The castle hotel was designed and built by john ensor as a matching pair of palazzo houses the stonework was executed by thomas darleygeorge and john ensor came to dublin from england in 1746 john ensor was apprenticed to richard castle who designed many of the great irish houses including russborough house and leinster house the ensor brothers very much embraced the palladian style and upon the death of richard castle john ensor took over his practice and completed the rotunda hospital t