Open Gates at Leixlip Castle

I went back around to the other side of the river, back to the castle gates and they were open!

I pulled over and walked closer and closer, taking photos.  And then I heard the dogs.

I high tailed it back to the car, couldn’t get the keys into the door fast enough to unlock the door. The dogs were on me by the time I got the car open.

When I got the door unlocked, the dogs jumped in, sat in good dog position and waited to go with me. They grinned. Really. Grinned.

So, I called them out of the car, walked up the driveway…. “Good doggies… Good doggies… Sit… Stay…” And they did. They sat. Vibrating with joy. I backed toward the car. “Stay… Stay…” And as soon as I got to the car they raced back and jumped in again.

We did it over and over. I could not get the door shut fast enough. They scrambled in and over me faster than I could shut the door. Sometimes only one dog, with the other standing at the window, wagging his tail madly.

A few people came around the castle. Two carrying a ladder. One carrying a basket. The woman carrying the basket called the dogs and scolded them, then came over and apologized to me. I told her it was my fault, I had walked up the driveway to get a photo.

She told me to go ahead! Walk around. Take all the photos I want!

Later, she joined me and asked if I wanted to see inside the castle! I know! Do I? I have been in love with this castle since I first read Irish Houses & Castles by Desmond Guinness. I made sure it was really OK. I didn’t want her to get in any trouble.

So, she showed me around. We couldn’t go upstairs, because there were guests sleeping. But, I got to see in real life the rooms from all the books. And she showed me rooms that weren’t in any of the books.

When she got a phone call, she told me to go ahead and wander around. I took a million photos. Possibly literally a million. They mostly all look alike. And I did not have fresh batteries in the camera, so most of them are tragically blurry.

And then, I noticed my guide’s phone conversation. She was Penelope Cuthbertson Guinness! Desmond Guinness’ wife! I had a tour of Leixlip Castle guided by the Lady of the Castle! I know! Touch me! And I had been worried she might get in trouble for showing me around her own castle!

I have read so much about Leixlip Castle and I took so many photos, I will break the photos up on the next pages.

Next: Leixlip Castle Gate Lodge >