Malahide Castle is one of Dublin's several castles, about six miles north from the city center and reachable by regular bus, tour bus or train. Hidden away in large, landscaped gardens and parkland, the castle stuns the visitor with a hotch-potch of styles that create a certain fairy-tale feeling.
Parts of Malahide Castle are original medieval, parts are Georgian and the rest is fairly modern. No wonder, as the building was used as a family home by the Talbots until 1976 and only then sold to the City of Dublin. Thus the Great Hall, an impressive creation from oak, was never replaced with a modern equivalent. And now is the only original one in existence in Ireland.
The interior has been lavishly renovated when the castle was turned into a visitor attraction, parts coming from the collection of museums and galleries. Especially the National Portrait Gallery, featuring works by William Hogarth and Sir Joshua Reynolds. Not all have an Irish connection, but are still treasures for the historian. Jonathan Swift, Daniel O'Connell and Anne Boleyn are amongst those hung here.
The castle is open every day in the main season (April to October), on the weekends at other times. The grounds, unless used for large events, are open throughout the year. The Fry Model Railway has, however, left the building ...
