Historic Family Home Tours

31/10/2023

Halloween Special on Limerick's Live 95fm Radio from Castlegarde Castle

31/10/2023

Halloween Special from Castlegarde Castle

Listen to Halloween Special - Seance in County Limerick Castle from Live95 Limerick Today Podcasts. Samhain... time of year when the veils between this world and the Otherworld are believed to be at their thinnest… when the spirits of the dead could mingle with the living once again.So Live 95’s...

04/08/2023

National Heritage Week 12th-20th August 2023, 10:30am - 5:00pm

David, Philippa and Kate, the enthusiastic owners of three stunning heritage houses on the Limerick/Tipperary border, have joined forces to create their unique Historic Family Homes tour.

Built 800 years ago, Castlegarde is Ireland's oldest continually inhabited castle, while Lismacue and Grenane have both been in the hands of the same families since the very early 1700s. A very special way to spend an entire day of Heritage Week!

Booking is essential.

The houses may also be visited individually.
For further details, please go to: www.hfhtours.ie

Castlegarde, Lismacue and Grenane are all proud members of Historic Houses of Ireland.

Further Information
Historic Family Homes

Tel: (062) 52484 / (062) 54106 / (061) 381435 Email: [email protected]

Booking Link: https://www.hfhtours.ie/book-now/

02/08/2022

PRESS RELEASE: Launch of Historic Family Home Tours

Historic Family Home owners make History come Alive

Ireland's unique Historic Family Homes tour was launched on Tuesday 12th July 2022. The tour covers over eight centuries of history and heritage, within these historic homes in East Limerick and South Tipperary.

The unique historic event started at Castlegarde Castle, Cappamore. This haunted Castle, was built in the 1190s by the King of Thomond, Donal Mor O'Brien. Later, the extension was added by Waller O'Grady using the well-known architects, the Pain Brothers in the 1820s. The owner, David Thompson made history come alive as he lead the tour through the nine centuries of activity at Castlegarde, referring to numerous points of interest including the murder hole, the Guard tower, and the ghost, while his wife Hazel served coffee and homemade scones.

The second home visited was Grenane House in Tipperary. Grenane has been continuously lived in by the Mansergh family since it was built in 1700. The visitors toured the Listed house and gardens, which took in both the architectural features of the house as well as a modified history of the family. The rooms shown, included the wonderfully hand painted mural of the playroom featuring The Mice of Brambley Hedge. In the gardens, the group was shown the shrubbery with its many and varied rare plants, trees and shrubs, as well as the only hazel nut walk in the country in the walled garden, dating from 1845.

The final visit was to Lismacue House. This property was purchased in 1704 by the ancestor of the current owner. The present house was completed in 1813 by William Baker to the design of the well known Kilkenny architect William Robertson. The tour included a short history of the property visiting the drawing room, with original wallpaper and details, the dining room and inner hall, leaving many stories and features for the full tour. The tour concluded with a light lunch and lively discussion.

Historic Family Home Tours (HFHTours) was formed to provide a unique experience for groups interested in family homes and their local history. The owners are the guides for the tour of their own home, so visitors can avail of their in-depth knowledge of each property, and stories associated with their home. Morning coffee and scones, light lunch and afternoon tea are provided on the day tour. This is best suited to groups of 10 to 25 visitors. Smaller groups available on request. Information is set out on a leaflet with further details and booking facilities on the website: www.hfhtours.ie

“We were delighted to be able to sample this tour of three incredible homes, and to see first-hand what makes Ireland’s historic houses such a critical part of Ireland's heritage. In one day, we traversed a thousand years of history, toured three homes steeped in stories, and explored sustainable, bio-diverse and utterly unique gardens. All of this and delicious food!

What will most endear tour guests, however, is each owner’s warm welcome, deep knowledge, and infectious passion for the properties in their care.”
- Jonathan Manning, CEO, Historic Houses of Ireland

23/05/2022

View our new brochure below or download it at: https://www.hfhtours.ie/download-brochure/

19/05/2022

LISMACUE HOUSE
Bansha, Co. Tipperary, E34 KT67

With magnificent views of the Galtee Mountains, Lismacue House is a classically proportioned picturesque Georgian Home set amid a 200 acre estate. It has been family owned and occupied since 1704. Lismacue House boasts gorgeous and unique plasterwork with high ceilings and original wallpaper from 1813.

Overview

The property was purchased in 1704 by William Baker, ancestor of the present owner, Kate Nicholson. The family had resided near Lattin to the west of Tipperary. The present house was completed in 1813, to the design of architect William Robertson of Kilkenny. There are no remains of the original house though there is evidence of payment of a Hearth tax in the amount of 10/- at a rate of 2/- per chimney!

Brief History

The Baker family have lived continuously at Lismacue since 1705. A stud farm was established by Allen Baker, who was also the first veterinary surgeon to qualify from the Veterinary College of Ireland in 1904. His son William continued this tradition until his death in 1977. Kate Nicholson, nee Baker, then inherited the property and in 1984 started to open the house to guests.

Main Features

Lismacue is a listed property with many interesting features. Two of the main reception rooms have their original wallpaper dating from 1813. There is also extensive ornate plasterwork of the ceilings and some of the walls. There are stunning views of the Galtee Mountains to the south, the Comeraghs and Sliabhnamon to the south east. An attractive river, with good trout fishing runs through the property.
There are many interesting tales of the house and family which will be shared with you on your tour of the house.

