Palmerstown House

Written by Ben Kesp 

Palmerstown House

Built in 1782 by the Earl of Mayo, Palmerstown House Estate, Co. Kildare, Ireland, went on to become a leading stud estate in Ireland. The house replaced an earlier Palmerstown House that once stood to the west of the current house with only a wing surviving today. The history of the name Palmerstown relates to pilgrims or people who had visited the “Holy Lands” who returned bringing with them stems of palms. There are a number of places in Ireland, mostly on the East coast that are named Palmerstown. The area where Palmerstown House lies has a long history of inhabitation, dating back to the Neolithic period. In the 12th century a family known as Palmer lived in the area and it is suggested may have given the place its name. Interestingly Palmerstown has been identified during this period as one of many properties held in Ireland by the Knights Hospitallers. 

Palmerstown Estate has had many owners over the centuries and during the medieval period the family of Flatesbury or de Flatebry are listed as living there. Robert Flatesbury was the Collector of the Kings Revenue and his son Patrick Flatesbury was Sheriff of Kildare in 1394 and later Custodian of the Peace in Kildare between 1381 and 1427. Patrick had extensive properties including Oberstown, Johnstown, Yagoestown and Palmerstown. Following the 1641 rebellion the Flatesbury family were outlawed and their possessions taken. The house passed to Theobold Bourke whose descendant was Richard Southwell, 6th Earl of Mayo, Viceroy and Governor General to India. 

Another one of the owners of Palmerstown was Anne Bullitt, daughter of millionaire diplomat William Christian Bullitt and his wife Louise Byrant. Anne’s father purchased Palmerstown House and Estate in 1956 and Anne would go on to make Irish horse racing history by becoming the first woman to saddle a winner. She continued breeding and training horses at Palmerstown until 1994 when she gave up her trainer’s licence. She continued to remain living in seclusion within the walls of Palmerstown until it was sold to Jim Mansfield in 1999. The estate is currently owned by the Comer brothers taking the house onto the next chapter of its history. 

Original Palmerstown House with 3rd Floor 

After the death of the 6th Earl of Mayo, Viceroy and Governor General to India following an assassination on his life, the government paid tribute by building a new Palmerstown House. The present day house was built to the east of the existing house and construction started in 1782. It had one front of three bay projections joined by a colonnade of coupled Iconic columns and a second front with a pediment raised on a three bay attic, between two three sided bows. It had a mansard (sloping roofs) with dormers. Following a fire in 1923 during the Irish Civil War, an award of £51,831 was given on the house and contents. The 7th Earl rebuilt Palmerstown House but without the third floor with mansard roof. 

The house is currently a hotel and wedding venue and for information on the house, click on its website below: 

Palmerstown House