Grand Hotel

Set on 250 acres of park land in the pretty seaside town of Malahide, the Castle was both a fortress and a private home for nearly eight hundred years, and is an interesting mix of architectural styles. The Talbot family lived here from 1185 to 1973, when the last Lord Talbot died. 

The house is furnished with beautiful period furniture together with an extensive collection of Irish portrait paintings, mainly from the National Gallery of Ireland. The first floor of the medieval keep is represented by the inner part of this imposing room.

An extension to the original façade was added in the 19th century and included large latticed windows. The 16th century paneling which gives the room its name (The Oak Room) is dominated by a Flemish carving of the Coronation of the Virgin. Tradition states that this carving disappeared when the Talbot’s were dispossessed by Cromwell and miraculously reappeared with the reinstatement of the family to Malahide. 

The two drawing rooms were constructed around 1765 after a fire had gutted the west side of the house.  They are in an elaborate, almost rococo style with plaster ceilings in the manner of Robert West.  The Georgian Staircase leads to the Ladies bedroom, Gentleman’s bedroom and the Children’s bedroom and date back to the 18th century. The Great Hall which dates from 1475 was re-roofed and re-windowed, the original walls and supporting undercroft make this the only essentially medieval hall still in use in Ireland. 

The Library is remarkable chiefly for the gilt and hand-painted leather wall hangings which adorn the walls.

In the 268 acres of parkland you will find the Castle’s Talbot Room Restaurant and Coffee Shop, Castle Craft Shop, Fry Model Railway, Tara’s Palace and Museum of Childhood, Talbot Botanic Gardens, Children’s playground, 9 hole par 3 Golf Course, 18 hole Pitch & Putt Course, Sports Pitches, Tennis Courts and Cricket Pitch, an exercise trail and a boules area.