Charleville Castle on the edge of Tullamore in Offaly is deserving of a page to itself. This imposing Castle which lies off the beaten track is described as a " Neo Gothic Revival" style Castle.
Built sometime between 1800 and 1815 it was designed by Francis Johnston for Charles William Bury who subsequently became the Earl of Charleville.
At the time of my visits in 2018 and 2019 Charleville Castle was being maintained and restored by the Charleville Castle Heritage Trust. There is an interesting back story to the building and a convoluted history centered around its present status and ownership.
Entrance to the Castle is along a rutted forest road through Oak woodland. Cars can traverse this easily but bicycles should have good tough wheels, no Carbon fibre.
The building boasts a Fairytale exterior with its looming asymmetric towers and huge entrance door. It seems as if no expense was spared on its original construction.
The building fell into disrepair during the 1900's until it was leased sometime in the 1970's when restoration and conservation began.
Realistically Charleville Castle should be a Premier visitor attraction in Tullamore and Offaly however due to its present contested ownership and status, it appears that it is only through the stewardship and work of the Charleville Castle Heritage Trust that the building has been thankfully saved for posterity and the enjoyment of the general public.
Tours are run daily for a small fee however I would advise phoning first in advance as it is run by a volunteer workforce and the present leaseholder.
Awaiting the visitor inside is a veritable cornucopia of rooms and architectural riches, simply amazing. One of the wonderful attributes of the Castle is that it has not been over restored so you get a feel for the age of the building itself.
From ornate stucco ceilings to stunning wooden staircases the interior is a delight to Tour and very atmospheric, you feel like you are in a genuine old Castle.
The architect behind its layout, Francis Johnston, was also responsible for the General Post Office and the Chapel Royal in Dublin among a host of other famous buildings.
The Castle has been used as a set for filming many times and is reputedly haunted however I can't say I noticed any spectral presence (thankfully) during my visit.
The World Heavyweight Champion Floyd Patterson has been a visitor to Charleville though I'll leave the story of Floyd to the Tour Guide on site.
Unfortunately the nearby stable block and attached buildings were not covered under the original lease and as such are beyond the control of Charleville Castle Heritage Trust at present.
It seems as though whoever owns them is doing as little as possible to secure them from erosion or further damage from the elements which is a great pity.
Near the entrance to the Castle lie's an Oak Tree reputed to be over 400 years old, The King Oak.
Needless to say a visit or stop in Tullamore should suffice as an excuse for anyone wishing to visit the hidden treasure that is Charleville Castle.
It is a masterpiece.