HOME OF THE 'UNCROWNED KING OF IRELAND'
Avondale House & Forest Park was the birthplace and home of Charles Stewart Parnell - 'the Uncrowned King of Ireland'. Born in Avondale in 1846, when Ireland was in the grip of famine, Parnell went on to become one of the greatest political leaders of modern Irish history. He dedicated himself to the goal of Ireland as a nation and he pursued it unswervingly, until a rose was thrown across his path and opened a new world - the world of love, and his passion for Katharine O'Shea.
Avondale House & Forest Park includes the Charles Stewart Parnell Museum. Avondale is a beautiful Georgian House designed by James Wyatt and built in 1777 and completed in 1779. It contains fine plasterwork by the Francini Brothers and many original pieces of furniture. The American Room is dedicated to Admiral Charles Stewart (1778-1869) – Parnell’s American grandfather who manned the USS Constitution (now moored in Boston Harbour) during the 1812 war.
Visitors are introduced to this wonderful historical house, with original furniture and plasterwork, by an award-winning audio-visual presentation. Other facilities include the Kitchen Café, 500 acres of magnificent mature woodland with trees from all over the world, including the tallest collection of trees in Ireland. The river Avonmore flows through the park on its way towards the Irish Sea. There are excellent walks, a play area, orienteering courses and a car/coach park.
Located 1.6km (1 mile) from Rathdrum on the L2149 road (off the R752/N11 roads).
