Ireland’s Blue Book has officially announced the two new additions to the Blue Book collection, to be included in the 46th edition of Ireland’s Blue Book. Included this year is a wonderful boutique townhouse in Dublin city centre and a Limerick castle with a fascinating history.
Introducing The Wilder Townhouse and Glin Castle...
Glin Castle, Co. Limerick
Glin Castle is a historic Irish castle situated along the River Shannon in Glin, County Limerick. The castle and land have been in the FitzGerald family for over 700 years after the FitzGeralds settled in Glin after the Norman invasion of Ireland during the 13th century.
In the 14th century, the Earl of Desmond made hereditary knights of three sons, creating the White Knight, the Green Knight of Kerry and the Black Knight of Glin. Through the following seven centuries, 29 descendants have held the title, including several colourful characters, such as “Cracked Jack”, the 26th knight, who used to ride his horse up the flying staircase to bed.
Nowadays, Glin Castle is owned by Catherine FitzGerald and her husband Dominic West. The castle now operates as a private rental property, offering a luxurious accommodation option for groups. The castle is perfect for small, elegant weddings, golf tours and private family parties.
The present castle, which succeeds the original medieval castle, was built in the 1800s with entertaining in mind. Now owned by Catherine FitzGerald and her husband Dominic West, the castle can be rented on an exclusive basis and is perfect for small, bespoke weddings, golf groups and private family parties.
The castle is packed with interesting artefacts, heirlooms and antiques and family portraits line the walls. Quirky additions such as a secret door hidden behind a bookcase, and numerous inscriptions of the FitzGerald war cry “Shanid Abu!” can be found throughout the house. There are 15 large and beautiful ensuite bedrooms, furnished with four-poster beds, chaise longues and colourful upholstery. There are wonderful drawing rooms, a dining room, a large commercial kitchen as well as a smaller family kitchen, making the property perfect for entertaining groups small and large.
There are 15 acres of pleasure grounds to explore, and afterwards, the cosy sitting room complete with real fireplace is the perfect place to warm up.
The Wilder Townhouse - Dublin
The Wilder is a stunning red brick townhouse in Dublin city, located on Adelaide road, just far enough from the centre of the city to be quiet and peaceful, but still only ten minutes from the city’s main attractions, shopping area, 
bars and restaurants.
Chic and quirky, the Wilder Townhouse is bursting with personality with beautiful interior design. Patterned wallpaper contrasts beautifully with velvet-upholstered armchairs in rich blocks of colour and playful decorations adorn the walls and rooms, such as dressmakers mannequins, statues and eclectic prints on the walls. These sit alongside beautifully restored and maintained original fireplaces and tiling.
The Gin and Tea Rooms are Art Deco-inspired, with an original mosaic tiled floor, French glass lights, a walnut bar with a marble top, original art and deep, rich colours throughout. An elegant place to enjoy a pre-dinner premium gin and tonic before an evening out in Dublin. The Garden Room is a beautiful light-filled space, where guests can enjoy breakfast each morning, and light bites in the evening.
The townhouse is close to many of the main attractions of Dublin such as Trinity College and Dublin Castle, as well one of Dublin's main shopping areas and there are several lovely city parks nearby, including St. Stephen's Green and Merrion Square.
The Wilder has 42 bedrooms of various sizes, from the practical, cosy Shoebox rooms, perfect for a short break or solo trip, to the larger Popular Rooms and Suites. All rooms have ensuite bathrooms with indulgent rainforest showers. It is the perfect choice for a romantic city break, business stopover, or for exploring the city.