Barberstown Castle, Medieval castle and hotel in Straffan, Ireland
Barberstown Castle is a medieval stone keep and hotel located near the village of Straffan in County Kildare. The building has grown over the centuries with Victorian and Elizabethan additions attached to the original tower, giving it a layered appearance.
The keep was built in 1288 by Nicholas Barby on lands belonging to the Fitzgerald family. It changed hands many times over the following centuries, with Hugh Barton taking ownership in the 1830s and adding to the structure.
The castle is widely remembered as the home of Eric Clapton between 1979 and 1987, when it became a gathering place for musicians. The Green Room, still part of the property today, is where artists would come together to play.
The castle is located west of Dublin and is most easily reached by car, with the drive taking under an hour. Guests can choose from different types of rooms and lodges spread across the grounds.
During renovation work in 1996, workers uncovered an underground tunnel connecting the castle to the nearby church in Straffan. The passage is thought to date from the Penal Laws era, when Catholics had to practice their faith in secret.
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