A Future for Irish Historic Houses - Irish Heritage Trust

Rathfarnham Castle, Co. Dublin
Rathfarnham Castle is located in the village of Rathfarnham, Co. Dublin. Originally
built by Robert Loftus, Archbishop of Dublin and later Lord Chancellor of Ireland, it
is now owned by the state:
- Rathfarnham Castle dates from the late sixteenth century and is considered
to be one of the earliest examples of a fortified house in Ireland. As such it
marks an important stage in the transition from military castle to country
house in Ireland.
- In 1913 the castle and part of the estate were purchased by the Society of
Jesus (Jesuits). They subsequently used the castle as a seminary. In the
1920s, they added two large wings.
- In the 1980s, the Jesuits decided to sell the castle. In 1986, it was declared
a national monument and in 1987 it was purchased by the state through the
Office of Public Works. At the same time, Dublin County Council
purchased the grounds. The castle is now opened to the public.
Since 1988, the OPW has carried out a good deal of work on the castle including reroofing
it; removing the 1920s wings; renovating the eighteenth-century kitchen wing
and re-rendering the exterior of the castle. However much work remains to be done:
- The top floor and the basement areas have not been touched. They are in
poor decorative order.
- None of the principal reception rooms have been restored. All are in need
of cosmetic attention, which may be very costly. For example, it has been
estimated that it will cost in the region of €100,000 to strip the paint off the
ballroom ceiling alone.
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