House Tour

History

When you pass the original gates, there is a tangible feel of the past. You will discover Viewmount House in its wonderful setting, in amongst sweeping lawns and ancient lime trees.

Viewmount House was built in 1620 by Lord Francis Aungier, Baron of Longford. Aungier served as a commissioner of the plantations of Munster in 1616, and Longford in 1620. It is likely that he built Viewmount House prior to Longford Castle, to administer the Longford estate. He purchased the lands of the White Friars Monastery in Dublin where he lived.

Viewmount House was converted to Georgian style in the mid-1700s by Thomas Pakenham. Packenham inherited the property when he married Elizabeth Cuffe, a grandniece of Lord Aungier. The Pakenhams established a military site in Longford Castle and administered the Longford estate through agents in Viewmount House.

During the 1800s, it was used as a Church of Ireland school. Around 1890, it became a residence for Harry McCann, the famous gardener, and, later, in the early 1900s, the Chief Justice, Jack O’Farrell.

Beryl and James Kearney purchased Viewmount House in 1989 from the Johnston family who had farmed 60/70 acres for the previous 60 years.