Barberstown Castle

Barberstown Castle stands in Straffan, County Kildare, around 25 kilometres west of Dublin. The castle’s origins are dated to approximately 1288, when Nicholas Barby built it on land that had originally belonged to the Fitzgerald family. The property later became part of the changing pattern of landholding and political authority in Ireland. In 1630, it was owned by William Sutton, a member of one of the area’s leading families. Following the accession of James II, the castle was confiscated in 1689 from Lord Kingston by the Earl of Tyrconnell. It subsequently came under the authority of the Commissioners of the Revenue, who leased it to Roger Kelly late in the seventeenth century. At the end of that century the property passed through several owners. Bartholomew Vanhomrigh acquired it in 1703 for £1,033 together with approximately 335 acres of land. Vanhomrigh had served as Lord Mayor of Dublin in 1697 and was the father of Esther Vanhomrigh, known as Vanessa and associated with Jonathan Swift. Vanhomrigh later sold the property to the Henry family. Financial pressure led the Henrys to sell it to Hugh Barton, a member of the family connected with the Barton and Guestier wine business. During the nineteenth century, Barton added the final wing of the house, dating to the 1830s. He also constructed Straffan House, now known as the location associated with the K Club. These changes contributed to the country-house form and architectural character that remain central to Barberstown Castle’s identity. During the twentieth century, the property was sold by the Huddleston family to Norah Devlin. Devlin converted the castle into a hotel in 1971, beginning its modern commercial life as a hospitality property. The conversion changed Barberstown from a private historic residence into a destination for paying guests while retaining the building’s castle character. Eric Clapton purchased Barberstown Castle in 1979. His ownership added a high-profile chapter to the property’s modern history, although the supplied material does not describe a specific development programme associated with his tenure. In 1987, Clapton sold the property to Ken Healy. Healy is identified as the current owner in the available account and is said to reside at the property. Under his ownership, the hotel was extensively renovated and enlarged. The former 10-bedroom guesthouse, which had only three bathrooms, was transformed into a 59-bedroom four-star hotel. A major renovation in 1996 uncovered a tunnel that had not previously been known to the modern owners or operators. The tunnel connects the castle with the nearby church in Straffan and is thought to have been used during the Penal Laws, a period when restrictions affected Catholic religious practice in Ireland. Its discovery strengthened the site’s heritage significance and gave the hotel a distinctive historical feature beyond the visible architecture. The property is surrounded by approximately 20 acres of gardens. These grounds, together with the castle structure, its later wings, its ownership history, and its location near Dublin, form the basis of the Barberstown Castle hospitality proposition. The available material presents the brand as an operating hotel and heritage venue rather than as part of a named hotel chain or diversified corporate group.

• 1996

  Renovation and tunnel discovery

  [1]Barberstown Castleen.wikipedia.org

  Renovation work revealed a tunnel connecting the castle with the nearby church in Straffan; it is thought to date from the period of the Penal Laws.

• 1987

  Change of ownership

  [1]Barberstown Castleen.wikipedia.org

  Eric Clapton sold Barberstown Castle to Ken Healy.

• 1979

  Eric Clapton acquisition

  [1]Barberstown Castleen.wikipedia.org

  Musician Eric Clapton purchased the property.

• 1971

  Conversion into a hotel

  [1]Barberstown Castleen.wikipedia.org

  Norah Devlin converted Barberstown Castle into a hotel, beginning its modern hospitality operation.

• 1830

  Nineteenth-century expansion

  [1]Barberstown Castleen.wikipedia.org

  Hugh Barton added the last wing of the house during the 1830s, contributing to the property’s later country-house form.

• 1703

  Vanhomrigh acquisition

  [1]Barberstown Castleen.wikipedia.org

  Bartholomew Vanhomrigh acquired the castle and approximately 335 acres for £1,033.

• 1689

  Confiscation and administrative transfer

  [1]Barberstown Castleen.wikipedia.org

  The property was confiscated from Lord Kingston and subsequently came under the Commissioners of the Revenue.

• 1630

  Sutton ownership

  [1]Barberstown Castleen.wikipedia.org

  William Sutton, from a prominent local family, is recorded as the owner of the property.

• Castle construction

  [1]Barberstown Castleen.wikipedia.org

  Nicholas Barby is traditionally credited with building Barberstown Castle on land originally associated with the Fitzgerald family.

An independent Irish heritage hotel positioned around medieval architecture, country-estate atmosphere, gardens, and proximity to Dublin.

• Hospitality · 1971

  Castle hotel accommodation

  The core offering is overnight accommodation within a historic castle property. The hotel developed from a small guesthouse into a 59-bedroom four-star operation after renovation and expansion under Ken Healy’s ownership. The accommodation proposition is centered on the atmosphere and architecture of the castle rather than on a standardized chain format.

• Heritage experience

  Historic estate and gardens

  Barberstown Castle is set within approximately 20 acres of gardens. The grounds and historic fabric of the property form part of the guest experience and support its identity as a country-estate destination near Dublin.

• Events and venue services

  Private events and celebrations

  The castle’s scale, historic setting, and hotel facilities make it suitable for private functions and celebrations. The supplied reference material does not specify the current event packages, capacities, or exact service range.

• 1996

  Heritage renovation and tunnel discoveryOther

  Background

  Renovation was undertaken as part of the continued development and preservation of the hotel property.

  Action taken

  Restoration work uncovered a previously unknown tunnel linking the castle to the nearby church in Straffan.

  Aftermath

  The discovery added a notable archaeological and historical feature to the property’s heritage narrative.

  Source

• 1971

  Conversion from private property to hotelStrategy

  Background

  The castle had historically functioned as a private estate and residence before its twentieth-century conversion.

  Action taken

  Norah Devlin converted Barberstown Castle into a hotel, creating its modern hospitality business.

  Aftermath

  The property began operating as a destination accommodation venue and later expanded into a larger four-star hotel.

  Source

1. 1Barberstown Castleen.wikipedia.org