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Castlemartin House and Estate


Castlemartin is the name of a historic house and estate, and the townland in which they sit, on the banks of the River Liffey in Kilcullen, County Kildare, Republic of Ireland. Formerly a key estate of the Eustace family, it was for many years the home of media magnate Tony O'Reilly, and his wife, Chryss Goulandris, but was bought in 2015 by John Malone, an Irish American. The estate includes major stud farm and cattle breeding operations, a restored medieval church and an icehouse.

The estate lies immediately adjacent to the town, to the west, and largely west of the River Liffey, though a small part of the land has for centuries lain east of the river, above Kilcullen Heritage Centre and town hall / theatre / cinema. Accesses to the main body of the estate, secured with gates and cameras, are from the Newbridge Road, on the approach to Kilcullen from the Curragh. The estate is bounded on one side by the Pinkeen Stream, a tributary of the Liffey, and the "Laurel Walk Woods."

There is no general access to the estate lands. This includes, despite promises at the time of restoration, to St. Mary's Church (Castlemartin Chapel). Neither Castlermartin House nor the church can now be seen from the public roads, though the house is said to have a river view. The access issue was a factor in local opposition to an offer by O'Reilly to take the "Portlester Monument" into the estate; its subject, Rowland FitzEustace, 1st Baron Portlester, had lived at Castlemartin in the 15th century.

The estate includes the main house, St. Mary's Church, extensive lands of good quality, and a number of other houses. The redevelopment and design of the estate by the O'Reillys included use of a standard teal colour for key features.

Castlemartin House, in its current form a restored 18th century mansion, said to have around 28 rooms, is successor to a series of older dwellings, perhaps dating back to the 13th century.

Key occupants have included members of the Eustace family, and later the Carter family.


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