Once home to the most powerful family in Ireland

Carton House was built in 1739 for the powerful Fitzgerald family who became the Lords of Maynooth and the Earls of Kildare. The house was designed by the famous architect Richard Cassels whose other works include Leinster House, Powerscourt House, and Russborough House. It remained in the control of the FitzGeralds until the early 1920s when the 7th Duke Edward sold his birthright to a moneylender in order to pay off gambling debts of £67,500. Edward was 3rd in line to succeed and so did not think he would ever inherit Carton House. One of his brothers however died in WW1 and the other died of a brain tumor… and so Carton was lost to the FitzGeralds. In 1923, a local unit of the IRA went to Carton with the intention of burning it down but was stopped when a member of the FitzGerald family brought a large painting of Lord Edward FitzGerald to the door and pointed out that they would be burning the house of a revered Irish patriot. The 1,100-acre estate has been the property of the Mallaghan family since 1977 and is now one of Ireland’s finest 5* hotels.

Thanks to Savills Ireland for excellent video