Henry McIlhenny: Master of Glenveagh

This documentary tells the story of Henry McIlhenny, the last private owner of the Glenveagh estate, and the person who gave it to the Irish state: it’s now a national park. James McIlhenny, Henry’s great grandfather, was a successful cloth merchant in Co Donegal but on his deathbed he urged his young wife to take their four children to America. Less than 100 years later, Henry McIlhenny returned to Ireland and bought Glenveagh in 1937. The documentary was shot in Glenveagh and Philadelphia. For anyone interested in social history, fine art, the logistics of running the castle and deer park, gardens, interior design and even making a telephone call in the 1970s, this is a fascinating documentary, with stunning photography to match the grandeur and beauty of Glenveagh.