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Some waited four hours to get inside
When Chris McNamee bought her Medford condominium nearly 12 years ago, it looked like something straight out of the 1970s, complete with green shag carpeting, orange countertops and harvest-gold appliances.
Today, the home is almost unrecognizable.
Stone walls, stained-glass windows, antique furniture, suits of armor and elaborate wooden doors have transformed the space into Mac Con Midhe Castle, a medieval-inspired retreat McNamee built entirely with her own hands.
“I wanted to live in a castle,” she said, “since there were none to be had, I decided to build one.”
The name Mac Con Midhe is the original Gaelic spelling of McNamee’s surname. Although she has never visited a real castle, she has spent years studying medieval architecture and collecting pieces to create her own version.
“I always had an affinity for that kind of architecture,” she told Greater Long Island.
McNamee originally hoped to find an old stone church to call home. When that proved difficult, she decided to bring her vision to life herself.
With years of experience in the construction industry, McNamee tackled much of the work on her own, building decorative doors, intricate ceiling details, a fireplace wall and elaborate stairwell features.
The transformation unfolded over more than a decade, with McNamee regularly revisiting rooms, replacing furnishings and adding architectural touches as new ideas took shape.
“I’m always changing things,” she said.
Much of the furniture dates to the 1800s, with pieces collected from antique stores, garage sales and online marketplaces. McNamee regularly travels throughout New England and beyond in search of items that fit her medieval vision.
Some discoveries come with unusual histories.
Her dining table incorporates a door from a castle in London, while a collection of antique “birthing chairs” came from a seller in Patchogue. Other pieces have been brought by visitors who thought they would fit right in.
A neighborhood attraction
— Chris McNamee courtesy photos
For years, McNamee worked on the home without most of her neighbors knowing what was taking shape behind her front door.
That changed when two neighbors spotted her working on her outdoor patio and asked what she was building.
McNamee invited them inside, and their reaction inspired her to share photos of the castle on her condominium complex’s Facebook page.
The response was immediate.
Ahead of Halloween in 2021, McNamee announced she would open her doors for tours from 6 to 9 p.m., figuring a handful of families might stop by while trick-or-treating.
Instead, about 250 people showed up, with some waiting as long as four hours for a chance to step inside.
“I was shocked,” she said.
The unexpected turnout inspired McNamee to begin welcoming visitors by appointment.
Today, she occasionally opens the castle for tours and allows friends and creative collaborators to use the space for music videos, photography and other projects.
For McNamee, sharing the home is part of the enjoyment of creating it.
“Where else are you going to get this experience on Long Island?” she said.
And despite more than a decade of renovations, the castle remains a work in progress. McNamee continues to hunt for antiques, refine architectural details and find new ways to bring her medieval vision to life.
How to visit
Tours of Mac Con Midhe Castle are available by appointment only, with visitors encouraged to contact McNamee through the castle’s Facebook page or Instagram account to arrange a visit.
There is no admission charge, although visitors may leave a voluntary donation.
McNamee has not confirmed plans for public tours this Halloween, and visitors should make arrangements in advance rather than showing up unannounced.
Take a photo tour
Credit: GLI/Julianne Mosher
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