# Knockdrin Castle

- **Country:** Ireland
- **Coordinates:** 53.573611, -7.315000
- **Notes:** In 1810, Sir Richard Levinge commissioned Sir Richard Morrison for two designs of a private residence. However, it is believed that a design from noted contemporary architect James Shiel was the one used to construct the house.
- **Year Built:** c. 1815
- **Castle Type:** Mansion
- **Location Text:** Mullingar

Knockdrin Castle is situated in the townland of Knockdrin, located approximately 5.6 kilometers northeast of Mullingar in County Westmeath, Ireland. Accessible via the R394 regional road that connects Mullingar to Castlepollard, the estate derives its name from the Irish Cnoc Droinne, meaning hill of Drin. The property also encompasses Lough Drin, a small lake, and was historically known by the Irish name Muine Liath, translating to grey thicket. Today, the grounds serve as the home of the Westmeath Hunt, maintaining a strong connection to local equestrian traditions.

The current structure is primarily an early nineteenth-century neo-Gothic building, completed around 1820 for Sir Richard Levinge, the 6th Baronet. While some sources attribute the design to architect Richard Morrison, the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage describes it as one of the finest picturesque castellated country houses built in Ireland during the first half of the nineteenth century. The castle retains much of its original character, form, and fabric. Notably, the site incorporates significant historical layers, including outbuildings that contain the remains of a late medieval tower house constructed circa 1550, as well as elements of an earlier eighteenth-century house known as High Park.

Recognized for its architectural merit in guides such as The Buildings of Ireland, Knockdrin Castle stands as a prominent example of Irish country house architecture. The estate has seen various ownerships over the centuries, including a notable period under the presidency of Dublin City University's former leader before being placed on the market in recent years. Despite changes in ownership, the castle remains a significant landmark in North Leinster, preserving a unique blend of medieval ruins and nineteenth-century grandeur within its extensive grounds.

![Photo of Knockdrin Castle](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/00/Chateau_Knockdrin_MULLINGAR.jpg)

**Source:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knockdrin (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)