Belvedere House:
Belvedere House is a Georgian villa on the shores of Lough Ennell near Mullingar, Co. Westmeath. Open to the public, the estate features several striking follies, including the so-called “Jealous Wall,” which bears testimony to one of the most sordid family squabbles in Irish history.
It all started in 1836, when an ambitious aristocrat, Robert Rochfort, (later the 1st Earl of Belvedere) decided he wanted to marry a popular young woman in Dublin artistic circles, the 16-year-old Mary Molesworth. She evidently sensed he wasn’t quite the catch he appeared, as she resisted his initial advances, but her family, seduced by his power and great name, arranged the match. For a few years, the relationship worked, and the couple had four children.
Robert lost interest in her. There are suggestions that his mistress poisoned his mind against his wife and other suggestions that it was his brother, George.
He locked her away in her bedroom for 30 years until he died. During this time she never saw her 4 children.
It is a sad tale that will be told to you by a very impressive tour guide.
Pat Noone's Fairy Farm:
Nestled on his 60-acre farm in Kilconnell, County Galway, Pat Noone is a modern-day fairy whisperer who treats his land as a sacred bridge between our world and the realm of the Aos Sí (fairy folk). Around 16 acres—known as his “fairy field”—Pat tends to a magical landscape dotted with a fairy fort, a fairy tree marking a portal between blackthorn and whitethorn, a megalithic cairn, and a fertility stone that draws visitors seeking healing and spiritual connection.
A natural storyteller and land healer, Pat hosts guests for immersive experiences: overnight in the fort, ceremonial land-healings using dowsing rods, copper wire, and his “words” passed down through generations, or simply guided walks to commune with nature’s unseen energies.
Many leave awestruck—some have sensed music, spotted ethereal “White Ladies,” smelled pipe smoke from loved ones passed, or even believed healing stemmed from their visit irishpost.com+1irishpost.com+1.
Pat’s approach balances deep reverence with practical wisdom: by honoring the land and its spirits, and respecting fairy lore, he believes anyone can experience its power—whether for fertility, livestock success, or renewing spiritual connection.
Whether you're a true believer or a curious skeptic, a visit to Pat Noone’s fairy farm is an unforgettable journey into Ireland’s mystical heart—where ancient energy, grass-roots spirituality, and modern curiosity meet in one enchanted field.
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