Irish castle breaks: keep the holiday magic alive with these 15 getaways
Cabra Castle, Co Cavan
Castellations and keeps, battlements and banqueting halls — Ireland’s castles offer a chance to step back in time and enjoy a unique and original historical experience.
From private rentals to the full five-star treatment, here are 15 Irish castles offering a fairytale escape.
Private castle rentals don’t have to cost such a princely sum, particularly when it’s a pocket-sized fort built for two.
Annes Grove Miniature Castle is one of the most unique rentals in Cork and just one of three castle rentals managed by the Irish Landmark Trust.
Built as a rather ornate gate lodge in the 1850s, the diminutive self-catering bolthole buttresses the Annes Grove Gardens estate and occupies a secluded country setting just outside Castletownroche.
The property features a small kitchen and characterful lounge to curl up in, while a spiral stone staircase leads up to the tower’s double bedroom. It’s dog-friendly too.
- Two-night stays from a very reasonable €342.
- irishlandmark.com
So extravagant are the proportions and architecture of Cabra Castle in Co Cavan, you’d be forgiven for thinking it was AI-generated for an Irish movie scene.
Like many Irish castles, the building is in fact a Tudor-revival country house from the 1800s which was embellished with towers, turrets, and castellations in a homage to the medieval period.
Today, it’s part of the Romantic Castles of Ireland collection and is full of characterful nooks and crannies to explore.
- Courtyard rooms start from €216 with castle doubles from €257.
- cabracastle.com
Many guests have checked into Kinnitty Castle in Co Offaly over the years — but one or two have never quite checked out.
That’s what they say, at least, at this 19th-century Gothic revival escape, often billed as Ireland’s most haunted castle, nestled at the foothills of the Slieve Blooms.
Accommodation options range from the less-inspired Abbey Court room to suites in the original castle with rates from €169.
While here, be sure to enjoy a nightcap in the Dungeon Bar. Ghost stories come on tap.
If you’re thinking of a pre-Christmas shopping haul at Kildare Village and would like to make a night of it, then why not treat yourself to a stay at beautiful Barberstown Castle in Straffan.
The Ireland’s Blue Book member (and former home of Eric Clapton) offers dream country house accommodation which wings off Barberstown’s original 13th-century castle tower.
Enjoy fine dining in the Barton Rooms or signature afternoon tea in the Garden Bar and Restaurant.
Fun fact: a secret tunnel was discovered under the hotel during renovations 30 years ago.
- Rates from €195.
- barberstowncastle.ie
Whenever I’m called upon for a recco for a luxury escape in Ireland, Connemara’s Ballynahinch Castle always teeters around my top tips.
The luxury Relais and Cháteaux member offers guests peak Hibernian hygge from its sympathetically designed rooms to its cosy Fisherman’s Bar all set within 700 acres of majestic landscape.
Head chef Danni Barry has just been received the Georgina Campbell Award for Ireland’s best chef so sublime evening dining in their Owenmore Restaurant and an indulgent breakfast smorgasbord come as standard.
- Rates from €305.
- ballynahinch-castle.com
One of Ireland’s, if not Europe’s, most exclusive five-star hotels, Ashford Castle is also, arguably, the most fairytale of them all.
The former home of the Guinness family, set on the shores of Lough Corrib, it offers guests supreme decadence with sublime food, indulgent rooms, and luxe facilities from a truly heavenly spa to the hotel’s very own cinema.
The prestige comes at a premium with B&B from €540 per night; you’ll currently find that rate available for dates throughout much of the new year and into February so consider Ashford Castle as the most salubrious of settings to beat the January blues.
One of my favourite stays of 2024 has been at Killeavy Estate, a four-star castle hotel tucked away in South Armagh — it’s actually the closest Northern Ireland getaway you can enjoy for those travelling north from Dublin.
Opened just five years, the gorgeously presented estate features stylish contemporary rooms. Superb dining, wonderful kitchen gardens, and even its own farm shop make for a wonderful gourmet break.
Plus, being on the foothills of magical Slieve Gullion, it makes for a super scenic stay too.
