said stone from earlier constructions was reused in the process. About 1730 the house was sold to Thomas Carter M.P.
, father of Captain Henry Boyle Carter.
As noted, the house was commandeered during the 1798 rebellion as the headquarters of Sir Ralph Dundas, and the interior was badly damaged.
In 1837, it was described as follows:
Castlemartin was sold to a T. Blacker in 1854, and in the 1890s was in the hands of Major Blacker. In 1967, Sheelagh Blacker, the widow of Lt. Col. Frederick Blacker, left the house to her great nephew, Grey Gowrie. Already in poor condition, it deteriorated further in the following years.
Castlemartin was the principal home for O'Reilly and his family for some years, sharing this role with a home near Pittsburgh, and now that he is tax-resident in the Bahamas, is the second home for himself and his wife, Lady Chryss Goulandris, and the place where the whole O'Reilly family gathers for Christmas.
River Liffey
The Liffey is a river in Ireland, which flows through the centre of Dublin. Its major tributaries include the River Dodder, the River Poddle and the River Camac. The river supplies much of Dublin's water, and a range of recreational opportunities.-Name:The river was previously named An Ruirthech,...
in Kilcullen
Kilcullen
Kilcullen , formally Kilcullen Bridge, is a small town on the River Liffey in County Kildare, Ireland. Its population of 2,985 makes it the 12th largest settlement in County Kildare and the fastest growing in the county, having doubled in population from 1,483 in the census of 2002...
, County Kildare
County Kildare
County Kildare is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. Formerly a key estate of the Eustace family, it is today one of the principal homes of media magnate Tony O'Reilly
Tony O'Reilly
Sir Anthony Joseph Francis O'Reilly is an Irish businessman and former international rugby union player. He is known for his involvement the Independent News & Media Group, which he led from 1973 to 2009, and as former CEO and Chairman of the H.J. Heinz Company. He was the leading shareholder of...
, and his wife, Chryss Goulandris
Chryss Goulandris
Chryss Goulandris, Lady O'Reilly , also known as Christina or Chryssanthie, is one of the richest women associated with Ireland, and holds both USA and Greek citizenship, she owns a major horse breeding operation located in Ireland, France and other countries and has been Chairperson of the Irish...
, and includes major stud farm and cattle breeding operations, a restored medieval church and an icehouse.
Location and access
River Liffey
The Liffey is a river in Ireland, which flows through the centre of Dublin. Its major tributaries include the River Dodder, the River Poddle and the River Camac. The river supplies much of Dublin's water, and a range of recreational opportunities.-Name:The river was previously named An Ruirthech,...
, though a small part of the land has for centuries lain east of the river, above Kilcullen Heritage Centre and town hall / theatre / cinema. Accesses to the main body of the estate, secured with gates and cameras, are from the Newbridge Road, on the approach to Kilcullen from the Curragh
Curragh
The Curragh is a flat open plain of almost 5,000 acres of common land in County Kildare, Ireland, between Newbridge and Kildare. This area is well-known for Irish horse breeding and training. The Irish National Stud is located on the edge of Kildare town, beside the famous Japanese Gardens. Also...
. The estate is bounded on one side by the Pinkeen Stream, a tributary of the Liffey, and the "Laurel Walk Woods."
There is no general access to the estate lands. This includes, despite promises at the time of restoration, to St. Mary's Church
St. Mary's Church, Castlemartin
St. Mary’s Church, Castlemartin, located in the broad Kilcullen area of County Kildare, Ireland, is the first medieval church in Ireland to have been restored to full working order...
(Castlemartin Chapel). Neither Castlermartin House nor the church can now be seen from the public roads, though the house is said to have a river view. The access issue was a factor in local opposition to an offer by O'Reilly to take the "Portlester Monument" into the estate; its subject, Rowland FitzEustace, 1st Baron Portlester
Rowland FitzEustace, 1st Baron Portlester
Rowland FitzEustace, 1st Baron Portlester was an Irish peer and judge.FitzEustace was the son of Sir Edward FitzEustace of Castlemartin, Lord Deputy of Ireland. He was appointed Lord Chancellor of Ireland and Lord Treasurer of Ireland by Henry VI of England in 1474 and was elevated to the Irish...
, had lived at Castlemartin in the 1400s.
