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Dunsany Castle,  Co Meath

Dunsany Castle and Demesne are situated in the townland of Dunsany (Dun Samhnaigh or Dun Samhna), between the historic town of Trim, with Ireland's largest castle (King John's Castle or simply Trim Castle, a former Dunsany holding) and the large village of Dunshaughlin on one of the country's main routes, in County Meath. There is a hamlet, with post office store, church and school, in Dunsany; the next village is Kilmessan. Meath (the current county, formerly known as "East Meath", and County Westmeath, combined) once formed a seperate, fifth, province of Ireland, which was the territory of the High King (Ard Ri); today, this is all within the eastern province, Leinster. The former seat of the High Kings, Tara, is only a few kilometres from Dunsany. Also nearby is Bective Abbey.

The Plunketts of Dunsany
 The Plunkett connection began with the knight Sir Christopher Plunkett (Deputy Governor of Ireland in 1432), who had come into the lands in the area through marriage in the early 1400's (with Joan Cusack, whose father held Dunsany and Killeen), and two of his sons, John and Christopher. John, the eldest, was heir to nearby Killeen Castle (his family were Lords of Killeen and later became Earls of Fingall also), while Christopher was given Dunsany, becoming its first Lord (it is one of the oldest Irish titles, created by summons in 1439 under Henry VI and documentary form later under Edward IV). Family legend relates that the areas of the demesnes of the two castles was decided by a race, with Killeen, starting from higher ground, having the advantage. In the same generation, the Church of St. Nicholas ("The Abbey"), within the demesne, was reputedly built after a rift between Lady Dunsany and Lady Killeen - the two families had both used the church at Killeen - with the specification that it be one foot bigger in length, breadth and height than Killeen Church.

Dunsany Today
The family, headed by the 20th Lord, the designer Edward Plunkett, and his wife, the architect Maria Alice de Marsillac Plunkett, still live at Dunsany. They retain a fine collection of heirlooms, including an enamelled silver mug presented by Elizabeth I and the watch and cross of St. Oliver Plunkett, and some beautiful works of art, notably paintings and porcelain, though for security reasons some are no longer held at the Castle.

The house can seat 40, and groups of up to 200 can be easily accommodated using a marquee on the terrace at the back of the house overlooking the gardens