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Drumcollogher Castle

Newcastle West, Ireland

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.