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Westport House & Estate

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About

One of Ireland's finest Georgian houses, built by the Browne family from around 1730 on the foundations of a castle of Grace O'Malley, the 16th-century pirate queen the Brownes descend from. Part of her castle survives in the basement, shown to visitors as the Dungeons. The 400-acre estate was bought by the local Hughes family in 2017 and trades as Westport Estate. The house itself is currently closed for a major redevelopment: a €65.5m project broke ground in July 2026, is expected to take around two years, and new visitor experiences open from 2028. The wider estate, with its woodland walks and the cascade on the Carrowbeg, remains open in the meantime.

Photos

Highlights

  • The Georgian house, closed for a two-year redevelopment from July 2026
  • The Dungeons, surviving from Grace O'Malley's castle (inside the closed house)
  • Woodland walks and the 18th-century cascade on the estate
  • The Browne family and Granuaile story tying the town together

Tips

  • The house is closed for redevelopment until new experiences open from 2028; check westportestate.com for what is open on the estate before you go.
  • The separate Westport Adventure park is on the same estate but booked through its own site.

Best Season

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