A land of legend and lore, Ireland is also home to some of the most breathtaking residences in the world, 10 of which are explored in this charming book. Take a once-in-a-lifetime tour through these historical homes and castles—all still owned and lived in by the original families—furnished with heirlooms and cherished hand-me-downs. From cabinets filled with monogrammed china to cabbage-rose slipcovered sofas nestled beneath tall Gothic windows, the lavish living rooms and bedrooms, print-lined hallways, and well-used mudrooms capture the distinctive personalities of their owners.

Desmond FitzGerald, Knight of Glin, was president of the Irish Georgian Society, a trustee of the National Gallery of Ireland, and deputy keeper of Furniture and Woodwork at the V&A. Until his death in 2011, he lived at Glin Castle, Co. Limerick. James Peill is the curator of Goodwood House in West Sussex, England. He was formerly a vice president of Christie’s, where he was a specialist in the European furniture department. James Fennell’s photographs have been published in Condé Nast Traveler, World of Interiors, and Architectural Digest.