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Malahide Castle

  • Venue Name: Malahide Castle
  • Address: Malahide, Co. Dublin
  • Tel: 01 846 2184
  • Email: info@malahidecastle.com
  • Location: View Malahide Castle on Google Maps

Malahide Castle

Malahide Castle a family attraction in North County Dublin, is a great place for a family fun day out, with a variety of things to do and see which should keep kids and adults alike entertained. Set in 250 acres of park land in the pretty seaside town of Malahide, the Castle and grounds are now operated by Dublin Tourism in conjunction with Fingal County Council and are one of the most popular attractions in Dublin.

Malahide Castle is one of the oldest and most historic castles in Ireland and is set on 270 acres  in Dublin and was both a fortress and a private home for nearly eight hundred years.

The park was in the ownership of the Talbot Family in an almost unbroken line between the years 1185 and 1975 when the park was bought by Dublin County Council. The parkland is a good example of an eighteenth century landscape park with perimeter woodland belt surrounding extensive lawns.

The house is furnished with beautiful period furniture together with an extensive collection of Irish portrait paintings, mainly from the National Gallery. The history of the Talbot family is recorded in the Great Hall, with portraits of generations of the family telling their own story of Ireland's stormy history. One of the more poignant legends concerns the morning of the Battle of the Boyne in 1690, when fourteen members of the family breakfasted together in this room, never to return, as all were dead by nightfall.

The grounds of the Castle are freely open to the public, with a number of entrances and car parking areas.  There are walks, playing fields and near the house, a children’s playground. 

Malahide Castle also has a restaurant and tea rooms, and a craft shop. 

 

Tours At Malahide Castle

A visit to Malahide Castle is so much more than just a tour, it is an engaging and truly memorable experience and is guaranteed to be the highlight of your visit to Dublin.
 

 

Malahide Castle Opening Times

April – September 

  • Monday - Sunday / 10.00 - 17.00 
  • Sunday and public holidays / 10.00 - 17.00 

 

October – March

  • Monday - Sunday / 10.00 - 17.00 
  • Sunday and public holidays 11.00 - 1700
     

 

Admission Prices To Malahide Castle

  • Adults:- €7.50
  • Concession:- €6.50
  • Child (Under 12):-  €4.70
  • Family:-  €18.00

Group Admission (minimum 20)

  • Adults:- €6.50
  • Concession:- €5.50
  • Child (Under 12):-  €3.70
  • Family:-  n/a

 

Other Attractions and Facilities At Malahide Castle

  • Fry Model Railway a collection of hand made models of Irish Trains
  • The Museum of Irish Childhood, Tara's Place and crafts courtyard
  • Beside the Castle is the famous Talbot Botanic Garden established by the late Lord Milo Talbot who had a particular interest in Southern Hemisphere plants particularly Australasian and Chilean species. Among the collection is the National Plant Collection  of the genus Olearia.
  • The Park also includes a 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.

 

  • Coffee shop, Restaurant, Craft Shop and Toilets
  • Car-parking (3 car-parks) The main car park is 140 metres from Main Entrance, No 2 car park is just inside the main entrance gates and No. 3 car park is on the north side of the estate close to the Railway station.
     

 

Fry Model Railway and Tara’s Palace 

Both of these ancillary attractions are operated separately to the Castle – so pay attention to opening times as these are not the same as the castle!

 

Fry Model Railway

It has been confirmation that the museum will close permanently as the buildings are required by Fingal Co.Council for 'redevelopment' plans at the castle. Dublin Tourism are looking for expressions of interest from other bodies with a view to taking over the collection. 

 

Tara’s Palace

 
Tara’s Palace is a 22 room Doll’s Mansion which was begun in 1980 and took over twenty years to complete by some very gifted and talented crafts people who took their inspiration from some of Ireland’s great houses such as Leinster House and Castletown House. The palace is complete with magnificent antique miniature furniture and paintings. 
 
Tara’s Palace is the centrepiece of the exhibition which also includes other dolls houses, including ‘Portabello’ which is possibly the oldest surviving Doll’s House in either Ireland or the UK, dating from 1700.
 
 

Restaurant and Tea Rooms

 
Located in what was originally the kitchens of the Castle, the restaurant at Malahide Castle caters for tea and coffee breaks morning and afternoon. From 12.30 pm until about 3.30pm hot lunches are served.
 
 

Gardens at Malahide Castle

 
While the grounds and parkland are freely available to the public, there are two particular areas of the Castle estate which will be of interest to gardeners. The West Lawn is open every day from 2pm until about 5pm and is an area of botanical interest having many species of plants from the Southern Hemisphere.
 
The Walled Gardens of the castle can only be viewed on a guided tour which takes place at 2pm sharp every Wednesday and is led by one of the estate’s gardeners. Groups can be accommodated outside this time by contacting the Park Rangers at 01 8462456.
 
There is also an 18 hold Pitch and Putt course in the grounds. Enquiries to 01 8450914.
 
 
 

Family Fun Tip for Malahide Castle

 
If coming from the city or southside, take the DART to Malahide. It’s a pleasant walk to the Castle. And Malahide is a great place to grab a bite to eat later, which a variety of restaurants to choose from.

 

Getting To Malahide Castle

The Park is situated within easy walking distance of the centre of Malahide Village.

 

  • By Bus:
Take Bus 42 from City Centre
 
 
  • By DART
To Malahide Station
 
 
  • By Car
From Dublin Airport - on leaving at the roundabout take the second exit. At the Airport roundabout take the first exit onto the R132 (signpost for Belfast here). At Cloghran roundabout take the second exit onto the Dublin Road – R132 (signpost for Belfast here). Continue straight onto the R132. At Pinnock Hill Roundabout take the second exit onto the R132 (signpost for Belfast here). At the Malahide Road roundabout take the third exit onto the Swords Road – R106 (signpost for Malahide here). Continue straight on this road and take the first exit on the next roundabout onto the Swords Road. Continue straight along this road for approx one mile, turn right at the traffic lights onto the R107. Take the next turn left onto the Back Road and the next turn left into the grounds of Malahide Castle.

From city centre - start at the Daniel O’Connell monument on O’Connell Street, turn left onto Amiens Street – R105 (signpost for Malahide, Howth and Fairview here). Go straight through traffic lights onto North Strand Road R105, continue on this road for approx .5 miles then turn left at the traffic lights onto the Malahide Road – R107, continue straight on this road until you reach your first roundabout. Take the second exit on this roundabout onto the Malahide Road, continue straight until you reach another roundabout, take the second exit onto the Malahide Road (signpost for Malahide here). Go straight through the traffic lights continuing on the Malahide Road, you will reach Kinsealy, keep going straight and you will reach Feltrim and then Malahide. Turn right onto the Back Road and take the next turn left into the grounds of Malahide Castle.
 
 
 

 

View all items in the sections:  Tours  |  Family Attractions  |  Kids Activities In Dublin

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