The entire town was built around the beautiful castle, lying on the banks of a river, and has plenty of intriguing history to absorb
The gardens have been described as ‘gorgeous’ by visitors
Sitting quietly within County Waterford in Ireland is this picture-perfect town, with a huge castle and blossoming gardens making for a tranquil day trip.
Along the banks of the River Blackwater in the northwest corner of the county you’ll find Lismore, an unassuming village with plenty of stories to be told.
While it remains a quaint space, with just over 1300 residents, it is overruled by a spectacular castle, cathedral and a number of other historic buildings.
Castle
The very first castle to belong on this impressive site was built in 1185, on the edge of the water with a very overpowering presence on the land that lies below.
Although it has since been replaced twice, and most of what we see today was rebuilt in the Gothic style during the 19th century.
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Originally it belonged to the Earls of Desmond, followed by the Earls of Cork, and later on in 1753 passed over to the Cavendish family.
Today, it is in the hands of the Duke of Devonshire as their Irish home, occupied by Lord and Lady Burlington, his son and daughter-in-law of the 12th Duke.
While part of the home is of use for the family, and the castle is not open for the public to tour, they do offer a private stay experience.
A ‘luxury venue’ within the castle is open to hire for eight to 12 guests to stay and up to 27 people to accommodate for a private gathering or event.
The town sits in County Waterford
Gardens
While the castle is closed off, what is open for the public to wander is all 10 acres of Lismore Castle Gardens, along with its art gallery and café on site.
Gardening enthusiasts and those who simply love to meander around a beautiful spot the grounds are all nestled within the 17th-century defensive walls of the castle.
It’s believed the picturesque grounds are the oldest cultivated gardens in the entire country and are lucky enough to be paired with spectacular views. Within its acres upon acres of land, you can expect to see a wide range of plants and trees, all well-handled by the gardening team, and a surprise sculpture collection hidden within.
One visitor shared: “Always such a beautiful place to visit. The gardens are well tended to, yet not overly manicured, and the environment and nature seem to be a priority. While I love to go in June when the roses and gardens are in full colour, it has plenty to offer outside of this.”
The surroundings as you drive into the town are beautiful
Places to eat
After some time soaking up the views of the castle and wandering around its grounds, Main Street in Lismore is home to a number of food spot gems. There’s even a restaurant recognised by TripAdvisor reviews as being the top destination for food, lying in the shadow of the extraordinary Lismore Castle.
Foley’s on the Mall continues to wow customers, leaving rave reviews for its old Irish bar atmosphere. One guest shared: “Highly recommended. A super-extensive tapas menu. The quality of the dishes and their presentation was excellent. 5-star service.”
Also up there with locals’ favourites are Lizzie Brien’s Café, Fuller’s Bistro, Rose’s West End Bar and a number of top-rated takeaways. Describing their experience at Fuller’s Bistro as “fabulous”, one diner claimed they couldn’t wait to pay the place another visit.
A customer wrote: “I have to say the food is so awesome, and we really enjoyed it very much. The staff and the owner, Sandra, are so nice and friendly. Truly well worth going there. I would recommend this place to anyone. Can’t wait to visit again.”
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