From fairytale palaces to romantic bastions, here are five Irish venues that guarantee an unforgettable stay.
The island of Ireland is home to more than 3,000 castles (30,000 if you count ruins), some of them almost a 1,000 years old. While many function only as tourist sites, some have been repurposed and now offer a discerning traveller a unique chance to stay in historical opulence.
There is nothing quite like living in a castle to take your trip to Ireland from great to magical. Here are some castle stays that are guaranteed to take your breath away.
5. Clontarf Castle – a taste of luxury on Dublin’s doorstep
Built on the site of a famous 1014 battle, Clontarf Castle is a modernised, 12th century grey stone beauty, mere ten minutes away from the centre of Ireland’s capital.
In the past, it inspired many artists, such as the German composer George Frederic Handel and English Romantic painter J.M.W Turner.
While it is not as grand as some of the venues you will see further on this list, the numerous turrets and celebrated interiors of Clontarf are hard to resist for any traveller who wants to give their visit to Dublin some aristocratic glamour.
Address:Â Castle Ave, Clontarf East, Dublin 3, D03 W5NO, Ireland
4. Ross Castle – a haunted tower overlooking a foggy lake
If the city bustle is not your thing, Ross Castle in County Meath offers the exact opposite. Located at the edge of Lough Sheelin (meaning ‘lake of the fairy pool’), this remote tower house offers private rooms with a killer view.
Supposedly haunted by its former ruler and his love-lost daughter, Ross Castle is often visited by ghost hunters trying to capture the spectres on cameras.
Brave adventurers can either hire out individual rooms or spring for the whole castle, which would leave only them and the ghostly Black Baron to enjoy everything the midlands have to offer. Not to be confused with another (sadly impossible to stay in) Ross Castle in Kerry!
Address: Ross Castle, Mountnugent, County Meath, Ireland, A82HF89
3. Ashford Castle – the opulent former home of the Guinness family
As far as luxury resorts go, Ashford is as good as it gets. Complete with manicured grounds, gourmet restaurants and spa facilities, this 5-star favourite of travel-connoisseurs pulls out all stops.
800 years old and counting, the castle was redesigned in the 19th century into Victorian style by the then-owners, the Guinness family. Since being bought by corporate owners, it has meanwhile featured as a backdrop in a number of movies, including the 1952 John Ford classic The Quiet Man.
Address: Ashford Castle, Cong, County Mayo, F31 CA48, Ireland
2. Ballynagowan Castle –Â a place for your own historical romance
Whipped by the harsh winds from the Atlantic Coast, the stone-walled bedrooms and fire-lit great hall of Ballynowagan, also known as Smithstown Castle, will be your and your partner’s safe haven against the world.
Private and tastefully furnished with antiques, the castle’s location offers easy access to the unmissable Cliffs of Moher, as well as the many striking hikes in the Burren National Park.
If you are up for an adventure, you can even take the ferry for the famous Aran Islands, where Irish-speaking villages lie nestled within rolling hills. The weather of Western Ireland might be harsh, but don’t worry! There is central heating.
Address: Smithstown Castle, Smithstown, Kilshanny, Co. Clare, V95 NY90, Ireland
1. Lismore Castle – a chance to live like a Duke
Former Bishopric Palace of Ireland and the current Irish residence of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, Lismore Castle is, at selected dates in the year, available for hire. But here is the catch – if you want it, you have to have all of it.
That means all the 15 bedrooms, seven acres of gardens and a private chef. Old Masters’ paintings, a California-style swimming pool and stained glass window. You will join the austere company of such previous residents as Fred Astaire and John F. Kennedy.
The price? Unlisted, you will have to inquire yourself. While this is an opulent chance available only for the select few, no list of Irish castles would be complete without it.
Address: Lismore Castle, Lismore, Co. Waterford, Ireland
