Charleville Castle Heritage Trust — Attraction in The Municipal District of Tullamore

While visiting Ireland my wife and I stopped at a little cafe in Tullamore. There a lovely couple told us of Charleville Castle. Driving down the winding road to the castle it felt as if the modern world got further and further away and suddenly we were transported to Ancient Ireland complete with ancient trees, a beautiful castle, and the air filled with magic. Michael met us at the entrance and completed our transformation into the past by masterfully weaving history, lore, and laughter into a tour that felt like he was welcoming guests into his own home. We learned of Ley Lines, and heard whispers from the ghosts just at the periphery of our vision. Evening light filtered through the same windows that Earls and Countesses once stood at. Secret passageways were discovered, and as we were leaving Mere Cat (the Castle Cat) came and bade us farewell. If we see nothing else in...

I consider myself extremely lucky to have been included on a tour May 6, 2024. Just a quick taxi ride from Tullamore train station/town. The castle is obviously a labour of love for the owner/trust holder Bonnie. Bonnie gave a very personal and thorough tour of the areas open to the public. Due to historical rules and contractual obligations with film crews not all areas were open. History lives and breathes at Charleville. We were even greeted by the Princess of the castle (a fabulous calico cat). While needing a lot of restoration the work completed so far sure gives the picture of what it will be like once completed.i hope to make it back and see the progress. It is definitely good to confirm your place on the tour ahead of times because with filming and such there are limited tour access dates. And entry is...

It's sad to read some of the negative reviews on here. I visited at the weekend. It's important to remember that this isn't a huge OPW funded project like Kilkenny Castle. It is somebody's home. The lady that lives there gave us the tour and it's clear to see that she is completely dedicated to the renovation of the castle and the grounds. She isn't dedicated to the cause for personal gain. The lady and her family work tirelessly on the upkeep of the castle and the grounds in order to preserve it for future generations. It is obvious that any money made, goes straight back into the castle. Nobody would choose to live in a freezing cold building that needed around the clock repair if they weren't completely dedicated to the building and its history. The building would be a ruin if the family...