Malahide Castle was the home of the Talbot family from 1185 to 1973, when the last Lord Talbot died. The central Norman tower house is the oldest part of the castle. On the ground floor is an interesting Talbot Family Exhibition and interpretation area. Tours of the upper floors are given by experienced guides and last about 45 minutes. Audio guides are available in Irish, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian and Mandarin.

The house is furnished with beautiful period furniture together with an extensive collection of Irish portrait paintings, mainly from the National Gallery. Highlights of the tour include the magnificent Oak Room with its dark panelling and furniture dating back to the 1600s. Another gem is the Great Hall, which was built in 1495 for banquets and contains portraits of generations of the Talbot family.

A major feature of Malahide Castle Demesne is the beautiful Talbot Botanic Gardens. Within the visitor centre in the courtyard, an exhibition area tells visitors the story of the walled gardens as seen through the eyes of Lord Milo Talbot, the passionate creator of the gardens. The castle also hosts many events throughout the year.

Malahide Castle is wheelchair accessible on the first two floors. Take the DART to Malahide Village or bus 42. The castle is a 10 minute walk from the Malahide DART station. Toots the Malahide Road Train can bring you from the station to the castle and seaside.