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Farney Castle – a home and a business!

Farney is home to the Cullen Family. Cyril and Margie Cullen run a knitwear and porcelain design and production business from the castle. They converted the original old Courtyard stables of the estate into studios and workshops.

Cyril’s knitwear and ceramic designs are available to purchase in, what was, the original dairy and old kitchen of the castle. Shopping at Farney Castle is a unique experience and Cyril and Margie love to welcome visitors to their home.

Tours of the castle are available daily but visitors are advised to book in advance by calling 0504-43281 or emailing farneycastle@eircom.net.

‘It is a joy to live and work in a place steeped in Irish history and surrounded by nature and tranquillity. Margie and I and our four daughters, love our home and we enjoy welcoming visitors to see and purchase our knitwear and porcelain creations in this beautiful setting. I like to personally give the tours to groups and I explain the history and story behind the building and the treasures inside. I am an avid collector of curiosities from all over the world and each item has a unique provenance. A tour of Farney Castle is not a typical tour of an ancient building – groups are treated to a tour of a family home filled with beautiful, interesting things.’ Cyril loves to meet people and it shines through!

Cyril Cullen has been designing and making handmade parian porcelain since the 1980s. His studio and workshop is based in the beautiful old Courtyard of Farney Castle. A Collector and aesthete, Cullen, who is self-taught in the complex craft of porcelain making, is one of the few remaining traditional porcelain makers in Ireland. Cullen’s designs take inspiration from many periods in design history including, ancient Celtic designs, European design movements such as Art Deco and Art Nouveau to whimsical and delicate Victorian and Baroque style figurines and vases. Cyril Cullen Porcelain is a small, family-owned and family-run business in the heart of Tipperary.

Farney Castle is approximately 8km from Thurles with an estimated travel time by car of 13 minutes. It is close to two other major heritage sites – Holycross Abbey and the Rock of Cashel.