Tullynally Castle and Gardens
Tullynally Castle’s majestic presence dominates a breathtaking landscape, with 12 acres of beautifully restored 18th Century gardens, terraced lawns, remarkable mature trees, walled flower gardens and ornamental lakes. The current owner, Thomas Pakenham has added a wealth of unusual trees and shrubs, many of them collected as seed on his travels, including superb collections of rare magnolias and lilies.
The sunny Tearoom in the Castle Courtyard offers teas, coffee and delicious homemade food throughout the day and a splendid family coach is on display.
Tullynally stands atop the ‘Hill of the Swan’, with views of Lough Derravaragh, the legendary lake where the ‘Children of Lir’ were turned into swans by their jealous stepmother and condemned to 900 years of wandering. Tullynally Castle has been home to the Pakenham family (later the Earls of Longford) for over 350 years.
Guided tours of the huge rambling Gothic Revival castle in all its grandeur are available Thursdays to Saturdays, including the early Victorian kitchens and laundries, with a fascinating insight into the real stories of Irish history.