Glin Castle
{{short description|Georgian country house in County Limerick, Ireland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Use Irish English|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox historic site
| name = Glin Castle
| native_name =
| native_language = ga
| image = Glin Castle.jpg
| caption =
| locmapin = Ireland
| coordinates = {{coord|52.5698|-9.2945|type:landmark_region:IE|display=inline,title}}
| location = Glin, County Limerick, Ireland
| area =
| architect =
| architecture = Georgian
Neoclassical
| governing_body =
| owner = FitzGerald family
| height =
| designation1 =
| designation1_offname =
| designation1_date =
| designation1_number =
}}
Glin Castle is a Georgian country house and protected structure located along the River Shannon in Glin, County Limerick, Ireland. It was built in the late 18th century to replace an earlier tower house of the same name. The estate has belonged to the FitzMaurice/FitzGerald family for over 700 years and was the seat of the Knights of Glin.
History
The FitzGeralds and FitzMaurices first settled in the area in the 13th century, following the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland, at the nearby Shanid Castle.
=Castle=
In the 14th century, the Lord of Desmond elevated an illegitimate son to the hereditary knighthood of Glin.{{cite web| url = https://www.discoveringireland.com/vacations/glin-castle/| title = GLIN CASTLE| website = Discovering Ireland| access-date = 28 February 2019| archive-date = 1 March 2019| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190301013534/https://www.discoveringireland.com/vacations/glin-castle/| url-status = live}}{{cite web| url = http://www.castlesinireland.com/castle-in-limerick-glin-castle-limerick/| title = Castle In Limerick - Glin Castle Limerick| website = Castles in Ireland| access-date = 28 February 2019| archive-date = 26 June 2017| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170626190012/http://www.castlesinireland.com/castle-in-limerick-glin-castle-limerick/| url-status = live}} He built Glin Castle within the village of Glin, which became the permanent seat of the Knight of Glin.{{cite web| url = https://www.glin-castle.com/history| title = Glin Castle Ireland| website = Glin Castle| access-date = 28 February 2019| archive-date = 1 March 2019| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190301074559/https://www.glin-castle.com/history| url-status = live}}{{cite web| url = https://www.celticcastles.com/castles/glin-castle-ireland/| title = GLIN CASTLE Glin, Co. Limerick| website = Celtic Castles| access-date = 28 February 2019| archive-date = 1 March 2019| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190301074512/https://www.celticcastles.com/castles/glin-castle-ireland/| url-status = live}} The castle was attacked during the Desmond Rebellions in the 16th century, the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland in the 17th century, the Jacobite risings and the Enforcement of the Penal Laws. In 1601, the castle was besieged by an English army and the Knight's son was kidnapped.
=Georgian house=
By the late 17th century, the castle had been abandoned and the FitzGerald family moved into a thatched longhouse adjacent to the castle. John Bateman FitzGerald, 23rd Knight of Glin married Margaretta Maria Fraunceis Gwyn in the 1780s and used her dowry to build a new home in the Georgian style. Later Neo-classical elements were added to the building.{{cite web| url = https://www.glin-castle.com/castle| title = Castle| website = Glin Castle| access-date = 28 February 2019| archive-date = 1 March 2019| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190301074522/https://www.glin-castle.com/castle| url-status = live}}{{cite web| url = https://www.countrylife.co.uk/gardens/glin-castle-co-limerick-the-garden-that-tells-the-tale-of-a-succession-of-artistic-women-178496| title = Glin Castle, Co Limerick: The garden that tells the tale of a succession of artistic women| date = 25 May 2018| website = Country Life| publisher = TI Media| access-date = 28 February 2019| archive-date = 1 March 2019| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190301013606/https://www.countrylife.co.uk/gardens/glin-castle-co-limerick-the-garden-that-tells-the-tale-of-a-succession-of-artistic-women-178496| url-status = live}}
Other structures on the estate, including a gate lodge,{{cite web|url = https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/21830005/glin-castle-glin-limerick | publisher = National Inventory of Architectural Heritage | website = buildingsofireland.ie | title = Glin Castle, Glin, Limerick (Gate lodge) | accessdate = 17 February 2025 }} agricultural outbuildings,{{cite web|url = https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/21830004/glin-castle-glin-limerick | publisher = National Inventory of Architectural Heritage | website = buildingsofireland.ie | title = Glin Castle, Glin, Limerick (Outbuildings) | accessdate = 17 February 2025 }} gate house,{{cite web|url = https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/21830006/glin-castle-church-street-glin-limerick | publisher = National Inventory of Architectural Heritage | website = buildingsofireland.ie | title = Glin Castle, Glin, Limerick (Gate house) | accessdate = 17 February 2025 }} and follies.{{cite web|url = https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/21830028/glin-castle-glin-limerick | publisher = National Inventory of Architectural Heritage | website = buildingsofireland.ie | title = Glin Castle, Glin, Limerick (Folly) | accessdate = 17 February 2025 }} were added in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
In 1923, during the Irish Civil War, a group of Sinn Féin members attacked the castle.
In 1993, the FitzGeralds decided to turn the castle into a hotel to help pay for the upkeep.{{cite web| url = https://www.irishtourism.com/luxury-castle-hotels-in-ireland/glin-castle-hotel/2075| title = Glin Castle Hotel| website = Irish Tourism| access-date = 28 February 2019| archive-date = 1 March 2019| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190301135843/https://www.irishtourism.com/luxury-castle-hotels-in-ireland/glin-castle-hotel/2075| url-status = live}} The hotel closed in 2008. In 2011, Desmond FitzGerald, 29th Knight of Glin died without a male heir. In 2015, the castle was put up for auction at Christie's by Lady FitzGerald. The castle did not sell in an auction. To keep the castle in the family, it was purchased by Catherine FitzGerald, daughter of the last Knight of Glin, and her husband Dominic West. Today they run the castle as both a family home and as a complete-let venue.{{cite web| url = https://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/gallery/glin-castle-preview| title = Top stories of 2018: Catherine FitzGerald and her husband, actor Dominic West, have rescued her ancestral home in Ireland| last = Tobin| first = Emily| website = House & Garden| publisher = Condé Nast| access-date = 28 February 2019| archive-date = 18 February 2019| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190218021401/https://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/gallery/glin-castle-preview| url-status = live}}{{cite web| url = https://www.theglampad.com/2019/01/a-tour-of-irelands-glin-castle.html| title = A TOUR OF IRELAND’S ROMANTIC GLIN CASTLE| date = 11 January 2019| website = The Glam Pad| access-date = 28 February 2019| archive-date = 1 March 2019| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190301013818/https://www.theglampad.com/2019/01/a-tour-of-irelands-glin-castle.html| url-status = live}}
Gallery
Castles of Munster, Glin, Limerick (1) - geograph.org.uk - 6276711.jpg|Original castle at Glin (tower house) built within the village in the 14th or 15th century
Glin Castle, Limerick - geograph.org.uk - 6594924.jpg|Later mansion at Glin (country house) built outside the village in the late 18th century
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.glin-castle.com/ Official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190302135021/https://www.glin-castle.com/ |date=2 March 2019 }}
Category:Castles in County Limerick
Category:Country houses in Ireland
Category:Georgian architecture in Ireland