In Search of Castle Matrix
For over a decade, my car rental maps had tempted me with a pink star marking the location of Castle Matrix. It was just a ways outside of Limerick a few miles from Adare. On our way to visit Imen from www.marriedanirishfarmer.com, Liam and I decided to stop.
A Hidden Castle
We drove from one end of Rathkeale to the other and beyond in search of the landmark. When we clearly went too far, we stopped and asked for directions from a gentleman who was standing in his drive talking to a woman parked nearby.
“Pull in here, and I’ll help ye,” he said directing us into his driveway before rushing back to the woman in the SUV. When he returned, he let us know the woman driver lived beside castle Matrix (pronounced Matt-trix), and she said it was open again for tours. Sounded as if things were going our way.
He proceeded to give us very detailed directions, even predicting, “you won’t even know it’s a road.” Indeed! With the building of the highway bypass around Rathkeale, the driveway to Castle Matrix goes completely unnoticed. Had it not been for the man’s instructions, we would not even have attempted… especially since there wasn’t a sign marking the way.
Abandoned… or Just Heavily Lived-In
Grass grew up the center of the drive, and the trees hung down and scraped the top of the car. I told Liam at least three times, “This can’t be the road.” A few turns in and we arrived at a small clearing beside the stone tower house. The foliage was overgrown, but there was a spot of shorter grass big enough for a car to turn around. The castle looked sturdy and a big wooden door marked the entrance. As we marched up, a cat or two scattered from behind a bush. We knocked, took a few pictures, but no one was there.
Liam at Castle Matrix
It was hard to tell if there had been any activity at the place recently… a wood carving and scattered rubbish made it look like there had, but overgrown bushes, cloudy windows, and no signs of modern life made us think twice.
On the internet, I couldn’t find any solid information on the place more recent than 2005-ish, but since those reports referenced an eccentric owner and a castle overwhelmed with clutter and pets, maybe nothing has changed, and we just hit it on an off day.
If you’ve been to Castle Matrix recently… let us know about your experience.
Directions and more photos >>
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My husband and I stayed in the castle on our honeymoon in 1988 after a search similar to yours. Liz O’Driscoll and her husband Sean had renovated the castle and she and her small son were living in the house adjacent. Her lodger lead us on a tour of the castle when we showed up on the drive and later Liz came out to meet us. After a few minutes she invited us to stay. What ensued was a night of ghost stories and castle history told while we ate Irish stew in the great hall by candlelight. We were escorted to a lovely room with an Elizabethan bed and the only electric light in the castle. There we stayed through a howling gale that uprooted trees outside but which didn’t even make a sound through the thick walls. The ghost stories weighed heavily and we didn’t dare open our eyes that night. But in the morning we were amazed at how bright and beautiful the rooms were. As we approach our 25th anniversary we had hoped to re-vist but I see on Tripadvisor that the castle is not open to the public at present.
Dear Sarah et al,
Sean and Liz are deceased. Liz passed about 2010. Sean sometime in the early 2000′s I believe. Sean was a crew member with my Uncle in WW2. If any one has any photo’s of Sean and or Liz I would really appreciate if you would share.
Thank You.
jcdowdy_2000@yahoo.com
Sincerely,
Editor’s note: Continue reading the comments below and you will find that at this time Liz is still among the living
I’ve toured the castle twice. I may have pictures of Liz. I will look for them. I didn’t know she had passed. She was always a gracious tour guide with fascinating stories.
Hello,
Liz is still very much living. I wonder how you heard she died in 2010? Where ever it was, this information was very wrong.
Regards,
Debra
Since I posted that message regarding Liz Driscoll being deceased I found out that this was not true as well. That is good news and I am sincerely sorry for my error. However I could not reach her at the castle and it may be under new management. If any one could help me contact her i would very much appreciate it. I will gladly post my e-mail address.
