Malahide Castle
(Near Dublin)
Southwest of the town of Malahide stands Malahide Castle, which from the 13th C. to 1975 was owned and occupied by the Talbot family and now belongs to the city of Dublin. Much rebuilt and altered in the course of its history, it shows a variety of architectural styles - medieval, Georgian and modern. The Great Hall with its oak roof is the only one in Ireland to have preserved its medieval aspect and to have continued (until 1975) to serve its original purpose. The castle now houses the National Portrait Gallery, a branch of the National Gallery in Dublin. The pictures in this collection are of interest either for the artist (William Hogarth, Joshua Reynolds, etc.) or the sitter (Anne Boleyn, Robert Dudley, James Gandon, Jonathan Swift, Daniel O'Connell, etc.).
Hours:
April 1 to October 31: 10am-5pm; Sun: 11am-6pm
November 1 to March 31: 10am-5pm; Sun: 11am-5pm
Always closed on: Christmas - Christian (December 25), Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24), Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26)
Tips: Banquets can be arranged in the 15C Great Hall. Closed for tours from 12:45 to 2 p.m - The restaurant remains open. Combined ticket with Fry Model Railway available.
Guides: Guided tour available as optional extra.
Facilities: Gift shop, Restaurant or food service
Transit: Bus: 42 beside Busarus. Train: from Conolly Station or Lansdowne Road to Malahide.