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Clonalis House

Castlerea
attraction
Historical
Parks & Gardens
Cultural
Museums
Nature
1/5
Contact Information

Clonalis House is the ancestral home of the O’Conors, Kings of Connacht and at various times, High Kings of Ireland. The O’Conor dynasty produced eleven high kings of Ireland and twenty-four kings of Connacht. The current house was constructed in 1878 by Charles Owen O'Conor and was designed by the well known Victorian architect, Pepys Cockerell. The design incorporates the unique architectural designs of Queen Anne and Italianate. The 'new' house replaced an 18th-century residence that had flooded repeatedly due to its proximity to the River Suck. Today, the estate is home to three generations of the O'Conor family. They have carefully restored many parts of the property over the years. In addition to a family home, Clonalis House serves as a countryside escape for holidaymakers. The estate won the HHI O’Flynn Group Heritage Prize in 2022. Home to over 600 years of history, the estate is a truly spectacular hidden gem, located right in the heart of Ireland. The Demesne in which it was set survives and is now enjoyed as a public park. The Clonalis Library, containing some 7000 volumes, is widely considered to be one of the best collections in private ownership in Ireland. TOURS Visitors can also experience a rich history with a personal guided tour of this historic home from June 21st to August 31st , Monday to Saturday. Tours must be pre-booked online on www.clonalishouse.com On a personal guided tour, visitors will get an insight into a long and storied past of one of Ireland oldest families and most historic homes. Step back in time and explore the history of one of Ireland’s oldest families who include 12 High Kings of Ireland and 23 Kings of Connacht in their past. Visitors can experience a rich heritage and history at Clonalis with correspondence, historical documents, heirlooms, objet d’art, the harp of Turlough O’Carolan (the famous blind harpist), the inauguration stone of the O’Conor Kings and family portraits which all play an integral part in the telling of the O’Conor family’s story. The magnificent Clonalis Library, containing some 7000 volumes, is widely considered to be one of the best collections in private ownership in Ireland. Listen to the audio below for a more in-depth history of Clonalis.