Malahide town is about a 30 min train ride from Dublin City Centre. It’s an affluent town along the coast with a marina, beach, and charming streets full of shopping stores and cafes. We visited the Malahide Castle and Gardens this past weekend and it was surprisingly better than we expected!
Malahide Castle
A brief history
One family you have to know - The Talbot Family. Malahide became an important port, and control of it gave the Talbots leverage. In the 12th century, Sir Richard de Talbot accompanied King Henry II when the king brought his army over to Ireland to remind those that Ireland was not too far from his reach. When the last Dutch King of Dublin rebelled and was executed, the King gave the knight the land where he started building his castle. His family was given more responsibilities and rose in ranks until the English Civil War. There was a man named Miles Corbet who was a regicide who, long story short, exiled Sir John and Lady Talbot and took up their residence for 11 years until King Charles II sent him fleeing to the Netherlands. The Talbots regained control of the Castle but their power was never fully restored as they lost control of the Malahide port. The Castle is said to be haunted by several figures who lived in the castle - so be sure to keep close to the tour guide and check out the Castle in person!
Here are some pictures
The Gardens
This wonderful 268-acre (109-Hectare) park is what really surprised me, it was beautiful and fun to explore. The garden has a walled garden, a west lawn, a butterfly house, and a fairy trail. The park also has a large children's playground, mature 9-hole par 3 golf course, 18-hole pitch & putt course, sports pitches, tennis courts, cricket pitch, and exercise trail. There’s something for everyone!
Here are some pictures
The Town
Similar to the garden, the town also has something for everyone! According to Enjoy Malahide, shoppers, sports fanatics, day trippers, and holidaymakers can all enjoy the picturesque village which boasts a wide array of retail destinations and services including fashion boutiques, hair and beauty salons, florists, restaurants, cafes, and two small shopping centres. It's a great family day out - with a road train available to take you from the train station, coast, and castle. It's fun for kids and easy for adults to get around.
With the coast at the bottom of the road, be sure to bring your bathing suit! Although, Portmarnock would be best for a beach day. It’s a 40-min walk, 10-minute bus ride, or a 4-minute drive from Malahide.