HISTORY

Throughout history different cultures have used the palm leaf to symbolise various abstract concepts and ideologies. In ancient times the Palm leaf was recognised as the tree of life while in ancient Rome, Egypt and Greece it represented victory as the winner of a contest was presented with a Palm branch.

The Palm leaf has always had a special association with the identity of The Palmerstown Estate. According to local folklore the reason The Palmerstown Estate got its name was that in previous centuries it became a custom of the local men on returning safely from far off wars to bring home with them a Palm branch and place it on the steps of the village chapel.

Whatever the palm leaf means to you we hope that you appreciate its historical significance and how it and The Palmerstown Estate became associated.

The original residents of Palmerstown House were descendents of The De Burgo family who had a long and illustrious history. They were Normans who settled in Ireland in the twelfth century and they were direct descendents of William the Conqueror. It was while the family was settled in Ireland that the family name was changed to Bourke.

The house was built in 1872 by the Mayo family in memory of the 6th Earl of Mayo, Richard Southwell Bourke, Vice Roy and governor general of India. Richard Southwell Bourke was the Chief Secretary of Ireland in 1852 and in 1868 he was appointed Viceroy and governor general to India. He held that office until his tragic death at the hands of an assassin, on the Andaman Islands, on the 8th February 1872. Richard Southwell Bourke's remains where subsequently brought back from India and his final resting place was Johnstown, Co. Kildare.

Once the house was completed in honour of Richard Southwell Bourke his eldest son Dermot Robert Wyndham Bourke the 7th Earl of Mayo became the first resident in this great house. The Earl took a keen interest in Irish History and Antiquities and he was instrumental in founding the Kildare Archaeological Association at Palmerstown in 1891. During the Earl's tenure at the great house, the house was tragically damaged by a fire that was caused by intruders in January 1923; it was later restored by the state. Tragedy struck again on New Years Eve 1927 when Robert Wyndham Bourke died of natural causes. However before the Earl passed away he gave a very beautiful organ to St. John's Church in Johnstown. The organ has a very distinguishing feature - the normal position of the black keys and white keys have been reversed.

The legacy of the De Burgo Family is still present today as their coat of arms is prominently positioned at the main entrance to Palmerstown House.

According to legend, King Richard the Lion heart bestowed upon the De Burgo family their coat of arms. The arms where presented to a De Burgo ancestor in recognition of his bravery during the Crusades of the Middle Ages. The Red Cross that appears in the coat of arms was the distinguishing emblem painted on the shields of the Crusaders invoking God's protection as they went forth to defend the Holy Land. The rampant lion -- an heraldic beast reared up, in profile, and with its forelegs raised, the right one above the left -- found in the "Dexter canton," or right quarter, of the shield symbolizes courage, while its "sable," or black, color denotes loyalty. The motto on the family crest reads "A Cruce Salus", which translates as "Salvation from the Cross".

The first occupant of the house after The Earl's death was WJ Kelly and his family who were gentlemen outfitters on Clanbassil Street in Dublin. Because of his profession WJ was nicknamed WJ 'Trousers' Kelly.

In 1952, the house was sold to an American gentleman called William Bullitt who led an extremely colourful life and was heavily involved in International political affairs. William Christian Bullitt began his career in government service during the First World War. He was the first U.S. ambassador to the Soviet Union and was afterwards the ambassador to France where he was popularly known as the "Champagne Ambassador". Following his tenure in France he became the ambassador at large in the Middle East, and subsequently the special assistant to the Secretary of the Navy. An avid political commentator William Bullitt also co-authored with Sigmund Freud a book studying the psychology of Woodrow Wilson. William Christian Bullitt died in 1967 and his daughter, Ann, remained in the house after his death, where she converted the grounds of the estate into a very successful stud farm.

In 1999, Mr. Jim Mansfield, one of Ireland's most respected and successful entrepreneurs, purchased the Palmerstown estate. Today, Mr. Mansfield has transformed the land into a magnificent parkland championship golf course that is set to take its place as one of Europe's top golf courses.