VENUES
54
Castletown House
Parkland
Kevina Dunne
Celbridge, Co. Kildare
+3531 628 8252
castletown@opw.ie www.castletown.ieLocated in County Kildare, Castletown House and Gardens is Ireland’s largest and earliest
Palladian-style estate. It was built between 1722 and 1729 for William Connolly, speaker
of the Irish House of Commons and the wealthiest commoner in Ireland. Visit Castletown
House to explore the beautiful 18th-century parklands, with river walks, a temple and the
remains of a bathing house. Castletown Gardens in the 18th century was not designed with
formal flower gardens; instead formally laid out landscapes in the French Baroque style
were popular at the time. The historic landscape of Castletown has survived to the present
day—modern visitors can wander along the river walks of Lady Louisa Conolly (resident in
the house and responsible for decorating it in the 1760s and 1770s) and see the remains of
her bathing house. In the 19th century, restoration efforts were focused on the immediate
surroundings of the house; a formal garden was built behind the house and yew trees
planted in front. The break up of the estate in the 1960s meant that the immense walled
gardens, formerly situated to the north-west of the house were developed. These kitchen
gardens were by the early 20th century the most profitable aspect of the estate, and a great
source of local employment, though today only the farmyard beyond the west wing remains.
Meeting Space
Length x
Width
Ceiling
Height
Floor
Space
U Shape Theatre Classroom Boardroom Banquet Reception Cocktail
Cabaret
Long Gallery
-
-
-
-
150
-
-
60
150
-
-
Dining Room
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
40
60
-
-
Entrance Hall
-
-
-
-
60
-
-
90
-
-
-
Hunting Room
-
-
-
-
90
-
-
100
150
-
-
Billiard Room
-
-
-
-
40
-
-
60
80
-
-
28km to Dublin Airport
22 km to City Centre