Farmleigh: Park life in a baron's retreat
From slightly more humble beginnings as a smaller 18th century Georgian home, the opulent Farmleigh came into its own as a restyled estate of the Guinness family for over a century.
Renovated in the 1880s for the first Baron Iveagh by Irish architect James Fuller, the Farmleigh estate expanded to three floors. Outside, new gardens, including boating pond, sunken garden and even cattle grazing areas, and outlying glass houses rose up – all situated within the Phoenix park, overlooking the river Liffey. The construction was just the first phase for the wealthy baron's estate, with later additions of ballrooms, conservatory and even more landscaped gardens to come in the following years.
In 1999, state body The Office of Public Works acquired Farmleigh with plans to renovate the property again, this time to create a guest house for visiting heads of state. Since completing €23 million in repairs and upgrades to the estate, the Irish government has welcomed prime ministers, heads of state, US presidents and other foreign dignitaries during their visits to Ireland.
In 2001 Farmleigh opened as a public attraction, offering tours of the property's outstanding Victorian gardens, extensive collections of artifacts on loan from the Benjamin Iveagh collection, plus the working farm – replete with a herd of cows!
On spring and summer weekends the estate's farmers market welcomes visitors looking for fresh, organic and homemade goods. Along with concerts, shows and other outdoor events, Farmleigh is an excellent way to experience the elegance of Dublin's past along with the best of the city's modern fare.
Posted by Bridget Reilly
