LISMORE
CASTLE & GARDENS
Flowering Gardens of Lismore in County Waterford
Lismore
Castle in County Waterford is one of southeast Ireland’s most
lovely castles for its setting, drama and most notably for its gardens.
There
has been a castle at Lismore since 1185, when a fortress was first built
under England’s Prince John. When he gained the crown he handed
the early medieval castle over to the Bishops of Waterford who used it
as a palace until the Henry VIII. In 1589, the castle was bought by
Sir Walter Raleigh, for a time the magistrate
of the nearby port city of Youghal (see Moby
Dick in Youghal). Raleigh
didn’t
actually live at the castle, preferring the coastal views of Youghal.
When Raleigh was locked in the Tower of London by Queen Elizabeth, he
sold his Irish properties to Richard Boyle, the first Earl of Cork. The
medieval castle was heavily damaged during the English Civil War (see Waterford
Treasures Museum).
In 1753,
the Castle and its lands passed into the hands of the William Cavendish
the 4th
Duke of Devonshire. His grandson, the 6th Duke, William
Spenser Cavendish, a patron of authors like Charles Dickens and William
Makepeace Thakeray, began an extensive restoration of castle, taking
shape as seen today. Joseph Paxton, designer of Crystal
Palace for the London Exhibition of 1851, originally came onto the
Duke’s
estate as under-gardener, flourishing as a botanist, architect and
engineer.
As consultant and friend to the Duke, it his influence which created
the present castle, with its added crenellated towers, mostly a Victorian
era
baronial
mansion.
The
battlement walls surrounding the gardens however are the original medieval
era fortification.
The
most famous modern era resident of Lismore was Adele Astaire, the elder
sister
and first dancing partner of Fred Astaire, who married the son of the
9th
Duke
of Devenshire,
Charles Cavendish. She lived at the castle until his death in 1944
and later visited once a year. Fred Astaire also often stayed at the
castle,
writing at one point how many blankets he needed in the cold drafts
of the place.
Lismore
Castle is still the private home of the Devonshires, principally the
younger
generation,
Lord and Lady Burlington. the castle interior
is generally not open to visitors, though it is available for luxury
rental accommodation when the owners are away. Hired for the full 13
rooms of the mansion, if you happen to have a handy €30,000 by the
week. Lismore Castle is popular as a estate getaway for family reunions
and weddings. For casual visitors to Lismore, it is the magnificent gardens
which are open to the public.
The
Lismore Castle Gardens on seven acres are divided into the Upper Garden,
the 17th century walled garden first constructed by Richard Boyle,
the 1st Earl of Cork in 1605.
The formal form of the garden of multiple levels and long rows of
plantings
remains much as it was 400 years ago, though the plants have changed
somewhat to the taste of the current owners, and several contemporary
sculptures have been added. The Lower Garden is more casual informal
English garden style representing the 19th Century an addition and expansion
for the 6th Duke of Devonshire, designed under the guidance of Joseph
Paxton. The gardens frame spectacular views of the castle and the surrounding
country
side.
The castle also has a small art gallery, the Lismore Castle Arts Gallery,
added in 2003 to the west wing of the castle, featuring changing exhibitions
of contemporary art, workshops and art events.
In the lower
grounds is the Yew Tree Walk, a canopy of the great ageless red-berried
trees which predate the Victorian gardens. Sir Walter Raleigh's friend,
the Elizabethan poet, Edmund Spencer, is said
to
have written “The Faerie Queen” sitting under the Yew tress
still remaining at Lismore. You're unlikely to find any fairies still
around,
but you might encounter a curious piece of statuary along
the path.
Visiting Castle Lismore Gardens
The
Lismore Castle Gardens are open from 11am. to 4:45 pm every day from
the 17th
of
March until September 30th. Admission is €8 for
adults, €6 for students and seniors, and €4 for children under
16. The art gallery is included with the gardens admission. Entrance
is through the twin towered gatehouse. Lismore Castle is about 40 minutes
from Cork and 20 from Dungarvan or Youghal. The historic heritage town
of Lismore is a 10 minute stroll from the castle gates. The view from
the little bridge to the east of the castle gate is one of the best castle
views for snapshots, but beware the narrow walking lane. © Bargain
Travel Europe
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Lismore
Castle Gardens
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SEE ALSO:
TANNERY COOKERY SCHOOL & TOWNHOUSE
MOBY DICK’S PUB - YOUGHAL - CORK
AVOCA MILL IN FICTIONAL "BALLYKISSANGEL"