Note that the hotel proper is largely a new building adjacent to the four-bedroom castle which itself can be booked as a private rental.
- Rates from €216.
- killeavycastle.com
For a castle stay in the capital, four-star Clontarf Castle offers a relaxing retreat in Dublin, being within a short distance to Dollymount Strand or Howth and a 30-minute bus ride into the city.
Rooms range from boutique queens to four-poster suites while the beautifully ornate Knight’s Bar makes an ambient option for dining on some fine local seafood.
Pop a little Handel on your Spotify playlist during your stay too. The Baroque composer was a regular guest of the castle while performing his ‘Messiah’ in Dublin.
- Midweek rates from €179 include wine and chocolates.
- clontarfcastle.ie
For a wonderful winter’s tale in Donegal, check into the county’s only five-star hotel, Lough Eske Castle.
Set on the shores of the lake and overlooked by the Blue Stack mountains, the historic haven is offering some attractive packages right now with its winter retreat rate of €235 including a bottle of Prosecco and a €50 resort voucher.
It’s also open at Christmas if you’re considering a luxury festive escape. Rooms include contemporary garden rooms and classic castle suites while estate activities range from castle history tours to horse-drawn carriages.
Another Irish icon and one of Munster’s true legends of hospitality, the very mention of the name Dromoland conjures up the sense of a luxury castle stay.
Easy access to Shannon Airport and attractions such as the Cliffs of Moher have made the castle a mainstay choice for well-heeled Americans but it continues to woo and wow the home market too, offering the ultimate escape once you venture beyond its iconic gates.
Along with sublime dining, luxury rooms, and service par excellence, guests can enjoy the full gambit of country estate amenities too from falconry to golf.
- Rates from €399.
- dromoland.ie
With interiors rich with candelabra, tapestries and coats of arms, Ballyseede Castle near Tralee offers buckets of quintessential castle aesthetics for your buck.
The family-owned property retains a homely feel while their long-standing team of warm staff lend charm and character. It’s one of the more affordable castle stays on our list too.
Cosy castle doubles start from €168 while Ballyseede also offers accommodation at its lodge, which sits just a short walk from the main castle, from €150.
When I hear of a medieval castle available for private hire — and it’s an Ireland’s Blue Book member — then it all sounds like the perfect pairing for a unique winter getaway.
The 15th-century Tubbrid Castle is a three-bedroom self-catering castle located in Kilkenny’s secluded Sliabhardagh Hills.
The castle had been uninhabited for over a century but following a loving renovation in recent years, it has been restored to its former glory — and then some.
Four-poster beds, a standalone tub overlooking the countryside, and a fully equipped kitchen with an oak banquet table are some of the highlights.
- €1,870 for two nights for eight guests.
- tubbridcastle.com
Hidden Ireland is another collection of sublime Irish properties which I’m a big fan of and one of its true gems is The Castle, Castletownshend, in West Cork.
The 17th-century castellated country pile-turned-boutique B&B offers eight wonderful rooms with six of those featuring blissful harbour views.
Weekend rates from €280 for two nights make this a very attractive option for a winter escape with oodles of character.
Located on its own private island, Waterford Castle really ramps up the scene for a novelty getaway.
The four-star hotel resort, reachable via a four-minute ferry ride from the mainland, is one of its kind in Ireland and offers guest accommodation from lavish suites in the castle proper to 45 self- catering lodges which are hugely popular for families.
Nature walks, clay pigeon shooting, croquet and tennis are just some of the pursuits on offer to gently while away your time.
- From €239.
- waterfordcastleresort.com
My first ever travel feature followed a friend’s birthday gathering at Ballybur Castle and 15 years on, the magic of my stay at this 16th-century Kilkenny castle still lives on in my memory.
The gorgeous self-catering keep can host a party of 10 with bedrooms spread over four fabulous floors loaded with medieval character and cosy creature comforts.
You can even climb up to the castle’s ramparts, from which on a fine day, beautiful countryside and views of Mount Leinster spill out around you.
Rates from €1,000 per night for 10 guests.
- ballyburcastle.com
- Rates quoted are for B&B based on two adults sharing unless otherwise stated.