Elements
The estate includes the main house, St. Mary's Church, extensive lands of good quality, and a number of other houses. The redevelopment and design of the estate by the O'Reillys included use of a standard teal colour for key features.Castlemartin House
Castlemartin House, in its current form a restored 18th century mansion, said to have around 28 rooms, is successor to a series of older dwellings, perhaps dating back to the 13th century.Key occupants have included members of the Eustace family, and later the Carter family.
The house is located close to the Liffey and is reached from the main gates by way of a lime avenue, with two trees joining to form an arch at one point.
Castlemartin Castle
Preceding the house was a fortified dwelling. Little trace of this now remains, but a vault from it is believed to still exist in the basement of, and otherwise under, the current Castlemartin House.Icehouse
Near the house and restored in the same period (1980 / 1981) as the church is a sunken icehouse with an elorate stone extrance, with stairs curving down from both sides. The interior is a plain inverted beehive, with a drain at the bottom.St. Mary's Church
The church (sometimes, incorrectly, called "Castlemartin Chapel"), founded c. 1200, was a dependency of Kilcullen Church (at what is now Old KilcullenOld Kilcullen
Old Kilcullen, formerly Kilcullen , is a townland in County Kildare, Ireland, which includes a noted religious archaeological site within its boundary. It was formerly the site of a walled town, and before that of an ecclesiastical settlement dating from the 5th century...
), founded c. 1200. The building was last substantially reconstructed in the 15th century (around 1490). Having fallen into ruin, St. Mary's was restored by Tony O'Reilly
Tony O'Reilly
Sir Anthony Joseph Francis O'Reilly is an Irish businessman and former international rugby union player. He is known for his involvement the Independent News & Media Group, which he led from 1973 to 2009, and as former CEO and Chairman of the H.J. Heinz Company. He was the leading shareholder of...
between 1979 and 1980, under the supervision of former Inspector of National Monuments Percy LeClerc. This, the first restoration of a medieval church in Ireland, was authorised on the basis of close adherence to original forms and ongoing reasonable public access. As the religious status of the church was no longer clear, it was reconsecrated in 1981. At least two of Tony O'Reilly's children have married in the church, and his mother's funeral was held here. See main article
St. Mary's Church, Castlemartin
St. Mary’s Church, Castlemartin, located in the broad Kilcullen area of County Kildare, Ireland, is the first medieval church in Ireland to have been restored to full working order...
for more.
Gate Lodge and Grand Gate
The adjacent Grand Gate, a pair of decorative wrought iron open-work piers with cresting and iron double main gates with decorative panels and pedestrian gates, dates from c. 1750. In the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage it is described as follows:
This gateway, possibly originally fashioned for installment at alternative location, is an attractive, highly ornate composition that provides a fitting entrance to the Castlemartin (House) estate. The gateway forms part of a self-contained group with the gate lodge to north-west. The piers, gates and railings are fine examples of early surviving wrought iron work and include intricate detailing, which is of artistic interest. The gateway is a prominent and attractive feature on the side of the road leading out of Kilcullen to the west.
Lands
The estate lands of between 500 acres (2 km²) and 900 acres (3.6 km²), are a mix of parkland and working areas, crossed by avenues and watercourses. Both a stud farm, Castlemartin Stud, and a cattle breeding operation, Castlemartin Charolais Herd, are present, as well as gardens designed by Lanning RoperLanning Roper
Lanning Roper was an American landscape architect and writer who studied and lived in England.-Life:Born in West Orange, New Jersey, Roper received an honors degree in Fine Arts from Harvard University in 1933....
. Some Irish donkeys are also resident. There are many rose plantations, and some outstanding trees, including a Monkey Puzzle tree.
Since the 1830s, a new main avenue has been made, though traces of the old remain, and much of the historic woodland has been removed, notably around the main house.
Entries in the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage for Castlemartin note the survival of sections of wrought iron railings from around 1830, on rubble stone boundary walls.
In addition to the boundary Pinkeen Stream, there are a number of artificial water channels on the land.
Castlemartin Stud
Belvedere College
Belvedere College SJ is a private secondary school for boys located on Great Denmark Street, Dublin, Ireland. It is also known as St. Francis Xavier's College....
and of Lady O'Reilly's Skymarc Farm (France).
Castlemartin Herd
The Charolais herd, founded in 1976, includes 325 cattle, of which 3 are stock bulls and 125 breeding cowsHistory
A branch of the Eustace family, of Barretstown CastleBarretstown Castle
Barretstown Castle is a castle in Ballymore Eustace, County Kildare, Republic of Ireland. It stands on the site of a late 12th century Anglo-Norman castle.-History:...
