Avondale House

History

Avondale House was built in 1777 for Samuel Hayes, a barrister who wrote a book on Irish Forestry and was a pioneer of the re-afforestation of Ireland, planting many thousands of trees on the estate. He died childless in 1795 leaving the estate to his cousin Sir John Parnell, 2nd Baronet, with the condition that it pass to a younger son. On Sir John's death in 1801, his third son, William, inherited and changed his surname to Parnell-Hayes. Charles Stewart Parnell, his grandson, was born there in 1846 and inherited in 1859. After Parnell's death in 1891 the estate was sold to a Dublin butcher from Phibsboro who felled most of the trees to recoup his investment.

The house is Georgian, probably designed by James Wyatt and built in 1777. It is notable for its fine plasterwork and still contains many original pieces of furniture. The American Room is dedicated to Admiral Charles Stewart (1778-1869), Parnell's American grandfather who commanded the USS Constitution (now moored in Boston Harbor) during the War of 1812. The outside of the house is featured in a painting in the R. Barry O'Brien 1898 biography of Parnell.

The woodlands were renewed in 1904 when the estate was sold to the government. The house was used as a forestry school and the grounds planted with a great variety of trees, the most successful being conifers from the Pacific coast of North America. The grounds now contain specimens of giant redwoods from California and Sitka spruce from British Columbia. The ruins of Parnell's old sawmill and Parnell's well are located on the site.

Access and conservation

Avondale House is open for guided tours which include tours of the historic house and the former forestry school.

In 2019, Fáilte Ireland announced a major restoration project for Avondale House and Forest Park. In July 2022, President Michael D. Higgins officially opened "Beyond the Trees Avondale", described as a new world-class visitor destination at Avondale Forest Park. Facilities in Beyond the Trees Avondale include a tree canopy walk as well as gift shop, picnic areas, walled garden and children's playground. There are also several walking trails in the forest park. One of the site's attractions is a trackless forest train that runs through the park. The refurbished Avondale House was re-opened to visitors in 2023.

As of 2024, the trademark rights associated with "Beyond the Trees Avondale" were the subject of a lawsuit between Coillte and Davey Parnell (a distant relative of the Parnells of Avondale who lives in Dunshaughlin).

References

References

1. "Dictionary of Irish Architects - Building - Co. Wicklow, Avondale".
2. McCracken, Eileen. (1968-11-01). "Samuel Hayes of Avondale.". Irish Forestry.
3. "History of Avondale Estate".
4. (2009). "Parnell (- Hayes), William". Royal Irish Academy.
5. (2009). "Parnell, Charles Stewart". Royal Irish Academy.
6. "Stop the Sale of Public Forest assets - Support the Day of Action in Avondale House and Forest Park - Indymedia Ireland".
7. [http://wicklowgardens.com/index.php/avondale-house-park-2/ "Avondale House & Park", Wicklow Gardens, 24 January 2014] {{webarchive. link. (4 March 2016)
8. emmet. (19 June 2012). "Avondale House, Rathdrum. County Wicklow 1777".
9. O'Brien, R. Barry. ''[https://archive.org/download/lifeofcharlesste12obri/lifeofcharlesste12obri.pdf The Life of Charles Stewart Parnell 1846-1891]'', Vols. I&II, [[Harper (publisher). Harper And Brothers]], New York, 1898 (Vol.II contains the sketch of Avondale); reprinted in paperback [[Inter alia#inter alia. i.a.]] by [[BiblioBazaar]], 2009, {{ISBN. 978-1-113-79910-4
10. (July–August 2004}}{{Full citation needed). "Ireland of the Welcomes".
11. Lamb, Jessica. (23 June 2023). "Micheál Martin tours Wicklow's historic Avondale House after refurbishment". Wicklow People.
12. (February 2019). "Famous Irish stately home to receive €8m upgrade to become visitor attraction".
13. "The Forest Train at Avondale".
14. (June 2023). "An Tánaiste Micheál Martin Officially Opens Coillte’s Newly Refurbished Avondale House to the Public".
15. (September 2024). "Parnell relative at loggerheads with Coillte over tree walkway". The Times.