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Bedrooms 8   Bathrooms 6
Maximum Occupancy 24   Internet Access Yes
King Beds 2   Queen Beds 3
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Drumcollogher Castle

Newcastle West, Ireland

spacer line Turn into the private drive lined with ancient lime trees.  The castle, adjoining the romantic 600 year old ruin, is covered with Virginia creeper vine that turns brilliant red in autumn.  There are twenty or so fallow deer grazing on the grounds - near the woods that border the meadow.  

Inside, the first impression is of the rich colors, therapeutic in the misty Irish climate.  The wide front hall is yellow.  There is the broad wood stairway, a working fireplace, gleaming wood floors, antique tables, portraits of ancestors and local scenes and, in a corner, a suit of armor striking a jaunty pose.
   

To the left of the hallway, the very large drawing room is filled with interesting things and comfortable furniture.  There is a working fireplace, several nice sofas, easy chairs, a large writing table, portraits of ancestors, family photographs, books, tall windows looking onto the front and side of the property.  It is easy to imagine yourself a guest here 200 years ago and it is also easy to see that this house is still a family home.


The dining room is to the right of the front hall.  It, too, has gleaming wood floors, a decorative fireplace with a large bouquet of dried flowers in it, more ancestors’ portraits, silver table ware.  The walls are painted a deep, powerful red.  The antique mahogany table seats 18 comfortably.
 

The butler’s pantry and kitchen are off the dining room.  The kitchen has terra cotta tile floors, a blue Aga stove and two conventional electric ovens, a large table for casual dining.  A large dresser displays dishes and pottery.  There is a refrigerator, freezer, dishwasher and other modern equipment.  A door leads out to the courtyard with its patio and gazebo.

Off the kitchen, a new back stairway leads up to the bedroom floor.

At the back of the castle, there is a smallish sitting room with a TV and video player, games and toys.  It’s a casual and comfortable room that all ages will enjoy.  A guest powder room is totally paneled in antique pine.


There is one bedroom, the Garden Bedroom, on the main floor.  It was designed to provide accessibility and it’s terrific.  It has a queen bed, cream fabric with a fern pattern designed by Elsie de Wolfe, wood blinds.  There is a sense of the ephemeral here - romantic and a bit mysterious.  The very large en suite tiled bathroom has a large shower.


Upstairs, the comfortable bedrooms are decorated with antiques and personal objects.  They are very private rooms.

The Archway Bedroom has a queen bed, deep rose walls, two windows, an old fireplace, a blue ceiling with silver stars, big mirrors, a black and gold elf lamp.  It has been nick-named the "Harry Potter” room by teenage guests who particularly enjoy this fanciful space.  This bedroom has an en suite bathroom with a free-standing tub and underfloor heating.  Photographs of sportsmen from the family adorn the walls.

The "Back Bedroom" actually faces the front!  It was a back bedroom before a previous renovation.  The owners have recently renamed it The Oak Bedroom and moved the bed from the Red Bedroom (see below) here.  This beautiful antique four poster double bed is very narrow and suggested for one person.  There is also an antique armoire, warm colors and a gorgeous antique dresser.  It is a very cozy room.

The Yellow Bedroom has a single bed, a beautiful antique silk quilt, a basin, antiques.  It shares with the Back Bedroom a new bathroom that has slate floors and a shower stall.

The Red Bedroom is large, with red walls, wide plank floors, a fireplace with marble mantle.  There is a sink and a writing desk.  Two windows overlook the front of the property.  The bed is now a King bed that can convert to twins.  

The large Green Bedroom, above the entrance hall, has twin beds, a decorative fireplace, armoires, a basin in the room.  The adjacent bathroom has a sauna, a shower stall, a long, deep tub with a hand-held shower.

The Baroness's Room is a cream-painted bedroom with a queen half-tester bed, a rich red headboard, very blue carpet, an antique armoire and dressing table.  The en suite bathroom has a gigantic,deep tub with a hand-held shower.

The Baron's Room has a king 4-poster bed, a dressing table, armoire, decorative fireplace, large windows overlooking the front of the property.  The large en suite bathroom has a free-standing tub in the middle of the bathroom, a tiled shower stall and a striped sofa.  It's very sexy.
    
The house has a full sized snooker table, table tennis, darts and a hard tennis court.  The owners operate an organic deer ranch, all given free range on the extensive grounds.  They have an organic garden and they invite you to partake of its bounty: vegetables, fruits and salads can be purchased from them in season.  The owners are superb cooks.  For an additional fee, they will cook dinner for you as many nights as you like. Housecleaning and laundry can all  be arranged.

The castle is in a secluded setting, but there are numerous villages nearby.  It is convenient for day trips to Adare, the Clare coast, Kerry Cork and Galway, Tipperary.  Golf is plentiful as are other sporting and outdoors activities.   Shannon Airport is a 1.5-hour drive.  Limerick City is a 1-hour drive.  Dublin is 4 hours.
 
Local Favorites
Favorite Local Pub
Name: Dolan's Pub
Interesting Facts: At Dolan’s they serve Breakfast, Carvery Lunch, Pub Grub and Dinner. They offer a varied menu at affordable prices and cater for every budget.
 
One thing visitors should not miss
Castle Demesne - Over 0.4 square kilometres (99 acres) of parkland with numerous forms of flora and fauna as well as playing areas and sports fields. Slí na Sláinte - Walking trails which includes the Square and the Demesne. Great Southern Trail - A walking trail developed along the disused railway line. It offers an interesting scenic walk between Newcastle West and Ardagh or Newcastle West and the Old Mill. Churchtown Graveyard and Grotto - The Old Church Ruins in Churchtown (Catholic) date back hundreds of years. Old IRA Monument - situated opposite the church this monument commemorates 17 volunteers who were killed during the war of independence and Civil War 1916 - 1922. The monument was unveiled by President Sean T.O'Kelly in 1955. Church of the Immaculate Conception (Catholic) - built in 1828 by Father Thomas Coll P.P. The local Landlord, the Earl of Devon gave the site with the parishioners providing voluntary labour in the building work. Iron Footbridge - crossing over the river Arra the bridge is located opposite the church and was erected by Edward Curling, the Landlord's agent in Newcastle West from 1848 - 1874. Famine Graveyard - located at the rear of St. Ita's Hospital. Many hundreds of people who died in the work house during the famine are buried there in unmarked graves. The cemetery is marked by a plain old cross and modern, limestone gates sculptured by Cliodna Cussen, showing scenes from the famine and commissioned by the Famine Cemetery Committee. St. Bridget's Well - located in Shanagarry on the Killarney Road. Carnegie Library - located in the Market Yard this impressive building was built by the Carnegie Trust and founded by the Scottish / philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. The building housed a secondary school for many years. It is now a busy commercial centre. Bridge of Tears- located at the south of the town at the junction of the Dromcollogher Road, there is a stone bridge which takes its name from being a famous last farewell point. Known locally as the Bridge of Sorrows or Tears, during the time of the famine, Emigrants from all over West Limerick said their last goodbyes before walking or taking a carriage to Cork and the boat to North America or further. Barnagh Gap - About 7 kilometres west of the town is the scenic view point at Barnagh Gap, which provides a panoramic east facing view over County Limerick, West Tipperary/ Galtee Mountains and north County Cork. On a clear day North tipperary and Clare are also visible.
 
Favorite Local Restaurant
Name: Dolan's Pub
Type of Restaurant: Pub
Interesting Facts: At Dolan’s they serve Breakfast, Carvery Lunch, Pub Grub and Dinner. They offer a varied menu at affordable prices and cater for every budget.
 
 
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