The Japanese Gardens & the Irish National Stud, County Kildare

The Japanese Gardens & the Irish National Stud, County Kildare

The tale of Saburo “Tassa” Eida, founder of the Japanese Gardens, and the origins of the Irish National Stud thanks to Colonel William Hall-Walker, later Baron Wavertree. Become a member of Turtle’s History Library to access all areas, €12/year...
Kilkea Castle – An Introduction

Kilkea Castle – An Introduction

Kilkea Castle, originally built in the 12th century, has a rich history tied to the FitzGerald family, who became prominent landowners in Ireland. Over the centuries, the castle evolved through renovations and ownership changes. Today, it stands as a testament to...
Notes on Kilcock, County Kildare

Notes on Kilcock, County Kildare

John Huston at Courtown House. Illustration: Derry Dillon. Hollywood Royals   Courtown House, just south-west of Kilcock, is a Georgian mansion that was constructed by the Aylmer family in 1815. Between 1954 and 1955, the height of the McCarthy witch-hunt in...
Mick Lavelle (1930-2013) – The Entertainer of Westport

Mick Lavelle (1930-2013) – The Entertainer of Westport

One of the best-loved faces in Westport, Co Mayo, the late Mick Lavelle was renowned for rolling up on a nearby seat in Matt Molloy’s pub and bursting into a ballad or a bawdy verse. He reckoned he knew  the words to over a thousand songs, including ten about Donegal,...
Conolly of Castletown House, Celbridge, Co. Kildare, Ireland

Conolly of Castletown House, Celbridge, Co. Kildare, Ireland

Charting the rise of Speaker Conolly, an innkeeper’s son from Donegal who became the most powerful man of his generation. His magnificent Palladian residence at Castletown House, Celbridge, is one of the Irish nation’s greatest treasures. Also looking at connections...