The Fitzgeralds & The Wizard Earl

This was originally the site of a motte and bailey built by Sir Walter de Riddlesford in 1181. His granddaughter married Maurice Fitzgerald, and so The Manor of Kilkea came into the possession of the powerful Fitzgerald family. This castle was built in 1426 and is claimant to being the longest continuously inhabited castle in Ireland. It remained the family home of the Fitzgeralds until the 19th Earl of Kildare decided to make Carton House the family home in 1740. The famous story of Kilkea tells of ‘The Wizard Earl’ who lived here in the mid-1500s. He was a colorful character who was fond of dabbling in magic tried. He tried to convince his wife of his powers and said he could turn her into a bird. He said if she got startled he would disappear forever. As promised, The Earl turned into a bird and his wife showed indifference until a cat wandered in and sprang for the bird. The wife screamed and the earl disappeared without a trace but it is said that he returns as a ghost to the same room every seven years on a white horse! The castle is now run as an exclusive golf course and a historic hotel.