MagicMum.com

We're in the area in a few weeks, and after checking the website, it's not very clear if you can actually visit the gardens and the house, or only the tea shop ?

We named our DD after the famous woman who lived there, and have been promising for a while now to go to Lissadell House. It's a good drive away from where we are, and I don't want to tell the kids we're going there, and then end up in front of a locked gate

Has anyone any information ?

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''If you can't dazzle them with your brilliance, then baffle them with your bullshit'' - WC Fields

from the website

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can't figure out how to change my ticker but i'm 2 kg down. woo hoo. slow but steady.

I think they closed the hous after their case against Sligo co. co. but may e if you rang them directly, you could arrange a visit?

I thought it was supposed to be the star in the Sligo tourism firmament ?! Now Sligo and meath are a good bit apart, so I don't know anything about a court case.
DD is writing a letter, asking if we could come and have a look

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''If you can't dazzle them with your brilliance, then baffle them with your bullshit'' - WC Fields

there has been a very lengthy and drawn out court battle between the Sligo county council and the family that bought and restored lissadel house over a right of way, as it stands the house and gardens are not open to the public unfortunately.

Yes, it's completely closed unfortunately.

...let her send the letter though... ya never know you might get a cup of tea out of it.....(but dont hold your breath!)

Send the letter - they let the odd person/group in

Given that the current owner made such a hullabaloo over her name being the same as one of the sisters, she might look kindly at a letter frm your dd. I visited the house with my late father many years ago and would love to go back.

Thanks ladies. It's a pity though, the owners were so adamant in restoring the house and sharing it with the public a few years ago.
I'll let her send the letter, fortune favours the brave

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''If you can't dazzle them with your brilliance, then baffle them with your bullshit'' - WC Fields

Different times Carlarua, it might not have been possible for them to achieve what they set out to do.

If you see what they've done with the place, it's absolutely fantastic and must have cost a fortune, and it's absolutely to be admired. It's a pity they don't get a bit more recognition for the tremendous amount of work they've done
It's an important part of Irish cultural heritage, but it's still their home. I can well understand that they don't want hordes of people trampling over their property. Very often, it outweighs the financial benefits .
We've a similar house not too far from here, and initially the owners welcomed everyone. Then people started sneaking about, poaching the fish from the lake and not caring in general what damage they were doing. The place was closed for the public, but if you go up to the owner and ask for permission to walk in the woods or pick some berries or fruit, they're more than happy to allow you access.

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''If you can't dazzle them with your brilliance, then baffle them with your bullshit'' - WC Fields

If you put that in your letter, I'd say you'd definitely get in

Here's a link to an article after the case, fyi http://www.sligotoday.ie/details.php?id=12392%20=7f9751ec6f12dc30459b84d85ba6e528

Cheers Starla !
DD wrote the letter though, in what seems to be the only way 9 year olds can start letters : '' dear ms C, my name is C and I am 9 years old''

ETA I nearly had a heart attack when I read that the estate was seized by the state..then I saw the date in the article...funny people there in Sligo . I hope the 2 or 400 odd people there are happy with their court action. It cost Sligo a heap of jobs and the potential of hundreds of thousands of revenue for the state. Sure, jobs and taxes are not high on the agenda at the moment it seems, but rights of way are. As if that was not enough, the council now wants to extend that right of way and basically use the grounds at just about everyones leisure, be it pedestrian and now even vehicles. Talking about kicking someone who's already on the ground...spiteful bastards

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''If you can't dazzle them with your brilliance, then baffle them with your bullshit'' - WC Fields