A castle for everyone

Each of Ireland’s castles has its own history—and a unique offering for visitors. If you’re a lover of life’s finer things, the next-level luxury of Dromoland Castle, Lough Eske Castle and Ashford Castle will hit the spot, promising gourmet dining, award-winning spa treatments, afternoon tea, and five-star standards across the board.

At the other end of the spectrum is Black Castle: heated by a roaring fireplace, with no WiFi or electricity in the Great Hall, this is authentic medieval living.

Then there are the castles where guests can spend a romantic getaway rubbing shoulders with the owners. Master of Wilton Castle, Sean Windsor, delights in sharing its story with visitors; while the 7th Earl of Erne has opened the doors of County Fermanagh’s Crom Castle for years.

Or you can always go one step further and rent a whole place to yourself! Clomantagh Castle’s four-poster beds, antique furniture, wood panelling, and spiral staircases are the stuff of storybooks—and you won’t have to share them with anyone. Unlike at Ballygally Castle, where the ghost haunts the tower room…

Castle pastimes

While simply being in a castle will be enough to satisfy some excited travellers, there’s a whole lot more to these historic piles than the ambience alone. Activities such as fishing, horse riding and clay pigeon shooting are common on the acres of grounds and woodlands of many estates.

Wandering the grounds can be a delight in itself, too. Natural beauty is overflowing here, especially in the walled gardens. Many castles hide mysterious follies, like the Ballysaggartmore Towers at Lismore Castle, or the towers at Johnstown Castle. For something totally different, Game of Thrones® fans will feel right at home in Northern Ireland, where Ballygally Castle and Gosford Castle known to followers of the series as Riverrun – are well worth a visit.