House & Family History: Leixlip was originally a 12th century fortress. In the 15th century the castle was granted to the 8th Earl of Kildare, taken back from the 10th Earl, and then given back to the 11th Earl (the earls of Kildare were also the heads of the FitzGerald family). In 1732 William Conolly of Castletown purchased Leixlip, which was kept by his descendants until 1914. Leixlip is supposedly haunted by a many-headed dog which looks into the house through the windowpanes. It's claimed that Prince John (the future King John of England), when lord of Ireland, stayed in the castle in 1185. In 1752 Archbishop Price died and was buried in the Protestant church at Leixlip. In his will he left £100 and a recipe for a dark beer to his servant, Richard Guinness. Guinness started a brewery in Leixlip in 1752 that eventually grew to be one of the largest in the world. Not surprisingly, the castle features in "Leixlip Castle," Charles Maturin's 1825 Gothic short story.

Collections: Leixlip contained an important 18th century dolls' house that was originally made for Newbridge, Co. Dublin.

House Listed: Unknown

Park Listed: Unknown

Past Seat / Home of: Gerald FitzGerald, 8th Earl of Kildare, 15th century. William Conolly, 1728-29; William James Conolly, 1731-54; Conolly family here from 1728 until 1914. William Kavanagh, 1945-58. The Hon. Desmond Walter Guinness, 1958-2020.

Current Ownership Type: Individual / Family Trust

Primary Current Ownership Use: Private Home

House Open to Public: No

Historic Houses Member: No