History of Malahide Castle
 Malahide Castle is very unique in Ireland because
the Talbot family managed to keep control of the castle for
791 years. The Talbot family began their reign in 1185 and
ended in 1976 despite a short interlude, 1649 to 1660, while
Cromwell marched through Ireland. The lands and harbor of
Malahide were granted to Richard Talbot in 1185, one of the
knights who arrived in Ireland with Henry II in 1174. According
to Burke's Peerage, Richard Talbot or de Talbot was the common
ancestor of the Lords of Malahide and of the Earls of Shrewsbury.
The history of the Talbot family is recorded in the Great
Hall,where portraits of generations of the family tell their
own story of Ireland's stormy history. Many additions and
alterations have been made to this romantic and beautiful
structure, but the contours of the surrounding parklands
have changed little in 800 years,retaining a sense of the
past. Malahide Castle is operated by Dublin Tourism Attractions
in conjunction with Fingal County Council. The hall
of the castle is one of the purest specimens of Norman architecture
but it is not known whether it dates from the reign of Henry
IV or from that of Edward IV when the original building was
considerably enlarged and embellished. The circular towers
flanking the facade were added in 1765.
 At the heart of the medieval castle is the Oak Room, approached
by a winding stone staircase and lit by Gothic windows added
in 1820 when the room was enlarged and the front hall below
was created. The room is lined with carved oak from floor
to ceiling, representing scriptural subjects, now black with
age and polishing. Some of the carving is of Flemish origin,
including six panels representing biblical scenes opposite
the window; their religious theme suggests that the Talbots,
who remained Roman Catholics until 1774, used this room as
a chapel in penal times. Over the mantelpiece is a fine representation
of the coronation of the Blessed Virgin which according to
tradition disappeared when Cromwell seized the Castle and
miraculously sprang back to it's place when the Talbots were
reinstated.
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