Built / Designed For: Samuel Hayes

House & Family History: In the 19th century Avondale was the home of the Irish politician Charles Stewart Parnell, who is famous today for his campaign for Irish home rule. William Gladstone described Parnell as "...the most remarkable man I ever met. I do not say the ablest man; I say the most remarkable and the most interesting. He was an intellectual phenomenon." Liberal leader H.H. Asquith called him one of the three or four greatest men of the 19th century. The historian A.J.P. Taylor on Parnell: "More than any other man he gave Ireland the sense of being an independent nation." After Parnell's death in 1891, his brother, John Howard Parnell, inherited the heavily indebted Avondale Estate. John Howard sold up in 1899; in 1904 Avondale was purchased by the Irish government, who have owned it ever since. The house's American Room is dedicated to Admiral Charles Stewart (1778-1869), Parnell's American grandfather who commanded the USS "Constitution" during the War of 1812. Today the world's oldest commissioned warship, the "Constitution," also known as "Old Ironsides," is moored in Boston Harbor. Avondale is noted for its 18th century plasterwork.

Garden & Outbuildings: The house is today set in a 500-acre park, which famously features giant redwood trees from California.

House Listed: Unknown

Park Listed: Unknown

Past Seat / Home of: Samuel Hayes, 1778-95. Sir John Parnell, 2nd Bt., 1795-1801; William Parnell, 1801-21; John Henry Parnell, 1821-59; Charles Stewart Parnell, 1859-91; John Howard Parnell, 1891-99.

Current Ownership Type: Government

Primary Current Ownership Use: Visitor Attraction

House Open to Public: Yes

Phone: 35340-446-111

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.beyondthetreesavondale.com

Historic Houses Member: No