Malahide Castle sits on 250 acres as the former home of the Talbot family, who lived there from 1185 to 1973. The castle's highlights include Talbot Botanical Gardens and Tara's Palace, a world-famous dollhouse. The romantic and tragic history of the Talbot family is well documented, and the fully furnished rooms offer a unique view into centuries of elite Irish living. 35-minute tours are mandatory to see the castle and are offered every 15 minutes. For the brave, ask tour guides about the intriguing history of the ghosts that still wander the castle halls. The grounds often host concerts ranging fro Radiohead to Eric Clapton. No photography allowed.