The history of DOONREAGAN goes all the way back to pre-historic times. The land, stretching from the sea shore to the top of Cashel Hill 300m above sea level, hasn’t changed much in the past two thousand years: it has ruins of houses pre-dating any known records.
The main house at Doonreagan was built in the eighteenth century by a Thomas Hazell, who had come from Scotland to supervise the precious seaweed trade along this coast, worth no less than £10,000 in the year 1800. Hazell is also responsible for building adjacent Cashel House, now a hotel of international renown. In the early 20th century, Cashel was chosen by Marconi as the site for some of his early experiments with Morse signals.
During the Troubles in the 1920s, DOONREAGAN lived through a vicious attack by the Black and Tans regiment; the then owner saved himself, escaping across Cashel Hill.
Over the years many artists have spent time in Cashel: from Lucian Freud, Paul Newman and Claire Bloom to Bono and The Edge. Former Poet Laureate Ted Hughes is on record saying that it was whilst living at Doonreagan in the 1960s that he made his “big breakthrough – in his writing and in everything to do with himself”.
Having changed hands a number of times, the property was bought in the late 1960s by Robert Jocelyn, tenth Earl of Roden, who made it his family home.
Directions
From Galway
GPS will direct you to Doonreaghan (note spelling!) or to the Eircode of H91 R6Y5.
Follow the N59 towards Clifden. After 57 kilometres, take the R340 to the left, signposted ”Carna” and “Cashel”. After 5 kilometres, take the first turn to the right marked “Cashel”. Drive past the Zetland House Hotel, the church and the school, and Cashel House Hotel. After Cashel House, pass two houses on the right and then take the small road uphill to the right.
From Clifden
Follow the N59 towards Galway. After 18 kilometres, take the R340 to the right, signposted ”Carna” and “Cashel”. After 5 kilometres, take the first turn to the right marked “Cashel”. Drive past the Zetland House Hotel, the church and the school, and Cashel House Hotel. After Cashel House, pass two houses on the right and then take the small road uphill to the right.