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Castle Grove House was built by the Grove family in 1695. The
original house, probably a castle, was burned during the Siege
of Derry in 1690. The estate plays through Irish history from
the time of the siege to the 1920s when Daniel O'Connell, known
as Liberator and also The Emancipator, was first convinced to
run for parliament. He won the seat in 1928. General Richard
Montgomery, whose family still lives in the region, was born
in nearby Raphoe and went onto play a prominent part in the
American War of Independence. And the Groves family fed and
educated their tenant families during the Great Famine.
All rooms are en-suite and elegantly decorated with period
antiques. State rooms overlook the gardens and Executive suites
have a few more luxuries, including four-poster beds draped
with wild silk fabric. In-house services include laundry and
pressing, dry cleaning and shoe shining. Private guest parking
available as well as a helicopter pad! The estate overlooks
Lough Swilly, the views of which can be seen from many bedrooms,
as well as the drawing room, guest lounge, library and dining
room.
The gardens are most notable as they are said to have originally
been designed by a celebrity gardener of the time, Lancelot
"Capability" Brown. Brown said he would never design
in Ireland because there were so many opportunities in England.
But even if he just lent his opinion on the design these gardens
this would make for an incredible historical inclusion to his
list of achievements. This walled garden is home to a number
of plants, which includes soft fruit bearing plants, vegetables
and herbs for the kitchen, as well as flowers for cutting for
the house.
Today guests can experience some of this part of Ireland's
history with a stay in Castle Grove House.
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