Ireland
- Lismore Castle Rental: Full serviced 12 bedroom luxury castle
available for vacation rentals, holiday lets, corporate functions and
incentives.
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LISMORE
CASTLE
County
Waterford,
Ireland
The Castle
Accommodates
24
12
bedrooms
12
bathrooms, several guest powder rooms
Fully
staffed
High speed Internet
Dining capacity: Banquet Hall - 80; Dining Room - 26
The new Cork Wing is a separate cottage that accommodates 6 for a total
of 30 guests.
Lismore
Castle is perhaps the most
spectacular castle in Ireland. Erected by King John in 1185, it
has
had a fascinating history. When John became King of England, he
gave the caste to the Church. It was a Bishop's Residence until
it was leased by Sir Walter Raleigh in the 1580's. For more history of the castle, click on
this.
Many prominent people have been
guests
in these rooms, including Charles Dickens, William Makepeace
Thackery, President and Mrs. John F. Kennedy, Fred Astaire (whose
sister, Adele, was married to Lord Charles Cavendish) and, more
recently, Prince Charles and the Duchess of York.
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The
present Duke of Devonshire is Peregrine
Andrew
Morny Cavendish, 12th Duke of Devonshire.
This spectacular castle has over
8000
acres, extending along the Blackwater Valley and across the rolling
wooded hills up to the peak of the Knockmealdown Mountains. You can
see it all from the castle windows. WOW!
The castle is in the pretty
Heritage
town of Lismore and it feels as if it's part of the community, not
separate from it. One enters the castle grounds along a tree-lined
avenue and then, through a wood door to the grassy area in front of
the castle's front door.
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into an
enormous high-ceilinged
hall. It has a fireplace that's always lit and a large table
that holds a vase of flowers from the castle gardens. There
is a long drinks table, a sofa and several comfortable chairs facing
the
fireplace, many antique tapestries. One wall has a bifurcated
staircase that goes up to a bedroom wing. There are
portraits on the walls; among them, one of Robert Boyle, who was born
at Lismore in 1627 and became known as the “Father of Modern
Chemistry” for, among other things, inventing the scientific method and
for proving that air is necessary for all life. |
Two
very large drawing rooms are just
beyond the great hall. They have been a gathering place for
family
and friends over the centuries and it's quite emotional to stand
there and feel that you are sharing in that experience.
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The
first drawing room has a large
black marble fireplace, two long, comfortable, old sofas, several
overstuffed easy chairs, a quaint needlepoint chair, many books, old
and new and a TV. Tabletops hold family photos and mementos,
including an antique desk clock in a leather folding case. A desk
and chair face a window at the back of the property. A colorful
Oriental rug is
laid over Berber carpeting. Stone walls are covered with rich
tapestries and some framed flower prints which were painted by lady
Emma Tennant, the 12th Duke's sister. Tall
mullioned windows, two
with
a window seat, overlook the River Blackwater, which runs right below
the castle, and the acres of meadow and woods that extend to the
Knockmealdown Mountains.
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That
drawing room
leads to a
second drawing
room, a bit larger than the first, which is furnished in a similar
manner with cherished personal possessions collected over the
centuries.
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There
are two large sofas, a big round ottoman covered
with books and a long upholstered ottoman in front of the beige
sofa. There are five easy chairs and a beautiful red-patterned
rug. An
antique secretary holds many photos of family and friends. There
are Chinese vases, ancestors' portraits, glass-fronted
cases filled with books, a second antique desk with two chairs
covered in rust-colored upholstery. In front of a large bay
window,
there is a round table to seat 8 on red velvet chairs. The bay
window is known as the 'King James' window because, while visiting in
1689, King James approached this window, but startled back when he
saw the depth below. |
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Off this
sitting room is a room for playing
cards and board games. A smallish square room with
windows looking to gorgeous views, it is furnished with an antique
card table and four upholstered chairs. There is a desk-table
that
holds more photographs, cases filled with books and board games, a
few arm chairs. Walls are hung with impressive black and white
paintings by David Nash.
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Back to the large entrance Great Hall,
go across to the Dining Room. It has a long antique table that
seats
24 comfortably. There is a very large and ornate stone fireplace,
a
serving table, walls paneled in oak, odd and wonderful paintings
including a very dreamy seascape. Large windows look down to the
river.
