Earlier Houses: There were a number of earlier houses on, or near, the site of the current 18th century castle, beginning with a 13th century thatched house that was replaced, circa 1642, by a stone castle, which burned in 1740 and was replaced by the current house.

Built / Designed For: Col. John Bateman FitzGerald, 23rd Knight of Glin

House & Family History: Upstream on the Corbry from the village of Glin is Glin Castle and demesne, the ancestral home of the knights of Glin. The current castle, built between 1780 and 1790 to the designs of an unknown architect, is in a plain, white, castellated classical style with two shallow bow windows and two three-sided bays facing gardens. The hall is noted for its elaborate Adam-style plasterwork that incorporates Irish harps. The title knight of Glin is likely an Anglo-Irish adaptation of a Gaelic chieftainship that has been known by a variety of previous incarnations: the black knight, the knight of the valley, the knight of the glen, finally morphing into the knight of Glin.

Collections: Glin is noted for its fine Neoclassical interiors and its collection of exceptional Irish decorative arts and paintings formed by Desmond FitzGerald, the 29th Knight of Glin. Christie's sold some contents on May 7, 2009 for a total of £1,765,125, the proceeds being used to establish a fund to help maintain Glin and keep it in family hands. Highlights of the sale included a George Barret painting, "A View of Llanberis, with Dolbarden Castle, Caernarvonshire, North Wales, the Early Morning Mists Dispersing," which sold for £91,250, against an estimate of £80,000-120,000. A magnificent and huge Irish George II giltwood mirror by John and Francis Booker (circa 1750) sold for £51,650, against an estimate of £40,000-60,000. A Neoclassical design for a fan by Gaspare Gabrielli (1770-1828), originally at Lyons, Co. Kildare, sold for £1,188, against an estimate of £1,000-1,500. The 2nd Lord Cloncurry of Lyons met Gabrielli during his Grand Tour and, in 1805, brought him to Ireland and commissioned him to paint the famous Music Room at Lyons. A pair of Irish George IV giltwood sofas, circa 1820-30, sold for £58,850, against an estimate of £15,000-25,000. These sofas were made for Hayes St. Leger, 3rd Viscount Doneraile of Doneraile Court, Co. Cork. A pair of George III Irish giltwood girandoles, circa 1780, likely made for Sir Charles Levinge, 5th Baronet, of Knockdrin Castle, Co. Westmeath, sold for £20,000, against an estimate of £15,000-25,000. An Irish George II mahogany side table, circa 1760, sold for £73,250, against an estimate of £50,000-80,000. The star of the sale, bringing the highest price of any piece auctioned, was an Irish George II mahogany bureau writing cabinet (circa 1750), which brought £91,250, against an estimate of £70,000-100,000. The bureau was reputedly made for Sir Richard St. George, 1st Bt. (1718-89) of Woodsgift, Co. Kilkenny.

Garden & Outbuildings: The walled garden produces all the organic vegetables consumed at the castle.

John Bernard (J.B.) Burke, published under the title of A Visitation of the Seats and Arms of the Noblemen and Gentlemen of Great Britain and Ireland, among other titles: 2.S. Vol. I, p. 118, 1854.

Country Life: CXXXV, 446, 502, 1964.

House Listed: Unknown

Park Listed: Unknown

Current Seat / Home of: Catherine FitzGerald and Dominic West

Past Seat / Home of: SEATED AT EARLIER HOUSES: Thomas FitzGerald, 13th century; Thomas Spáinneach FitzGerald, 15th Knight of Glin, until 1659; John FitzGerald, 16th Knight of Glin, 1659; Major Gerald FitzGerald, 17th Knight of Glin, 1659-89; Thomas Geanncach FitzGerald, 18th Knight of Glin, 1689-1730; John FitzGerald, 19th Knight of Glin, 1730-37; Edmond FitzGerald, 20th Knight of Glin, 1737-63; Richard FitzGerald, 21st Knight of Glin, 1763-75; Thomas FitzGerald, 22nd Knight of Glin, 1775-81. SEATED AT CURRENT HOUSE: Col. John Bateman FitzGerald, 23rd Knight of Glin, 1785-1803; John Fraunceis FitzGerald, 24th Knight of Glin; 1803-54; John Fraunceis Eyre FitzGerald, 25th Knight of Glin, 1854-66; Desmond John Edmund FitzGerald, 26th Knight of Glin, 1866-95; Desmond Fitzjohn Lloyd FitzGerald, 27th Knight of Glin, 1895-1936; Desmond Wyndham Otho FitzGerald, 28th Knight of Glin, 1936-49; Desmond John Villiers FitzGerald, 29th Knight of Glin, 1949-2011; Knights of Glin here from circa 1260 until 2011. PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT NUMBERING SYSTEMS USED TO COUNT THE KNIGHTS OF GLIN.

Current Ownership Type: Individual / Family Trust

Primary Current Ownership Use: Private Home

Ownership Details: The castle is available for private events

House Open to Public: By Appointment

Phone: 353-873-294-575

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.glin-castle.com

Historic Houses Member: No