Lilies of the valley and ivy-covered ash, oak, and beech trees line the driveway leading to this Gleaming-white castle, home to the knights of Glin for the past 700 years. The vast estate sprawls over 160 hectares (395 acres) of gardens, farmlands, and forests, and the house itself (ca. 1785) seems never-ending. It is more of a Georgian house than a castle, with added crenellations and Gothic details. The current (29th) knight of Glin, Desmond FitzGerald, an historian and preservationist, maintains a fine collection of 18th-century Irish furniture and memorabilia. The house features elaborate plasterwork, Corinthian columns, and a unique double-ramp flying staircase.

Hours
daily 11am-2pm

Prices Admission
(for nonguests) to house and gardens €7 ($9.10) adults, €3.50 ($4.55) children

Transportation
Approximately 40km (25 miles) east of Limerick City

Web site: http://www.glincastle.com/