19/05/2022

GRENANE HOUSE
Tipperary Town, E34 EP22

Grenane House is a breathtaking Georgian home set amid 300 acres where the family has resided since the early 17th century. Enjoy a stroll through Victorian walled gardens and feast your eyes on a childrens’ play room that will make you feel as though you’ve turned the page into your very own storybook.

Overview

The name Mansergh, of Viking origin was first mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1066. A branch of the family came to Ireland where they leased the lands of Grenane from the Duke of Ormande, eventually buying the 2,000 acres in 1704. Grenane House was built in 1700 from the stone of the Castle where they had been living, and of which nothing remains. Originally 3 stories high, the third storey was removed in 1740 and the west wing built. The architect is unknown.

Brief History

Nicholas Southcote married Eleanor Mansergh daughter of Captain James Mansergh of Macroney Castle, Co: Cork in 1685. He was the last surviving male member of the Southcote family and to this day many of the family have Southcote added to their names in his memory. The Mansergh family have continuously lived in Grenane House from 1700 to the present day, making it one of the oldest lived in houses by the same family in Ireland. The lands of Grenane are now comprise 350 acres set in the Golden Vale, and it is a stud farm run by the present owner’s two sons.

Main Features

Grenane House and gardens are Listed, and among the many features to note in the house are that all the plasterwork is unaltered since it was built. The front windows are by James Wyatt and there are mantelpieces by both James Adam and Bossi. Among the more modern touches featured, are a spectacular playroom completely hand painted by Marion McDonnell of Tipperary depicting “The Mice of Brambley Hedge” – a children (and adult!) wonder! Grenane House faces due South with wonderful views of the Galtee Mountains which includes the peak – Grenane from which the house takes it’s name.

19/05/2022

CASTLEGARDE CASTLE
Cappamore, Co. Limerick, V94 E2FF

Whilst enjoying the scenery amidst the heart of the Golden Vale, you will tour 12th century Castlegarde, the oldest continually inhabited haunted castle in Ireland. With it’s 1820’s extension architecture by the famed Pain brothers, watched by obscure stone effigies and haunted by the mysterious lady in silk, Castlegarde is just begging to be explored!

Overview

Castlegarde was built in the 1190’s by Donal Mor O’Brien King of Thomond helped by Aoifa, his sister – in – law Strongbow’s wife. It is a 5 story Tower House with its own well. It was easily defended which was necessary to keep his family safe, built on a rare outcrop of Crimon rock, surrounded by a moat and protected by a bawn wall.
Waller O’Grady purchased Castlegarde in 1820 from the revenue. He added a beautiful gothic style 3 story extension on the east side of the tower designed by the famous Pain brothers, castellated the bawn wall, rebuilt the guard tower , built a walled-in garden and back yard while closing off the Moat. It is restored to preserve it as it was in 1820.

Brief History

Over 800 years of Castlegarde history would fill a book. Briefly, the O’Brien family lived in Castlegarde until it was confiscated by Queen Elizabeth 1st and given with a lot of land to Captain Bouchier in 1585. The family left Ireland in 1637 becoming Earl of Bath, leasing Castlegarde to the Bailey family. It was inherited by Rachel Fane in 1654, This family sold it to Marmaduke Coghill (Dublin) in 1735. He willed it to the Barron of Offaly as a marriage settlement for his niece. He got possession in 1738. The barron then became the first Earl of Charliville and died in 1764. The ownership from this to it being taken over by the revenue and the Bailey family moving out is being researched. The revenue sold it to Waller O.’Grady in 1820. Two generations later Hugh Hamon Massy O’Grady became the 7th Viscount Guillamore. He died in 1930 leaving it to his wife the Viscountess Mary who died in the same year leaving it to her nephew Hugh Edward Thompson. He introduced electricity and running water and left it to his son David in 1998. David with his wife Hazel have done a lot of restoration work and are your hosts when you visit on tour.

Main Features

This unique listed historic family home is the oldest continually inhabited castle in Ireland, situated on a 300 acre working dairy farm facing south towards the Galtee mountains. It has 3 Cut stone figures of gods over the entrance with Brian Boru over the front door. Inside the extension blends into the tower which is part of the living quarters and it has gargoyles on the Gallery ceiling. It has it’s own ghost “The Lady in Silk” who won’t be seen. but you can view the Murder Hole where she may have ended her earthly life. See the Crimon rock foundation of the tower 15 feet above ground. See the gods, the bawn, the magnificent tower and extension the moat position and inside the panelling, the gargoyles and so much more, while listening to the historic action stories told by David in the atmosphere on the actual site. It will make “History come alive” for you!

10/05/2022

10/05/2022

10/05/2022

Experience the atmosphere while discovering some of Ireland’s rich historic home & castle history like never before. You will be warmly welcomed into these three landmark homes complete with a guided tour and refreshments by the owners.
1. Castlegarde Castle, 2. Grenane House & 3. Lismacue House.
Make history come alive!
Please visit our new website: www.hfhtours.ie for more details.

Whilst enjoying the scenery amidst the heart of the Golden Vale, you will tour 12th century Castlegarde, the oldest continually inhabited haunted castle in Ireland. With it’s 1820’s extension architecture by the famed Pain brothers, watched by obscure stone effigies and haunted by the mysterious...