, Ballymore Eustace
Ballymore Eustace
Ballymore Eustace is a small town situated in County Kildare in Ireland, although until 1836 it lay within a "pocket" of County Dublin...
, and of Harristown, held Castlemartin from the 13th century. This "Old English
Old English (Ireland)
The Old English were the descendants of the settlers who came to Ireland from Wales, Normandy, and England after the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169–71. Many of the Old English became assimilated into Irish society over the centuries...
" family, once one of the most prominent in Kildare, had intermarried with other Norman families such as the Talbots of Malahide
Malahide
Malahide is a coastal suburban town, near Dublin city, located in the administrative county of Fingal, within the traditional County Dublin, Ireland. It has a village-like centre and extensive residential areas to the south, west and northwest.-Name:...
and the Plunketts of Dunsany (twice). Castlemartin belonged to a Eustace widow who remarried to Captain Thomas Lee
Thomas Lee (army captain)
Thomas Lee was an English army captain, who served under Queen Elizabeth I and spent most of his career in Ireland during the Tudor conquest of that country. Although of middle rank, he played a turbulent role in the factional politics of the time and was highly active during the Nine Years war...
in about 1580. In 1591 the castle burnt down "by the means of lewd servants", according to Lee. The property reverted to the Eustaces, and was the favourite home of Sir Maurice Eustace
Sir Maurice Eustace
-Family background:Eustace was born between 1590 and 1595, at Castlemartin, County Kildare, the son of William Fitzjohn Eustace,constable of Naas. The Eustaces of Castlemartin were cousins of Viscount Baltinglass, but played no part in the Desmond Rebellions, being generally noted for loyalty to...
(d. 1665), Lord Chancellor of Ireland
Lord Chancellor of Ireland
The office of Lord Chancellor of Ireland was the highest judicial office in Ireland until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. From 1721 to 1801 it was also the highest political office of the Irish Parliament.-13th century:...
from the 1660 Restoration
Restoration (Ireland)
The Restoration of the monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
.
The Modern House
Thomas Carter (1690–1763)
Thomas Carter was a politician, a Member of Parliament, Master of the Rolls, Privy Councillor and Secretary of State for Ireland. He was "an able and intriguing man" - Horace Walpole, 4th Earl of Orford.-Political career:...
, father of Captain Henry Boyle Carter.
As noted, the house was commandeered during the 1798 rebellion as the headquarters of Sir Ralph Dundas, and the interior was badly damaged.
In 1837, it was described as follows:
Castle-Martin, the elegant residence of W. H. Carter, Esq., occupies the site of the ancient castle of the Fitz-Martins, near Kilcullen-Bridge: the present mansion was occupied by the king's troops as a barrack, in 1798; it is surrounded with a highly improved and richly wooded demesne
Castlemartin was sold to a T. Blacker in 1854, and in the 1890s was in the hands of Major Blacker. In 1967, Sheelagh Blacker, the widow of Lt. Col. Frederick Blacker, left the house to her great nephew, Grey Gowrie. Already in poor condition, it deteriorated further in the following years.
The O'Reilly family
In 1972, Lord Gowrie sold the estate to Dr. Anthony O'Reilly. At the time the sale was made it was said that the estate was of value but that the house was probably only worth demolishing and replacing. O'Reilly, however, spent millions of pounds on repairs and improvements to the Georgian house and its outbuildings, and on restoration of the estate church, icehouse and other features.Castlemartin was the principal home for O'Reilly and his family for some years, sharing this role with a home near Pittsburgh, and now that he is tax-resident in the Bahamas, is the second home for himself and his wife, Lady Chryss Goulandris, and the place where the whole O'Reilly family gathers for Christmas.
Sources
- Dublin, Ireland: National Inventory of Architectural Heritage, entries including 11819040 and 11819041; although the core of the NIAH is filing, much is also published in County Books, and an amount available online, including at least five references to Castlemartin Estate (four under "Buildings" and one under "Gardens", although there was no formal or walled garden.)
- Dublin, 1752: "The County of Kildare", J. Noble and J. Keenan - Castlemartin Demesne shown.
- London, 1783: "A Map of The County of Kildare", A. Taylor, Lieut., His Majesty's 81st Regiment, London, 1783 (republished by the Royal Irish Academy, Dublin, 1983).
- Dublin, 1838: Ordnance Survey Maps - estate boundaries, main house and church ruins shown.