Dromoland Castle (Ireland: Drom ÃÆ' "lainn ) is a castle, now a 5-star luxury hotel with golf course, located near Newmarket-on-Fergus in County Clare, Ireland The restaurant, Earl of Thomond , was awarded a Michelin star in 1995, under the head chef Jean Baptiste Molinari.
The building was completed in 1835. However, the first building built here seems to be a tower house built in the 15th century or early 16th century and recorded as founded by Thomas, son of Shane Mac Anerheny. There are at least three houses on the site, at various times, called Dromoland. While Dromoland later became the home of eight generations of the O'Brien family, preliminary records show that the area was also occupied by other local Gaelic families, such as the McInerney family during the 16th century. According to historian James Frost, Dromoland is translated as "Hill of Litigation".
Video Dromoland Castle
History
In 1551 Dromoland enrolled in the Murrough O'Brien will. He was first Tanist and in 1543 was given the first Earl of Thomond by Henry VIII. Murrough left Leamaneh Castle to his third son, Donough MacMurrough O'Brien, and also gave him a castle and land in Dromoland. In 1582 Donough was hanged in Limerick on charges of rebellion and the government ruled that all his property would be repealed to the Crown. Therefore, Sir George Cusack, the sheriff, mastered Dromoland. Several years later, Turlough O'Brien killed Cusack and various O'Briens attempted to reclaim Dromoland. The fourth Earl of Thomond claims to have a sole proprietorship and tries to exclude Donough's son, Conor MacDonough O'Brien. The outcome of the dispute is unclear.
In 1604 when Conor O'Brien died he left Dromoland to his son Donough MacConor O'Brien. Donough, whose mother was Slany O'Brien, was only about eight years old. A legal battle ensues between the fourth Earl and Slany O'Brien. The dispute was settled by arbitration in 1613. The Earl, now Lord Thomond, became the owner of Dromoland on payment of £ 132.13.4 as compensation to Slany O'Brien. When Donough was older, he refused to comply with the settlement. In 1614, William Starkey hired Dromoland from Lord Thomond. In 1628 Lord Thomond was dead and Donough continued the dispute through the Court of Wards and Liveries in Dublin. In 1629, Donough was granted the right to enter "in all the houses, lands and mansions of his late father" for the payment of fines. But Dromoland is not listed among many named properties, and rested with the Earls of Thomond for fifty years. The fifth earl transferred two other properties to Donough as compensation.
Robert Starkey, son of William, lived in Dromoland when the 1641 rebellion began. It seems that he escaped from the area or rented his property. In 1642 Colonel Conor O'Brien of Leamaneh, Donough's son and husband of Maire Rua, captured the castle along with Captain McInerhenny, leader of Irish troops, who surprised the guards through the help of Starkey's assistant, Moran. Conor died in battle in 1651. His eldest son Donough, born of Conor and Maire Rua in 1642, was the heir of Leamaneh Castle and the family's claim to Dromoland. In addition, Donough inherited a large landholding of his stepbrother, William O'Neylan (O'Neillan) (1635-78) from Dysert, whose father Daniel Marie Rua had been married from 1634 until his death in 1639.
Robert Starkey went on rent and in 1666 Dromoland was leased to Colonel Daniel O'Brien of Carrigaholt Castle. Three years later, assigned to Thomas Walcott from Moyhill. Finally, in 1684, property was awarded to Donough O'Brien. At this moment Dromoland is a modest home. The original tower house seems to have been added to during Starkey's time, before Donough moved from Leamaneh.
Sir Donough, 1st Baronet, died in 1717. During his time at Dromoland, it was described as "a handsome Grecian Building." Don Lucius's son also died in 1717 so Edward, son of Lucius, became the 2nd Baronet. Sir Edward O'Brien first decorated the house with pictures and carvings. He also has a design made for a new home. Thomas Roberts and John Aheron both sent pictures to him for a house and garden in Dromoland. John Aheron appears to be the architect responsible for the final design. He also designed the Gazebo at Turret Hill, across the street from the main entrance. It was probably built to observe horse training. Dromoland expanded into a 10-bay house, 2 1 / 2 -storey. A two-story quadrangle was completed in 1736. Edward died in 1765.
In 1795, Gentleman's Magazine publication gave the following description of Dromoland:
"the glorious and beautiful chair of Sir Lucius O'Brien, Bart., in the Clare area, lies on a hill gently up from a twenty-four-acre lake in the middle of a forest, three beautiful hills standing above it, reigning well. the prospect of the great rivers of Fergus and Shannon at their intersections, as each is a vast league. "
Sir Lucius O'Brien is the eldest son of the first Sir Edward and is the 3rd Baronet. He died in 1794. His son, Sir Edward the second, was the 4th Baronet, and decided to rebuild the castle. In 1821, it was the birthplace of Edward's son, Robert, George O'Brien. Work started around 1822 and cost around? 50,000 to complete. The Pain brothers put forward some classic designs but Edward O'Brien chose their neo-gothic design, influenced by John Nash. James and George Richard Pain were Nash's disciples in England. The building was completed in 1835. Samuel Lewis wrote in 1837 describing Dromoland as:
"superb buildings in castellated style, lately erected on the site of ancient houses, and surrounded by a vast and rich demesne of timber, where major improvements have recently been made".
Edward is married to Charlotte Smith and the inherited wealth may be important in covering the cost of constructing their new home. Edward and Charlotte were the parents of William Smith O'Brien, leader of the Irish Youth rebellion of 1848. Sir Edward died in 1837. His eldest son Lucius was the fifth Baronet and 13th Baron Inchiquin.
Burke's
"It is built entirely of dark blue limestone, and in fine-carved workings, ornamental and forestland extends over 1,500 [6.1 km 2 ] soil... of some of the eminence there is a view Shannon and Fergus, who, in this part of the country, resemble a vast inland lake with an island, making Dromoland one of Ireland's most beautiful and desirable dwellings. "
Modern shape
Dromoland has been preserved with little change since the mid-19th century. This house is "Baronial" or "Gothic Revival" style. It has four trumpets connected irregularly. A gothic veranda to the north front features O'Brien's arm. The west faces the lake, and east to the hill where Thomond House now stands. Large walled gardens are in the south. In 1902, the 15th Baron Inchiquin, Lucius, took the 17th century old gate of Leamaneh and set it up at the entrance to the large walled garden. A long curved drive leads from a classic gateway and cottage, past the north of the lake and spinning to the front door of the castle.
In 1962 Donough O'Brien, the sixteenth Baron Inchiquin, sold Dromoland Castle and 350 acres (1.4Ã, km 2 ) due to difficult financial circumstances. He built Thomond House on a hill overlooking Dromoland. He moved into this Georgian-style house in 1965 and died in 1968. The house is now occupied by the 18th Baron Inchiquin.
Hotel
Dromoland Castle was purchased by the citizens of the United States, Bernard P. McDonough in 1962. Since then it has been converted for use as an upmarket luxury hotel.
Dromoland Castle Hotel is a member of Historic Hotels Worldwide.
Maps Dromoland Castle
Famous Guests
US President George W. Bush spent the night of Friday, June 26, 2004, at Dromoland Castle to attend the EU-US summit held at the facility. President Bush was guarded by some 7,000 police, military and private security forces during his 16-hour visit.
Over the years, many famous guests have lived in Dromoland Castle including Bill Clinton, Juan Carlos I of Spain, Nelson Mandela, Muhammad Ali, Richard Branson, Jack Nicholson, Johnny Cash, Michael Flatley, Bono and John Travolta.
External links
- Official site
References
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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