Begun in 1845, Castle Oliver was built by Elizabeth & Isabella Oliver Gascoigne (pictured here), sisters who inherited vast wealth at a relatively young age. Their ancestral Irish estate, which comprised about 20,000 acres had fallen into neglect and they decided to build a new castle close to the original. The sisters were highly artistic and personally designed and created stained glass and other decorative objects for the castle of a very high standard, much of which has survived.

Scottish Baronial in style, Castle Oliver sits on 7 enormous terraces, with commanding views over thousands of acres of unspoilt countryside. Much of the original Victorian landscaping has survived, including fountains, paths, stone steps and a spectacular balustrade. With well over 100 rooms, the castle contains spiral stone staircases, vaulted passages, enormous wine cellars, and stunning original decorative ceilings. It has good central heating as well as fireplaces in all the main rooms. It is among the most important historic buildings in Ireland and is a protected structure. A book is available about the history: see PUBLICATIONS and for further information, look at our sister site www.castle-oliver.com.