Castleboro House - An Appearance of a Venetian Palace

Written by Ben Kesp 

This magnificent house situated in Co. Wexford was built in 1770, by Robert Carew, father of Robert who was the 1st Baron Carew, a politician and landowner. When the house was almost destroyed in 1840 by fire with the exception of the west wing, the Carew family had the house rebuilt in a neoclassical style. 

The house is more famously associated with Robert Carew. He was educated at Eton College and Christ Church, Oxford. He sat as a member of parliament for Wexford and later from 1831 served as Lord Lieutenant for the county. In 1834 he became Baron Carew and was honoured in 1851 when he became a Knight of the Order of St. Patrick, now a dormant British order of chivalry associated with Ireland. Following the unfortunate destruction of Castleboro in 1923 the estate was converted to farmland and the Carew family moved to England. 

This magnificent house contains elaborate workmanship inside and out. The house stood at three stories and the front entrance displayed a magnificent portico supported by six Corinthian columns. The very centre of the house had the appearance of a Venetian Palace reaching 90 foot long. The grounds were laid out with four stepped terraces descending from the house to an artificial lake. Castleboro in its glory days was famous for its formal gardens, beautiful architectural and stone craftsmanship. Alas, it is like many of the great architectural designed houses of the era, a ruin that nature might one day retake.