Tullynally Castle

Tullynally Castle, also known as Pakenham Hall, is a prominent Gothic Revival country house located approximately two kilometers from Castlepollard in County Westmeath, Ireland. Originally granted to Captain Henry Pakenham in 1665, the estate has remained the ancestral home of the Pakenham family, now the Earls of Longford, for over 350 years. In the early nineteenth century, the second Earl of Longford extensively remodeled the original seventeenth-century structure into its current castellated form, adding distinctive towers and a moat. This renovation resulted in a residence boasting over 120 rooms, making it the largest privately owned house in Ireland and historically the largest castellated house in the country.

The castle holds significant historical importance due to its connection with notable military figures. It was the birthplace and childhood home of General Sir Edward Pakenham, a senior British Army commander. Furthermore, his sister Kitty was married at the estate to Major-General Sir Arthur Wellesley in 1806; Wellesley later achieved fame as the Duke of Wellington. The property is surrounded by twelve acres of diverse parkland, featuring early nineteenth-century woodland and walled gardens complete with a limestone grotto and ornamental lakes. Modern additions include a Chinese garden with a pagoda and a Tibetan garden characterized by waterfalls and streams.

Today, Tullynally Castle remains in excellent condition under the stewardship of the eighth Earl of Longford. While it serves as a private family residence, the extensive grounds and gardens are open to the public from April through September. The site is easily accessible, situated just off the Granard road, roughly twenty kilometers from Mullingar and eighty kilometers from Dublin. As a unique blend of architectural grandeur and horticultural beauty, the castle stands as a enduring testament to the Pakenham family's long-standing heritage in the Irish Midlands.