Next
is the gigantic
banquet hall, seating 75,
that is used only for large receptions. It was designed by Pugin,
who
designed the English House of Commons, and the banquet hall's design
is that of a miniature House of Commons. It has a large stone
fireplace and a gigantic chandelier, both in the medieval style, and
two large stained glass Gothic windows, a musicians' gallery and a
highly-decorated ceiling. .
Two
guest powder rooms are near the
dining room and the banquet hall.
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Down
a few steps from the banquet
hall,
there is a children's dining room where children can have meals
separate
from parents who may be dining too late for the little ones. It's
a
large and friendly room with table and chairs, high chairs, a
fireplace, vintage Shell Oil posters, games. A nearby small
kitchen is where these children's meals are prepared. |
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Back
again in the front Great Hall, a long
hallway called the Bachelor Passage begins and passes by the games
room, on the right.
The walls of this hallway are filled with many recent paintings, all
wonderful, some incredible. The owners have been collectors for
generations. Their in-house gallery rivals most commercial
galleries.
The first room off the
Bachelors'
Passage
is the Duke's Study. Bookcases are filled with books. There
is a big octagonal table with
chairs, all covered with books. Other chairs have books piled on
them. There is a fireplace, a desk in front of a large window,
wing
chairs, a wonderful, old battered leather easy chair covered with an
alpaca
rug, and more impressive art work. High-speed Internet is
located in this room. |
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Continuing
down the Bachelors' Passage,
the next room is the BACHELOR BEDROOM. This lovely bedroom has
antique oak twin beds each with an antique Battenburg lace
bedspread. A
beautiful table is between the beds. There is a Victorian
fireplace, a desk and an occasional chair covered with needlepoint
fabric, a blue
wing chair with a fleur de lis design. Wallpaper is a
beige-brown-gold)
design. A beautiful Oriental rug is laid over beige carpet.
The
walls hold several paintings by British artist John Napper. |
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The
large en suite bathroom has a
long,
deep claw foot tub in the center of the room and a separate modern
shower stall in a corner, a homage to present-day needs. There is
a
double sink, a wide wardrobe, an upholstered chair, a dressing table
and an old-fashioned toilet. Many framed needlepoint and cross
stitch pieces hang on the walls and there is a fabulous Klimpt-style
embroidery on one wall.
DOCTOR'S
BEDROOM is smaller than
most of the others, and it's very lovely. It has a standard
double
oak bed with a scarlet cover, beige-tan-coral wallpaper, a chest of
drawers, a large wardrobe, a Victorian tiled fireplace, a desk and
chair that face the river and the mountains. Traditional art
hangs
on the wall. A door opens to a marble sink – sort of a sink in a
closet.
This room has a private bathroom
that's a few yards
further along the hallway. It has a long, deep tub with a
hand-held
shower, a sink, and an old-fashioned toilet, blue and scarlet wallpaper
that has a modern design. There is a "king's chair" and
several photographs depicting Lismore's history; among them, a group
photograph that includes King Edward VII that was taken during his
visit to the castle in 1904. |
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At the end of this hall, a
left turn takes you to another hall and stairs that go up, but,
first, go straight ahead into the largest bedroom in the castle, the
LOWER TOWER BEDROOM. It has a wider-than-queen bed with a fleur
de lis maroon bed cover, a chest of drawers, a tall floor mirror.
A
big octagonal writing table in the center of the room holds books,
photos, pens, paper. There is a fireplace in the corner and
ancestors' portraits hang on the walls as does a rather flamboyant
wallpaper with red and olive tones. Two enormous windows give
wonderful views up and down the river and away to the hills. It's
a
beautiful room.
The adjacent bathroom has a
long, deep
tub with a hand-held shower, a corner shower stall, an old-fashioned
toilet, a double sink, rusty-rose leaf design wallpaper, framed
mirrors and beautiful art on the walls. |
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UPPER TOWER BEDROOM is up the
stairs. It is a large room with a queen half-tester bed.
It's all goldish. A red chair sits on a beautiful Oriental rug
that's laid over beige carpet. An octagon writing table, with
four
chairs, holds books and periodicals. A dressing table is in front
of large windows that look onto the
grounds and out across the river to the mountains. Many
fine
tapestries and ancestors' portraits hang on the walls. There is a
serene and private atmosphere in this room.
