Captain Alexander Saunderson established the first substantial structure here, constructing a house of lime and stone complete with a defensive bawn and two flankers; typical features of plantation era strongholds designed to protect settlers in what was often hostile territory. This early castle met its demise during the Williamite wars of the late 17th century, those bloody conflicts that followed James II’s overthrow and shaped so much of Ireland’s political landscape.

What visitors see today at Castlesaunderson Demesne is an entirely different beast altogether; a composite structure that evolved across three distinct periods of construction. The oldest surviving portions date to the late 18th century, with significant Victorian additions from the 19th century and further modifications in the early 20th century. This layered approach to building was common amongst Irish landed families, who adapted their homes to changing fashions and needs rather than demolishing and starting afresh.

The site offers a tangible link to the Saunderson family’s long presence in Cavan, from their arrival as planters through centuries of political and social change. While the original defensive structures have vanished, the evolution of Castle Saunderson from fortified plantation house to Georgian mansion to Victorian pile tells its own story about Ireland’s transformation from a contested frontier to a more settled, though never entirely peaceful, society.