Dromoland Diaries

Yoghurt Ice Cream, Violet Vacherin, Raspberry Gel The word dessert originated from the French term ‘desservir la table’ meaning ‘to clear the table’. The name dessert dates back to the 14th century, however, it attained its current meaning around the beginning of the 20th century when ‘service a la francaise’ (placing a variety of dishes…

Caramelised Onion Puree, Seasonal Vegetables, Oven Dried Plum Tomato, Tarragon Jus Lamb farming in Ireland, and indeed in County Clare, is an age old tradition. The mild Irish climate coupled with the clean environment provides the perfect conditions for rearing lambs. Burren lamb spends all of their time outside therefore grazing on grass and wild…

After Lady Ethel’s death, her oldest son, Sir Donough O’Brien, the 16th Baron of Inchiquin, and his wife, Lady Anne, daughter of Viscount Chelmsford, a Viceroy of India, managed to maintain Dromoland Castle as a traditional ancestral home for more than twenty years. Lord Inchiquin tried to make the estate self-supporting as a dairy farm,…

Donough O’Brien, a son of Brian Boru, controlled Dromoland when it was a defensive stronghold. It was similar in structure to Bunratty Castle, which was also an O’Brien stronghold at that time. For the next 900 years a branch of the O’Briens lived and ruled from Dromoland Castle.

Sir Edward O’Brien, the 2nd Baronet, was revered as a famous racehorse owner and trainer. He built the Turret on the hill opposite the entrance to Dromoland Estate, from where he would observe his horses race. He once gambled the estate on a horse race; mercifully, Sean Buis won the race and saved the estate.…

The chief of the Clan O’Brien, Murrough, 57th King of Thomond was forced to surrender his royalty to King Henry VII, thus becoming the Baron of Inchiquin and First Earl of Thomond. Records show that the castle was rebuilt during this period

Brian Boru ruled Ireland as High King from his throne in Killaloe.