Ireland - Lismore Castle Rental:  Full serviced 12 bedroom castle available for vacation rentals, holiday lets, corporate functions and incentives.

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Lismore Castle is perhaps the most spectacular castle in Ireland.  Lismore has been the home of the Duke of Devonshire since 1748.  About midway between Waterford and Cork cities, the castle is set on a hill above the charming Heritage town of Lismore, overlooking the Duke's estate of 8000 acres, which extends along the Blackwater Valley and across the rolling wooded hills up to the peak of the Knockmealdown Mountains.  Wow!

The castle was built in 1185 by King John.  Sir Walter Raleigh leased the castle for a few years in the 1580's.   The castle has been involved in Ireland's cultural, social and political history since its creation.  Many prominent people have been guests in these rooms, including Charles Dickens, William Makepeace Thackery,  John F. Kennedy and Fred Astaire.

One enters the castle through an enormous high ceilinged hallway with a fireplace and magnificent tapestries.  The  beautiful drawing room has an amazing ceiling, comfortable furniture, a fireplace, many books, tapestries, rich fabrics, paintings and a view of the River Blackwater.  There are two more sitting rooms, also with comfortable furniture, river views and lots to explore.  There's a room devoted to playing cards or board games that's furnished beautifully and comfortably.

The dining room, seating 24, has a fireplace and antique furniture.  The billiard room has a fireplace and many books and paintings. The banquet hall, seating 75, is only used for large receptions.  It was designed by Pugin, who designed the English House of Commons, and its design is that of a miniature House of Commons.  It has a marble fireplace, a musicians' gallery and fine paintings.

All of the bedrooms are beautiful, personal and comfortable. The ground floor has three bedrooms (two doubles, one twin), all with private bathrooms.  An antique powder room is on this floor. The middle floor has  five double bedrooms, two twin bedrooms and one single bedroom.  There are seven bathrooms.  The top floor has one double bedroom and en suite bathroom.

This castle is not a museum or a hotel.  It is a family home.  Guests are invited into a private world.  Personal objects, photographs, books, paintings, a note half-written, a walking stick perched in a corner, a pair of eyeglasses on a shelf provide an intimacy that reminds us that people live here.
 

Since 1620, there has been a garden here.  Today, seven acres of gorgeous gardens retain much of the original design.  The upper and lower gardens are bordered by a high wall and a raised terrace with four turrets built in 1631.  Camellias, rhododendrons and magnolia flourish.  There are rose gardens, bulbs, herbaceous borders.  An orchard, a vineyard, an herb garden and a kitchen garden are all part of the grand design.  Garden sculpture is placed here and there.

This is not a self-catering property.  The castle is rented with full staff under the butler, all supervised by the Resident Manager.  Breakfast, afternoon tea and evening meal are included.   The staff prides itself on the high level of service and cuisine which is exactly the same standard as when the Duke of Devonshire and his family are in residence.

There is a hard tennis court in the garden.  Salmon fishing can be arranged on the River Blackwater, one of Ireland's premier salmon rivers.  There is a nine hole golf course on the estate and several fine 18 hole courses in the area.  Riding and fox hunting (in season) can be arranged and there are race courses within easy reach.  The castle is ideal for weddings and is often used for family reunions or small business gatherings.

Waterford is 44 miles.  Dublin is 130 miles.  Cork City is 38 miles.

ACCESSIBILITY NOTICE:

Because there are bedrooms and bathrooms on the main floor, most travelers with limited mobility can access this property.  It is not wheelchair accessible, however.