A supposed second passageway-now blocked off-veers to the right of the main route. Tucked into the left side of this tunnel are two large rooms with curved ceilings and-seemingly useless-inner window spaces. White says this passage was most likely used by servants moving between the main house and the Casino-and by the master of the estate last at night (probably after an ale or two). And, to provide light and air to those travelling along the passageway, a number of grates where dug from the ceiling. The longest tunnel was originally linked to main house, which was demolished in 1920s to make way for Ireland’s first affordable housing project. Some have steps that lead down to natural springs, while others have several mysterious alcoves carved into their walls. The passageways are not uniform in size or supposed purpose varying in length from between 10 and 20 ft. Neither has the reason why they vary so much in structure. The Casino’s tunnels, like the house itself, are approximately 250 years old – but they have never been the subject of an archaeological excavation … the reason behind the garden’s small pleasure house having eight tunnels has never been satisfactorily explained. But what were the tunnels used for? The Journal tells us,

It’s long been known that there were a series of underground tunnels related to and accessible from the Casino. It’s got a lot of history.Īnd now there’s more of it to see. I’ve driven by it countless times and visited twice, in 2003 and again in 2012. My husband grew up in the neighborhood where Dublin’s perfect little summerhouse-the Casino at Marino-is located. And who could blame him, eh? He spent time in Italy, France, Spain, Greece, Turkey, and Egypt, meeting the important minds of the day, * and spending money on priceless antiquities and shipping them home to Dublin. Most were gone two or three years James stayed gone for nine. Born in Dublin, the title, of course, indicates his British roots-Wikipedia says “he title of Charlemont descended from Sir Toby Caulfeild (1565–1627) of Oxfordshire, England, who was given lands in Ireland”-James went off to Europe at age eighteen on the Grand Tour, which is what all wealthy young men did in those days. It was one of the things I saw on my very first visit to Ireland, it’s cool and clever, and it’s not one of those things that pops up on “Ireland Don’t Miss” lists.ĭescribed by Wikipedia as a “pleasure house” (bite your tongue!), the casino (“little house”) was commissioned by James Caulfeild, 1st Earl of Charlemont (1728–1799). At breakfast-the first here for Jenny and Kerry-I suggested we check out the Casino at Marino as our plan B.

Casino marino floor plan