The more I travel around the world, the less
surprised I am when I find a local connection.
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| Glenveagh Castle in Northern Ireland |
In Northern Ireland we found a connection to my
home state of Texas at Glenveagh National Park and Castle located in the heart
of the Derryveagh Mountains.
During a tour of the Visitor Center, we learned
that John George Adair was born in Ireland but made his fortune at his ranch in
the Palo Duro area in the panhandle of Texas.
As we enjoyed lunch in the outdoor courtyard
listening to two accordion players serenade visitors with local tunes, I
marveled at how small our world seems at times. We sampled a variety of foods,
including delicious desserts, sandwiches, quiches, soups, salads, and rolls,
still made in the original castle kitchen. Best of all, the sunshine made for a
glorious afternoon, perfect for strolling thru the lush landscaping.
Set in the remote wilderness of rugged mountains and pristine lakes in northwest County Donegal, Glenveagh Castle and Gardens have a timeless beauty. It's easy to understand how Adair fell in
love with the property when he first saw it in 1857. After adair married in 1867 he built Glenveagh Castle, inspired
by Balmoral Castle, Queen Victoria’s Scottish summer home, on a promontory out
over the lake.
When he came, there were no trees, just 40,000
acres of open land. Now the estate is
full of pine trees and gardens. Colorful
blooms and green foliage soften the stark lines and gray roughness of the stone
from which the castle was constructed. The local stone was hard to carve, so
that the exterior finish is somewhat rough.
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| Red is a prominent color in the castle decor |
After Adair died in 1885, his widow improved the
grounds, gave parties, and provided employment for local residents. She enjoyed entertaining local people and
sponsored deer hunts on the grounds. The deer theme is central to house décor
and can be found on china and in many paintings. A “leaping deer” design is featured on one of
the 21 different sets of china.
Belgian refugees were housed in 11 bedrooms at the
castle after WWI. Arthur Kingsley Porter
bought the castle in the 1920s, and American university professor HenryMcIlhenny bought the property in 1937.
Fascinated by Irish architecture, he owned Glenveagh till 1983 during
which time he restored the castle and grew Tuscan-style gardens.
Two large eagles guard the entrance to the castle
area. Shell designs on walls; deer heads; many wildlife paintings, some
depicting death; furniture and accessories remain just as when McIlhenny lived
there. Bold red wallpaper and cloth wall coverings hide imperfections in the
walls. 72 vases are all filled with fresh flowers daily from surrounding
gardens.
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| Flowers bloom in the garden |
In 1975 McIlhenny sold the property to the state
as a national park, and it opened in 1994 to the public. During his ownership the estate good records of all the plants grown there were maintained much like a botanic garden. Heritage
plants are preserved in the extensive formal gardens, and many paths wander
through woodland areas with open spaces overlooking a beautiful lake. Purple,
pink, white, and yellow blossoms from ankle level to tree tops provide
natural embellishment--and reminiscences of wonderful southern gardens in the U.S.
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