A week of castles: Day 7 - Lismore Castle, Ireland

Postmarked Calafort, Ros Lair, and dated 2 November 1981.

Lismore Castle, County Waterford, built by King John in 1185, is the Irish seat of the Duke of Devonshire.  The castle, standing on a precipitous cliff overhanging the River Blackwater, is one of the finest and best-kept residences in the south of Ireland.  It is a magnificent building containing some splendid apartments, notably the drawing room, which commands an excellent view of the River Blackwater.  Thackeray considered it to be as noble and as picturesque as Warwick Castle.

The site was originally occupied Lismore Abbey, established in the early 7th century, but it was largely rebuilt in the 19th century.