CULTURE: Borris House - Roots to the Kings of Leinster

Written by Ben Kesp

Borris House is a magnificent house situated in Co. Carlow, Ireland and is one of the few Irish estates that can trace its roots to the royal families of ancient Ireland. The current Borris House was built in 1731 replacing the original castle that once stood guard over the River Barrow. It is the ancestral home of the McMorrough Kavanaghs, High Kings of Leinster and the 16th generation of the family currently reside here. Today the house is open for accommodation, tours and weddings. 

The McMorrough Kavanaghs can certainly trace their roots to ancient Ireland and through the ages to modern Ireland. From the 11th century, the family became known as McMorrough, Kings of Leinster and it was Dermot McMorrough that invited the Normans to Ireland in 1167. 

A story of romance is linked to Borris House that at the time was a scandalous affair. In the 1700s Thomas Kavanagh of Borris House, married Lady Susan Butler, daughter of the 16th Earl of Ormond. Lady Susan had a sister, Lady Eleanor Butler who was taken into guardianship at Borris House in 1778 after she made an attempt to elope with Sarah Ponsonby. Lady Eleanor was confined to the house for three weeks until she managed to escape and walked twelve miles to Woodstock where the Ponsonby family home was based in Instigoe, Co. Kilkenny. Sarah hid Eleanor in her room until her Eleanor’s father; Lord Ormond agreed that his daughter and Sarah were allowed to travel to Wales in pursuit of the Pastoral Ideal (ideologies). 

Borris House also contains an American Poplar, the tallest broadleaf tree in Ireland. You will find it gracefully standing by the River Barrow. 

Entrance Hall 

The house boasts amazing architectural features and on arrival, the entrance hall is eye catching. From a square space, a circle is created with the clever use of scagliola columns and richly modelled plasterwork, profuse with festoons in the frieze, eagles with outspread wings and swirling acanthus. The ceiling is shaped like a great wheel with eight beams radiating outwards. All architectural work was carried out by the Morrisons who also designed other famous Irish houses like; Baronscourt, Kilruddery House, Ballyfin House and Fota House. On the exterior, the Morrisons clothed the house in a thin Tudor Gothic disguise. 

Visit and explore this amazing house and grounds while learning more about Ireland’s ancient royal families. Discover more on Borris House from its Website.