Thank You
Debra,
Thanks for letting us know
Today, Nov 14, 2012, my friends and I stumbled upon the Castle Matrix and the interesting Liz. Just as was posted before, we were having trouble locating this castle when we asked a local gentleman for directions. We followed the directions to find an overgrown, narrow path which was blocked by a large fallen limb. We continued by foot to find the overgrown Castle Matrix. The grounds have been without care for such a long time that we thought it was abandoned. Just as we were about to leave a kind voice from a window high above called out to us… “I’m up here in the window”. We were delighted to meet Ms Liz and hear of her life while living at the Castle Matrix. She lives alone without funtional power or heat. Her husband, Sean O’Driscoll and son have passed away and she lives alone with many cats and dogs. However, after spending a delightful morning with her and touring her “castle” I leave Ireland with a smile and a warm heart. Thank you Ms Liz for a delightful day!
Wonderful post! I never knew castles such as these existed. It must have been really fun searching for it.
Many thanks for the kind remembrance, Margaret and sorry I’ve missed some visitors. I’m still here, albeit slow in recuperating from past events, but always enjoy sharing stories and castle experiences though our location is a bit confusing. Never did close to visitors. Look for the flowerbed saying Rathkeale on the N21 highway bypass of Rathkeale, and our driveway is on the opposite side of the road in the middle of the staggered intersection with tall trees at the edge of the highway. Thanks for replying, Debra.
I like to see what nature will produce if left in peace, but some times of the year it can look very neglected from a gardener’s point of view, no apologies. Eccentric may fit. Absent-minded does too. Not much of a sense of time passing either. Still enjoy meeting new friends and hope some will be able to help solve debatable issues. Love, Liz
Hello Liz…..so lovely to hear you are still enjoying your home. I am hoping to visit you this summer, sometime in August, as I will be over to the UK to see family and attend a wedding.
My interest in Castle Matrix comes from an ancient family connection to the Southwells and Browns who occupied the property in times past.
Looking forward to meeting you and walking in great grandfather’s footsteps!
Jilly
Hello Liz,
We will definitley stop again… we are in the area every summer, and would love to meet you and share some stories.
Corey
Looking forward to your visit, Jilly, and hearing more of the history from your family’s 300 plus years here. I’ve only found bits and pieces as when I had access to the British Library many years ago, I didn’t realise they were still using the old version of the name as Castle Mattress. Mainly going by what my late husband and others have told me over the years, including members of your Southwell and Brown families who have visited. Its links to major poets have also been quite intriguing through the centuries, the latest being Sean’s friendship with Michael Hartnett.
Also many thanks for the memories to Sara, and wonder if John Dowdy ever received an e-mail from me? Apologies if not as my laptops have been hacked at times. Thanks also to the Editor of this very informative website. Liz
Looking forward to your visit too, Corey and also hope Solo Mate Travel manages to cross paths with the Castle as well. It’s kind of like finding the correct train track in the first Harry Potter movie! At least so I’ve been told ….
Liz
Oh, Liz, I am glad you are still with us! So very sorry to hear that you have lost your son as well as Sean. Your graciousness to me in 1985 will never be forgotten. That was my first magical visit to Ireland. Aengus O’Carroll, who was something of a protegé of Sean’s, wrote me an introduction and Sean even read a manuscript of mine. Now I am a “slightly published” poet and a grandmother. My husband and I plan to visit Ireland this fall, late September, though since he reluctant to drive there, we will have to give Rathkeale and Castle Matrix a miss.
My welcome to your place was a nip from a white horse! How magical is that?
Stay well,
Sue
Wow, hi Sue, so good to hear from you! I’ve often wondered whether ‘the Men in Black’ meet our visitors as they leave, as it’s quite rare for me to be contacted again. Apologies if my memory is dodgy but can’t remember if you visited later and did meet my son, gifted artist by the age of eleven, musician/composer/producer by fifteen, photographer and highly skilled basketball player too. ‘Slightly published’ is a whole lot more than I can say about my writing!
And glad to hear you have become a grandmother! Will you be anywhere near Limerick City or Shannon? Perhaps we could meet …. Safe travelling, Liz