The Best Castle Hotels in Ireland
Courtesy Ashford CastleAshford Castle
Dating to the height of the Norman invasion of Ireland during the High Middle Ages, circa 1228, western Ireland's Ashford Castle is the ultimate portal into your storybook reveries. A protective moat, spires, raised watchtowers, and labyrinthine gardens set the scene outdoors while a grand dining room, library, lakeside drawing room, canopy beds, and Victorian interiors only further heighten the castle experience indoors. Add to that the amenities from a two-year, $75 million renovation like dine-in wine cellars, a rooftop cigar terrace, and a dazzling spa (housed in a newly constructed Philippe Bonino-designed bronze conservatory), and the modern day fairy tale is brought to life.
Courtesy Dromoland CastleDromoland Castle Hotel & Country Estate
This 16th-century family palace of the Dromoland O’Briens, Kings of Thomond, is now one of western Ireland’s best five-star experiences. Expect towers, turrets, fifth-century relics, oak paneling, damask wall coverings, and other bespoke fabrics by Colefax and Fowler to nevertheless bring in a pinch of modernity. Dress to the nines for an upscale Irish feast at the Earl of Thomond restaurant—we recommend the tasting menu—and don't pass up on a nightcap at the cocktail bar.
Courtesy Waterford CastleWaterford Castle Hotel & Golf Resort
One of Ireland’s more under-the-radar castle experiences lies on a small private island off the River Suir in the country's southeast, accessible by a very short ferry crossing from the mainland. This restored 16th- century, ivy-clad castle has just 19 rooms, each framed by the fortification’s original cast iron windows overlooking the grounds. The island’s 18-hole, par 72 Des Smyth-designed championship golf course ranks the destination high among golf enthusiasts, and the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant, Munster Room, makes it a popular haunt for foodies.
Courtesy Castlemartyr ResortCastlemartyr Resort
The castle and hotel portions of this resort in southern Ireland stand separate, the former ruins of a fortified structure erected in 1210 by the Knights Templar. (Today, the 17th-century manor house built under Richard Boyle, the original Earl of Cork, has been turned into the hotel.) If it’s the historical experience you covet, opt for one of the suites or staterooms in the restored manor house versus the more contemporary rooms in the resort’s newer wing. Though much of the activity focus here is family-oriented, couples find this 220-acre estate equally fabulous. Just ask Kanye West and Kim Kardashian, who chose Castlemartyr for their honeymoon in 2015.
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Courtesy Ballynahinch Castle Hotel/©Barry Murphy PhotgraphyBallynahinch Castle Hotel & Estate
Young by castle standards, and representative of an era when fortifications and extreme defense were no longer required, this 250-year-old castle hotel in western Ireland skews more traditional manor house than medieval marvel. One of its greatest assets is its location, adjacent to a salmon-rich river, immersed in 450 acres of wild Connemara countryside, and in the shadow of the 12 Bens mountain range. Unlike most castle hotels, which focus on traditional activities like falconry and archery, Ballynahinch takes advantage of its surroundings with pursuits like fly fishing, lobster fishing, bicycling, and hiking.
Courtesy Lough Eske CastleLough Eske Castle, a Solís Hotel & Spa
Set on the shores of the emerald Lough Eske in Ireland’s northwest reaches, this castle traces its history to the late 15th century, yet what stands today is a combo of its 1860 resurrection and a post-fire, 2007 rebuild. The Old World motif is lighter here than at other neighboring castle-hotels, though you’ll still get plenty of oak furniture, four-poster canopy beds, and oil painting in the hallways. (Note, too, that the price point is often significantly lower than other four- and five-star Irish castle hotels.) Guest rooms tend to be spacious ,and the standard soaking tubs are a plus, but the lack of A/C can be a deal breaker for some.