Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Farmleigh. Photo by
William Murphy
This is an official Irish State guest house which was formerly one of the Dublin residences
of the Guinness family. Situated in an elevated position above the River Liffey, the estate
spans 78 acres of expensive private gardens with stands of mature cypress, pine and oak
trees, a boating pond, walled garden, sunken garden, out offices and a herd of the rare Kerry
cattle.
Built in the late 18th century, Farmleigh was purchased by Edward Cecil Guinness, a great-
grandson of Arthur Guinness, in 1873. The house contains many beautiful features includ-
ing the Main House area (a fine example of Georgian-Victorian architecture), the Sunken
Garden, the Walled Garden, the famous Clock Tower and the Lake and The Benjamin
Iveagh Library. The library holds some of the finest examples of Irish bookbinding from
the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. The collection was donated to Marsh's Library by the
Guinness family.
Additional Information:
Phoenix Park
Dublin 15, Ireland
