Sister's Choice Quilts

My interests are quilting, reading, cooking, family, decorating, and matters of style. I post regular quilting tutorials and book reviews of current fiction.

Huntington Castle

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This weekend we drove out to Clonegal in County Carlow and visited Huntington Castle. As Irish castles go, I have seen more impressive.  There is no large National Trust behind this estate paying the bills. The descendants of the original family who have owned the castle for hundreds of years still live in it and try to keep it going by holding tours and weddings and so forth.  I give them credit for that but I found the place kind of creepy.  The place was built in 1625 so you can imagine there is some upkeep.  The grounds were highly touted but I found them to be rather unkempt.  The budget only goes so far I guess.

In the 1930s a couple of the family members decided to invent their own religion.  Down in the basement next to the little dungeon, they have made a religious practicing area where the worshipers still gather to this day. They worship the goddess Isis and all things feminine. The owners of the castle supposedly are devout followers of the occult and there are many stories of ghostly visits and other unexplained phenomena.

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Here is a photo from the internet showing founder and high priestess Olivia Robertson (on the left in red).  The man on the right in the special head dress is her brother and co-founder Lawrence.  Evidently Olivia passed away just a few years ago at the age of 96.

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Another picture from the internet, of the alter down in the basement.   Interesting as this all may be, it just wasn’t my cup of tea.  I got a weird feeling being in the place and did not care for it. I am definitely in the minority though.  Check out the reviews on Trip Advisor.  Most folks seem to find it far more enjoyable than I did.

12 responses to “Huntington Castle”

  1. This was news to me but then I’m not up on Irish castles! I imagine it was interesting although a bit creepy. Am glad you’re in Ireland again!
    Hugs!

  2. This was news to me but then I’m not up on Irish castles! I imagine it was interesting although a bit creepy. Am glad you’re in Ireland again!
    Hugs!

  3. This was news to me but then I’m not up on Irish castles! I imagine it was interesting although a bit creepy. Am glad you’re in Ireland again!
    Hugs!

  4. INteresting but I understand your reservations about the place from your picture inside and story. Enjoy your time!
    Mary

  5. INteresting but I understand your reservations about the place from your picture inside and story. Enjoy your time!
    Mary

  6. INteresting but I understand your reservations about the place from your picture inside and story. Enjoy your time!
    Mary

  7. You lost me at ‘down in the basement next to the little dungeon’. I give you credit for staying long enough to see the basement! I’d be waiting for the group outside somewhere…preferably in the vehicle with the motor running!!!

  8. You lost me at ‘down in the basement next to the little dungeon’. I give you credit for staying long enough to see the basement! I’d be waiting for the group outside somewhere…preferably in the vehicle with the motor running!!!

  9. You lost me at ‘down in the basement next to the little dungeon’. I give you credit for staying long enough to see the basement! I’d be waiting for the group outside somewhere…preferably in the vehicle with the motor running!!!