Classiebawn Castle

One of the must sees in County Sligo is Classiebawn Castle

Classiebawn castle close to the head of Mullaghmore on County Sligo’s Wild Atlantic Way, was the holiday home of Louis Mountbatten, a member of the British royal family who was assassinated close by in 1979. The pair of standing stones erected on the ground below the castle would seem to support the reputed occult interests of Lords Palmerston, Ashley and Mountbatten.

The castle and surrounding lands are now owned by the estate of Hugh Tunney (1928–2011), a deceased businessman from Trillick in County Tyrone, who bought the castle and 1,200 hectares (3,000 acres) of surrounding estate in 1991 after having leased it for many years.

Who lives in Classiebawn Castle and other Frequently Asked Questions?

Is Sligo Ireland Worth Visiting?

A timeline of the history of Classiebawn Castle

1694	10,000 acres of land in Sligo comes into the possession of Sir John Temple of East Sheen, Attorney General of Ireland
1704	Sir John Temple dies, his son Henry inherits his estate
1723	Henry Temple is created the first Viscount Palmerston of Palmerston in County Dublin
1757	1st Viscount Palmerston dies and is succeeded by his grandson
1802	2nd Viscount Palmerston dies and is suceeded by his son, Henry John Temple the 3rd Viscount Palmerston.
1808	3rd Viscount also known as Lord Palmerston visits his Sligo estates for the first time and plans improvements in Mullaghmore and its harbour
1822	Building begins at Mullaghmore harbour. The project, designed by Alexander Nimmo, is funded by Lord Palmerston and government grants
1827	Short pier and jetty at the northern end of Mullaghmore harbour is completed
1828	Harbour is officially opened and plots of land in the vicinity are available for warehouse sites
1841	Mr Kincaid, Lord Palmerston’s Sligo agent, is concerned at progress of harbour extension. It is costing £500 per month.
1842	Extension to Mullaghmore Harbour is completed
1847	Carrick of Whitehaven, the first of nine ships carrying émigré tenants from Lord Palmerston’s Sligo estates, sinks off the Canadian coast.
1855	Lord Palmerston becomes British Prime Minister
1859	Lord Palmerston becomes British Prime Minister for the second time
1865	Lord Palmerston dies. His holiday home, Classiebawn Castle at Mullaghmore, is inherited by his stepson, William Cowper-Temple, later 1st Baron Mount Temple of Mount Temple
1874	Classiebawn Castle, designed by the architect, J Rawson Carroll, is completed
1888	William Cowper-Temple, 1st Baron Mount Temple, dies. Classiebawn inherited by his nephew, the Rt. Hon. Evelyn Ashley
1889	Rt Hon Evelyn Ashley discusses transfering Mullaghmore harbour to the Board of Works in Dublin
1907	Rt. Hon. Evelyn Ashley dies. Classiebawn inherited by his son, Lt. Col. Wilfrid Ashley, later 1st Baron Mount Temple of Lee, Southampton
1916	The Castle is commandeered by the Irish Free State Army
1918	During the ‘Cliffoney Land Fight’, five local IRA men are convicted of unlawful assembly for ploughing and cultivating Lt. Col. Ashley’s grazing land
1920	Top level IRA plans to destroy Classiebawn are aborted in the face of vehement opposition by local active IRA members
1920	Letter to Lt. Col. Ashley is seized by Sein Feiners, endorsed with “passed I.R. censor” and delivered
1921	Rt. Hon. Lt. Col. Ashley MP asks the British Prime Minister for protection of Classiebawn. Later reports of ‘destruction’ to the Castle
1922	IRA hold three hostages at Classiebawn in response to three IRA volunteers imprisoned in Derry under sentence of death.
1922	Marriage of Lord Louis Mountbatten and Edwina Ashley, elder daughter of Rt. Hon. Lt. Col. Wilfrid Ashley MP
1922	Rt. Hon. Lt. Col. Ashley MP closes up Classiebawn
1923	Local Republican volunteers are detained in Classiebawn by Freestate Army pending transfer to Finner Camp in County Donegal
1925	Rt. Hon. Lt. Col. Ashley ‘mothballs’ Classiebawn and arranges distribution of its contents
1939	Lt. Col. Ashley dies. His daughter, Edwina Mountbatten, inherits Classiebawn
1943	Edwina Mountbatten visits Classiebawn
1945	Edwina Mountbatten starts a programme of renovations
1947	Edwina Mountbatten and her family visit Classiebawn; renovations are underway
1948	A generator is installed providing light and power
1949	Renovations are complete
1954	Edwina Mountbatten appeals to the Irish Government for aid after flooding of the peat bog. She encourages cutting of estate bushes for fuel
1960	Edwina Mountbatten dies. Her husband, Lord Mountbatten (Louis), inherits Classiebawn.
1960	Shadow V is built at McCanns’ boatyard in Moneygold from timber felled in Classiebawn Woods. She is delivered to Mullaghmore for sea trials
1960	Unsubstantiated report in UK’s Daily Express alleging a threat from the IRA for flying the Union Jack at Classiebawn
1961	Lord Mountbatten offers Classiebawn Wood to the Minister for Lands, Irish Government
1961	Classiebawn is let to summer visitors
1962	Lord Mountbatten writes two Guide Books to Classiebawn and surrounding area.
1965	Shadow V is suspiciously holed and sinks in Mullaghmore Harbour
1965	Mains water is piped to the castle
1967	At the request of Lord Mountbatten the cabin of Shadow V is rebuilt
1971	Garda security for Lord Mountbatten’s visit is increased from 8 to 12 in view of internment being introduced in Northern Ireland, 3 on duty all the time
1973	Garda security for visit of Lord Mountbatten and his family is increased to 15
1974	Garda security for visit of Lord Mountbatten and his family is increased to 24
1975	Lord Mountbatten offers Classiebawn to the Irish State, rent free. The Taoiseach, Liam Cosgrave, refuses.
1976	Irish businessman, Hugh Tunney, leases Classiebawn
1979	Lord Mountbatten, Nicholas Knatchbull & Paul Maxwell die aboard Shadow V. Doreen, The Dowager Lady Brabourne dies in Sligo Hospital the following day.
1979	Thomas McMahon is convicted of the murder of Lord Mountbatten
1981	Provisional Sinn Fein protestors hang a banner and the Irish tricolour from a window at Classiebawn in support of Republican hunger strikers
1992	Body of Margaret Perry is found in woods close to Classiebawn. She was murdered in 1991 by her associates who were IRA and Special Branch informers
1995	Incendiary device is discovered at the front door of Classiebawn. It preceeds a visit by Prince Charles to the Republic the next day
1998	Thomas McMahon, convicted of the murder of Lord Mountbatten, is released from prison under terms of the ‘Good Friday’ Agreement
2004	Local residents hold a ceremony at Classiebawn’s gates to commemorate the events of 1979
2015	During an official visit to Ireland, Prince Charles and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, make a private visit to Classiebawn Castle. They are joined by Timothy and Isabella Knatchbull.

From: – https://fromaclearbluesky.com/classiebawn-castle/

In the background you can see one of the most photographed mountains in Ireland, Benbulbin. A short drive away you can also find the final resting place of W.B. Yeats in the village of Drumcliffe.

Classiebawn was also the setting for a famous IRA assassination: – How Classiebawn Castle became Ireland’s most famous castle after the assassination of the Uncle of a Royal Prince.

Did you know you can display this magnificent castle on your wall?

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