The first meeting place of the Catholic Association

Glencullen House was originally a 17th-century farmhouse that was remodeled with its large Greek Revival portico in 1817 by one of the most famous Irish architects, Francis Johnson. Johnson’s other notable works include The GPO on O’Connell Street and The Chapel Royal in Dublin. This was the family home of the Fitzsimons who owned large swaths of land in this area. In the 1820’s Daniel O’Connell’s daughter, Ellen married Christopher Fitzsimon. O’Connell held his first meeting for The Catholic Association in the gardens of Glencullen House. The Fitzsimons sold the house in 1904 but in 1953 Colonel Manners O’Connell FitzSimon, a relative of O’Connell bought it back and lived here until his death in 1985. Please note – Glencullen House is on private lands.