Location: Castle Ave, Clontarf, Dublin Map
Constructed: 1837
Today converted to hotel and bar
Clontarf Castle is a fairly new structure located in Castle Ave, Clontarf in the outskirts of the Dublin, Irish capital. Clontarf Castle was construction began in 1837. Today Clontarf Castle is converted to a hotel open to the public.
The first Klontarf castle, which is known to historians and which
was then completely destroyed, was restored in 1172 by Hugh de Lacy
- Lord Meath and his tenant Adam de Fepow. Then, the Knights of the
Knights Templar owned the Klontarf Castle, until the order was
banned in 1308. After that, the castle passed into the possession of
the knights from the Order of the Hospitallers. But then the castle
was confiscated from the Hospitaliers, like many other castles and
monasteries. The last owner of the castle was John Ravson - Viscount
Clontarf, who received the title of Viscount in exchange for the
castle, which he transferred to the crown of England.
In 1600, Queen Elizabeth I granted the estate and castle of Klontarf
to Sir Jeffrey Fenton, her secretary of state from Ireland. The
castle was inherited by his descendants - the King family. George
King Klontarf participated in the Irish uprising of 1641 at the
Irish Confederation. The rebels were defeated, the estate and castle
of Klontarf were confiscated.
After Oliver Cromwell drowned the Irish uprising in blood, conquered
Ireland, he gave the estate and castle of Klontarf to captain John
Blackwell on August 14, 1649. Subsequently, Captain Blackwell sold
the castle and estate to John Vernon, quartermaster general of the
army of Oliver Cromwell. The Vernon family owned the castle for
about 300 years.
In 1660, John Vernon handed over Klontarf Castle to his son, Edward
Vernon. Edward died in 1684 and one of his sisters took possession
of the castle. In 1695, Edward's cousin - also in the name of John
Vernon, claimed that his castle rights were granted to him by an act
of parliament in 1698.
The last of the Vernon family in a direct male line is Edward Vernon
Kingston, who inherited the castle and estate after the death of his
father Edward in 1913. He lived in the castle for only six months,
after which he transferred the castle to John George Alton and his
wife Moni. The castle was finally finally bought by Olton into
ownership in 1933.
John George Alton died at Clontarf Castle on April 17, 1952, and the
castle was left to his son, Desmond, who sold the property to pay
for his father's funeral and other expenses and debts.
The castle remained without an owner until 1957, when it was bought
by Mrs. Egan, which in turn sold it to Eddie Regan in the 1960s.
Garry and Carmel Hooligan bought the castle in 1972 and turned it
into a popular holiday destination, arranged a cabaret there, which
operated until 1998.
The castle reopened its doors to the public as a four-star hotel in
June 1997.