Glenveagh Castle & Glenveagh National Park
Like Kylemore Abbey, the handsome neo-Gothic castle at Glenveagh owes its appearance to Victorian romantic imagination rather than medieval origins. The castle is surrounded with stunning gardens that contrast beautifully with the rugged natural setting. The castle was designed by architect John Townsend Trench and built between 1867 and 1873 for John George Adair. He was known as a ruthless landlord, who perpetrated the Derryveagh Evictions, one of the most notorious evictions of the 19th century. Adair expelled nearly 250 tenants from his land, regarding their poverty as a blight on his landscape. This knowledge of their harsh origins lends an underscoring of tragedy and poignancy to the beauty of Glenveagh and the castle grounds.
In 1938 Glenveagh was purchased by Henry Plumer McIlhenny of Philadelphia. McIlhenny was the grandson of an Irish immigrant who had become wealthy through his ingenious invention of the gas meter. McIlhenny served in the American Navy during World War II, after which he used the castle as a second home. Many famous stars holidayed in Glenveagh Castle at this time, including Charlie Chaplin, Clark Gable and Greta Garbo. McIlhenny gifted Glenveagh Castle and gardens to the Irish State in 1979, while retaining the right to live there for his lifetime. He had previously sold the bulk of the estate lands to the Irish state in 1974–75, facilitating the creation of Glenveagh National Park, the second largest national park in Ireland. The park is comprised of over 16,000 hectares, where rugged hills run down to clear lakes surrounded by the woodland homes of red deer and golden eages. The estate also includes the two highest mountains in Donegal, Errigal and Slieve Sneacht. Today visitors can enjoy the visitor centre, the castle and gardens, as well as number of walking trails.
Nearby, on the road between Falcarragh and Kilmacrenan, a small bridge known as the ‘Bridge of Tears’ also bears testament to challenging periods in Donegal’s history. Here, many bid farewell to their loved ones as they began their long journey to the United States, Australia or elsewhere across the waves. Many would never return home, and here in the majestic surrounds of Glenveagh, they said goodbye not only to their families, but a way of life that was slowly disappearing . Close to the bridge, a stone bears the inscription in Irish: ‘Friends and relations of the person emigrating would come this far. Here they parted. This spot is the Bridge of Tears.’.
For practical information about visiting this site Click Here
Like Kylemore Abbey, the handsome neo-Gothic castle at Glenveagh owes its appearance to Victorian romantic imagination rather than medieval origins. The castle is surrounded with stunning gardens that contrast beautifully with the rugged natural setting. The castle was designed by architect John Townsend Trench and built between 1867 and 1873 for John George Adair. He was known as a ruthless landlord, who perpetrated the Derryveagh Evictions, one of the most notorious evictions of the 19th century. Adair expelled nearly 250 tenants from his land, regarding their poverty as a blight on his landscape. This knowledge of their harsh origins lends an underscoring of tragedy and poignancy to the beauty of Glenveagh and the castle grounds.
In 1938 Glenveagh was purchased by Henry Plumer McIlhenny of Philadelphia. McIlhenny was the grandson of an Irish immigrant who had become wealthy through his ingenious invention of the gas meter. McIlhenny served in the American Navy during World War II, after which he used the castle as a second home. Many famous stars holidayed in Glenveagh Castle at this time, including Charlie Chaplin, Clark Gable and Greta Garbo. McIlhenny gifted Glenveagh Castle and gardens to the Irish State in 1979, while retaining the right to live there for his lifetime. He had previously sold the bulk of the estate lands to the Irish state in 1974–75, facilitating the creation of Glenveagh National Park, the second largest national park in Ireland. The park is comprised of over 16,000 hectares, where rugged hills run down to clear lakes surrounded by the woodland homes of red deer and golden eages. The estate also includes the two highest mountains in Donegal, Errigal and Slieve Sneacht. Today visitors can enjoy the visitor centre, the castle and gardens, as well as number of walking trails.
Nearby, on the road between Falcarragh and Kilmacrenan, a small bridge known as the ‘Bridge of Tears’ also bears testament to challenging periods in Donegal’s history. Here, many bid farewell to their loved ones as they began their long journey to the United States, Australia or elsewhere across the waves. Many would never return home, and here in the majestic surrounds of Glenveagh, they said goodbye not only to their families, but a way of life that was slowly disappearing . Close to the bridge, a stone bears the inscription in Irish: ‘Friends and relations of the person emigrating would come this far. Here they parted. This spot is the Bridge of Tears.’.
For practical information about visiting this site Click Here
Glenveagh Castle • Donegal
The Derryveagh Evictions
The 67 stone steps on a pathway through the castle’s grounds • Donegal
Life in the hills of Derryveagh were difficult, as families eked out a living from agricultural activities. Most made a living from cattle and sheep farming, as well as turf cutting. This means of making a living became more difficult after John Adair purchased the land, giving exclusive use of the mountain commonage in the Derryveagh estate. The Derryveagh communities struggled as Adair brought in Scottish sheep farmers to tend to Scottish sheep.
One of those evicted wrote penned the song Cruel John Adair to commemorate the event, as featured in ‘Gleanings from Glendowan, Gartan and Glenveagh’ by Fr. Frank McHugh (2017).
‘For fifty weary years our race tilled the mountain side;
And smoothed Glenveagh’s old rugged paths, and stemmed the Atlantic tide.
Full fifty homes are levelled now and wild cries rend the air.
May fifty thousand curses fall on cruel John Adair.’
Read more on Derryveagh in a series of articles in the Silver Voice by Angela Gallagher.
Glenveagh Castle was built after the evictions, between 1868–1873. The architects are said to have been influenced by Donegal Castle in Donegal Town. Following the death of John Adair, his widow Cornelia contributed to a number of local causes, including the construction of St. Eunan’s Cathedral in Letterkenny, and the erection of a large cross at Lacknacoo, one of the sites that claims to be the birthplace of Colmcille. The placement of a large cross by the Adair family here is especially noteworthy, as there is a tradition that those who have to emigrate sleep on the Leac na Cumha (who’s name translates to something like ‘the flagstone of loneliness‘). Many of those evicted at Derryveagh would have undoubtedly spent a night there as they made their journey to a new life overseas.
The 67 stone steps on a pathway through the castle’s grounds • Donegal
Upper left: the Italianate gardens • Lower left: the rugged beauty of Glenveagh National Park • Right: a path through the walled gardens on the castle grounds
Top: the Italianate gardens • Middle: a path through the walled gardens on the castle grounds • Bottom: the rugged beauty of Glenveagh National Park
Glenveagh Castle & National Park Visitor Information
Set in an area of outstanding natural beauty, Glenveagh Castle offers a wonderful balance of history, architecture, gardens and stunning scenery.