The
large en suite bathroom has a long, deep
tub with a hand-held shower plus a corner shower stall. There is
a beautiful table and a chair upholstered in white cotton.
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The
Burlington Wing contains the
BURLINGTON BEDROOM. It is a long bedroom with a king bed, a
chest of drawers, an armoire, a desk with many books piled on top, a
beautiful writing table, a lovely rug and a standing mirror. A
sofa is
in front of Gothic windows. Wallpaper is a red/green/turquoise
design.
The large en suite bathroom has
long
deep tub and a corner shower stall, a double sink, a wood stove, two
chairs. Wallpaper is gray-green
and beige. A large window looks onto the river and the back of
the
property. |
BROGHILL
BEDROOM is
beautiful and
warm, a bit smaller than the others. It has a king bed, a chest
of
drawers, a writing table, a large wardrobe, a large window that looks
to the Knockmealdown Mountains. There are only
two paintings in this bedroom, but they are beautiful.
The en suite bathroom has a long deep
tub and a separate shower stall. It is crisp and white and sunny.
BOYLE
BEDROOM has a king bed with
a
gray and beige bedspread, a Victorian fireplace, a large antique
wardrobe, a
writing table and chair and a dressing table. Wallpaper
is gold, rust and tan. There are many sepia prints of Irish
scenes. which are very beautiful.
The en suite bathroom is as
large as
the bedroom! It has a long, deep tub in the middle of the room and a
separate shower stall. Wallpaper is tan and brown and the rug has
a
beautiful peony design. |
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The remaining
bedrooms all are off the
Duke's Landing which is on the other side of the castle, to the left
of the entrance Great Hall and up the bifurcated stairway.
The
DUCHESS' BEDROOM is where Prince Charles and Camilla stayed. It
is
a large, sunny room that has a wider-than-usual queen bed with a
Gothic-style
headboard and a hand-embroidered bedspread. Window covers have
the
same
beautiful embroidery. There are two large Gothic-style wardrobes,
a
desk, a dressing table, a Victorian tiled fireplace that has an
electric stove insert, two easy chairs, a red rug. White walls
display many interesting engravings. |
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The
en suite dressing room has a chaise longue,
an antique wardrobe, a chest of drawers, a standing mirror,
superb drawings of horse-racing. Windows look to the river and
cows
and hills. The
en suite bathroom
has a long, deep
tub with a separate shower stall.
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Next
door, THE DUKE'S
BEDROOM has
an oak king bed, a dressing table, a desk, a floor mirror, light blue
walls, blue carpet and many historic watercolors of the castle.
This
is a bright and pretty corner bedroom.
The
en suite bathroom has a long deep
tub with a hand-held shower set in front of a window that overlooks
the river. A separate shower stall is in the corner. There is
a large wardrobe, great sconces, a beautiful rug, flower paintings. |
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The
large DRAWINGS
BEDROOM has a king bed,
a chest of drawers, a wardrobe, a chaise longue and a desk
in front of windows that overlook the castle grounds. Many pen
and ink portraits hang on the walls that have
beautiful gray and rust patterned wallpaper.
The en suite bathroom has a long,
deep
tub in the middle of the room and a separate corner shower stall, a
double sink, a chaise longue, a dressing table, a fireplace.
Gray-green display many photos of people who have
been part of the castle's history.
THE
QUEEN'S DRESSING ROOM
is down the hall. It is smaller than the other bedrooms on the
Duke's Landing and very charming and intimate. It has a king oak
bed, a desk in
front of a window, a Victorian tiled fireplace, an antique
armoire. There
are many beautiful old prints on the walls and an Oriental
rug in shades of red and coral and rust. In the hallway, there
are displayed
some finely detailed watercolors by Lady Emma Tenant circa the
1990s. They are delightful.
THE QUEEN'S BEDROOM has brass
twin beds and a large table between them. There is a dressing
table, a tall secretary, a Victorian tiled
fireplace, several chairs in red, a red carpet, strawberry
wallpaper.
Windows look onto the fields and the hills beyond. More of Lady
Tenant's botanical watercolors hang on the walls.
