Malahide Castle: A Gift From a Friend
Malahide was not on my list of places to see in Ireland. I heard about it from one of the walking tours in Dublin. I was on my fifth day in Dublin and decided to explore the small town by myself.
It is really easy to travel around the Dublin area. I walked everyplace and scoped out the bars and coffee shops. I think there are about as many coffee shops as there are bars.
I took the opportunity to take a train to Malahide and it was worth the experience.
Malahide Castle
Malahide Castle is located in Malahide, Dublin County, Ireland. Take the Irish Rail at the Dublin/Connaly station. The train leaves the station every 25 minutes. The time from Dublin to Malahide is about 30–35 minutes long.
This squirrel is in front of the Irish Rail and the Dublin/Connaly station
When you arrive in the town of Malahide, you can take this train or walk. The train is not free and many times is reserved for groups. The walk is about 20 minutes to the castle.
The train from the station to the castle
The castle grounds include the courtyards, a place to have coffee or a quick lunch, the garden with plants from all over the world, and a playground for young children.
A visual map of the castle and courtyard
Admission to Malahide Castle and the Gardens is $14.97.
Castle admission entrance
Malahide Castle is one of the oldest castles in Ireland. Malahide “Mullach Ide” means the “the hill of Ide” or “Ide’s sandhill” in Gaelic. The Vikings settled in Malahide in 795. King Henry II built the castle and gifted it to his friend Sir Richard Talbot. Sir Talbot provided his support and protected the King during the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
The Talbots came to Ireland as a Norman family originally from France. They lived in the castle from 1185–1976. They were considered one of the most prominent and powerful Irish Catholic families in Dublin. When the Battle of the Boyne took place, fourteen members of the Talbot family sat down to have breakfast. They were killed before evening.
The dining room where the fourteen family members were killed
It is said that the little girl’s eyes will follow you all of the way up the stairs
Coat of arms “Hound and Wolf”
Rose Talbot, the last living relative, sold the castle to the State of Ireland to help pay the inheritance taxes.
Study room
Fireplace in Living Room
Remains of the Abbey. It was also used as a cemetary.
Talbot Botanical Gardens
The Talbot Botanical Gardens is a walled garden. It has seven greenhouses and a Victorian Conservatory. Plants from the Southern Hemisphere, Chile, and Australia, grow in the garden.
Victorian Conservatory
Plants from the Southern Hemisphere
Public areas and picnic grounds
The City Malahide
Malahide is an affluent coastal suburban town. One thousand people lived in Malahide in the early 19th century. The local industry was salt harvesting and other commercial operations importing coal and construction materials.
The population increased to 15,846 in 2011. It is now a seaside resort for wealthy Dublin city dwellers.
Malahide neighbourhood home
Mermaid by the sea
Malahide is a small town with a great personality. The people are friendly, the food is fresh, and not inundated with tourists. A car is not necessary to get around. It is easier to walk because there isn’t much parking available.
Malahide might not be on your list of places to visit in Ireland, but it should be.
