One of the most important Irish houses, Borris House, nestles in the foothills of the Blackstairs Mountains, ancestral home of the Kings of Leinster. Borris House was built on the footprint of a medieval castle by Irish builders, using Irish craftsmen to create the fabulous plasterwork ceilings and exterior mouldings, and Irish cabinet makers crafted the woodwork, doors and furniture.
Since it was built, Borris House has been continuously occupied by the same Irish family, the MacMurrough Kavanaghs, direct descendants of the 12th century King of Leinster, Dermot MacMurrough. This makes Borris House uniquely Irish, having no Anglo Irish history as do so many of Ireland's ‘Big Houses’.
The house is jam packed with a fascinating history full of amazing characters and wonderful stories, closely intertwined with the Butlers of Kilkenny Castle. Touch The Past highly recommends a visit and there can be no better opportunity to discover Borris House for yourself than at the annual Festival of Writing and Ideas, hosted as usual by Borris House.
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Images courtesy of Borris House