Barretstown Castle stands on the site of a late 12th century Anglo-Norman Castle and is rumoured to have been built around the original keep of that ancient edifice.
The first historical mention of the place is in a 1547 inquisition held after the suppression of religious houses, when Barretstown Castle was listed as the property of the Archbishop of Dublin, from whom it was promptly confiscated by the English crown.
Since that time, the Castle was held by the Eustace family on a series of ‘permanent leases.’ Early in the 18th century the Borrowes family acquired the estate, and retained possession for some 200 years.
Unlike the Eustace Baronets of the 16th and 17th centuries, the five Baronets who spanned the 19th century played no part in public life. This quiet aristocratic reign ended with the flamboyant Sir Kildare, 10th Baronet (1852-1924), whose father Rev. Sir Erasmus, 8th Baronet, had significantly modified the residence in a medieval, romantic, asymmetrical style.
In 1918, the Borrowes family having left Ireland, Barretstown was purchased by Sir George Sheppard Murray, a Scotsman who converted the estate into a fine stud farm, and planted many of the exotic trees that dominate the landscape.
In 1962 Elizabeth Arden acquired the Castle from the Murray family. Over five years, Ms Arden applied her famous talents for beauty and style to an extensive reconstruction, redecoration and refurnishing of the Castle. Her influence dominates the look of the house to this day. The door of Barretstown Castle is reputed to have been painted red after her famous brand of perfume 'Red Door', and remains so to this day.
After Ms Arden’s death in 1967, the international biscuit tycoon Garfield Weston took up residence. Under his ownership the grounds were significantly improved, particularly through the addition of a magnificent lake in front of the Castle.
The Weston family, which owns Dublin’s famous department store Brown Thomas, presented the estate to the Irish Government in 1977, during which time it was used for national and international conferences and seminars, as well as being used as a part of the Irish National Stud.
If you know any more about Barretstown's past or have photos you can send us, please email us or call 00 353 45 864115.
