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Visit The House
Bloody O'Tooles, Rebels & Royalty, Fame & Fire
The story of Powerscourt House and Estate
In the 13th century Powerscourt was a significant castle and garrison for the Anglo-Normans, a far cry from its 20th century reincarnation as a peaceful and elegant Palladian mansion, host to an extraordinary array of people, from royalty and film stars to great musicians and artists.
The audio visual presentation tells the wonderful story of this transformation, showing how the German architect, Richard Castle, incorporated the old castle structure in the house as it stands today. It also details how the magnificent aristocratic gardens were slowly created out of the original rugged setting, and then how tragedy struck on November 4th, 1974, when fire destroyed the glorious interior with its precious treasures, leaving behind only the exterior walls of the house.
Today visitors can see stonework dating back to the 16th century and once again climb the main staircase to the magnificently restored ballroom and the garden rooms. The elevated views of the sublime formal gardens and Sugarloaf mountain are among the most famous views in the whole of Ireland. (Ballroom & Garden Rooms open Sundays 9:30 - 1:30 All Year, Mondays 9:30 - 1:30 May to Sept)
