Behind the Castle Walls
Castle Freke is a strikingly beautiful and wildly romantic estate, perched on a hilltop in West Cork, commanding breathtaking views of Ireland’s most awe inspiring coastal scenery. Named after the Freke family, later the Evans-Freke lineage and Lords of Carbery, this historic castle has been lovingly reclaimed by Stephen Evans-Freke, reviving a piece of Ireland’s national architectural heritage.
Today, Castle Freke stands as a testament to artisanal craftsmanship, where ancient techniques, long unseen in Ireland and much of Europe, are practiced daily. From the mythological ceiling murals and freehand sculpted detailing, to the scagliola marble columns and stone, bronze, and lead castings, every element is crafted with reverence to history.
The interiors offer a visual feast of architectural grace and splendour. The design language and proportions are classical Palladian, reflecting the high point of Irish Georgian interiors of the 18th century. However the magnificent sculpted stucco ceilings and their subject matter, as well as the beautiful decorative detailing wherever the eye wanders, sets Castle Freke apart as a truly unique exemplar of Irish creative arts and craftsmanship. A unifying vision runs through every part of the interiors, with multiple levels of messaging and symbolism, such that each room invites long contemplation.
The Children of Lir ceiling over the grand staircase is a tribute to the family’s 450 year history in Ireland, while the Arthurian ballroom ceiling is inspired by their Welsh Celtic lineage going back to the10th century Princes of Powys and of Fferles, and the Odin ceiling derives from their Viking heritage; in old Norse the word freke or freki meant ‘the ravenous one’ and was one of Odin’s two constant wolf spirit companions. The drawing room ceiling features Cliona, the traditional Sea Goddess of West Cork, standing on a nautilus shell rather than Botticelli’s giant clam shell; this entire composition is a celebration of the Golden Ratio and its mysterious manifestation throughout creation.All of this rich symbolism is brought into the present day through the custodianship of Stephen Evans-Freke and his wife Barbara, watched over, as ever, by Batman, the Castle’s loyal and ever-vigilant watchdog, as pictured.
Behind these more evident references, though, lie several deeper levels of messaging. The ceilings themselves, the double helix marble ‘Pillars of Solomon’ with their ‘Ark of the Covenant’ capitals, the All-Seeing Eye and Cernunnos, the ‘Green Man’, the many mystical symbols and iconography, all constitute a visual poem in tribute to the beauty and harmony of the universe, the connectedness of all things, and the omnipresence of the collective consciousness. Woven through all the work are even deeper mystical references whose significance will be understood by a few, but perhaps will reach many more at the subconscious level…Its secrets hidden in plain sight for those who have eyes to see.
The multi-layered complexity and subtle harmony of Castle Freke Gin shares much in common with the castle interiors, in both inspiration and metaphor.
MAKING OUR GIN
Castle Freke Gin is distilled in very small batches with rare organic and wild-gathered botanicals sourced from across the world, including Macedonian and Tuscan juniper, Nile Delta coriander, myrtle from the Castle demesne, and six rare citrus fruits from the celebrated Pyrenean orchards of Agrumes Schaller – the world renowned supplier to the finest Michelin star restaurants.