The
Queen's Bedroom's en suite bathroom
is called the “Fred and Ginger Bathroom” and it's a departure
from the other rooms' design. It has a long, deep mirrored
bathtub, but no shower stall. There is a glass table,
snappy silver and beige wallpaper, many photos of Fred and Ginger,
and Fred alone, dancing. This room is fun!
An
adjacent hallway bathroom has a tiled shower stall. This bathroom
serves Fred and Ginger Bathroom when one wants to
shower instead of bathe in the mirrored tub.
Back down on the main floor, walk
along a
hallway with walls that are covered with photographs of
various and unexpected subjects. Off this hall, the snooker room
has a
big snooker table. There are wo white sofas, vintage travel
posters and a
fireplace. A door off the snooker room leads to a smaller games
room with a foosball table and a pinball machine.
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Next
to the snooker room, the TV room
has a TV and DVD player, an enormous bean bag chair, two sofas,
chairs, posters, books. This is perfect for the kids to use when
they don't want to be with the grown ups (and visa versa).
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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 real people live here.
Furniture and other decor is changed at the Duchess' liking and may
not be exactly the same as our photos show.
| THE GARDENS:
Since 1620, there has been a
garden
here. It is one of the oldest gardens in Ireland. 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 lush and fragrant rose gardens, bulbs, herbaceous
borders. An orchard, a vineyard, a herb garden and a kitchen
garden
are
all part of the grand design. Garden sculpture is placed here and
there. Vases of flowers are placed in every room of the castle
and
there have been many lavish weddings and banquets. Always, the
flowers are from the Lismore garden.
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THE ART GALLERY:
In July, 2008, the Devonshire
family
opened a state-of-the-art contemporary art gallery in the
long derelict west wing of the castle. It is now a series of
light filled rooms of varying sizes, designed to accommodate art
works in all media. The gallery's design cleverly incorporates
some
of the castle's original features, allowing the visitor glimpses into
its 1000-year history. There is one major exhibition each year,
as
well as a program of tours, workshops and other arts-related events. |
This
is not a self-catering property.
The castle is rented with full staff under the Butler, all supervised
by the Estate Manager. 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. Breakfast,
afternoon tea and evening meal are included. Wine can be brought
by guests
or purchased on their behalf by the staff. Lunches and picnics
can be
organized for you.
Telephone
is charged by meter. Mobile (cell)
phones work well on the grounds and in most of the rooms.
Baby-sitting can be arranged. Irish
folk musicians, massage, yoga, helicopter transfers, private driver
(car or minibus), garden tours, gallery tours, history tours,
archery, clay pigeon shooting (and nearly anything else you can think
of) can be arranged for you.
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There
is a hard tennis court in the
garden. Salmon fishing can be arranged on the River Blackwater,
directly below the castle, which is one of Ireland's premier salmon
rivers. There is a 9-hole golf course on the estate and several
fine
18-hole courses in the area. Riding can be arranged as can fox
hunting (in season). There are race courses within easy
reach. The
castle is ideal for weddings of up to 80 guests and is often used for
family reunions or
small business gatherings.
Located about midway between the cities of Waterford
and Cork, the castle is set on a hill above the charming Heritage
town of Lismore. Waterford is 44 miles/70km. Dublin is 130
miles/208km. Cork City is 38 miles/60km.
ACCESSIBILITY
NOTICE:
Because
there are bedrooms and
bathrooms on the main floor, travelers with limited mobility can
access this property. It is not wheelchair accessible, however.
THE
CORK WING is a separate 3-bedroom cottage that is on the grounds and
can be rented with the castle.
PRICES
Minimum
stay of 7 nights during June, July and August.
Heating, electricity,
full staff, breakfast, afternoon tea and dinner included.
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June, July & August
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All other times of the year
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Up to 12
guests |
Each
guest beyond 12 |
Up to 12
guests |
Each
guest beyond 12 |
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Weekly Rate
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€ 34,650
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€ 2,240
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€ 31,500
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€ 2,240
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Short Break
- 2 night stay
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NA
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€ 11,000
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€ 640
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| Short
Break
- 3 night stay |
NA |
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€ 14,850 |
€ 960 |
| 4 - 6
night stay |
NA |
NA |
Prorated
at Weekly Rate
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