These Are the Best Castle Hotels in Ireland in 2026
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Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel feels both connected to Dublin and pleasantly removed from it. One of only two castle hotels within the city, it occupies an enviable position above Dublin Bay in the leafy, upper class suburb of Killiney. What began life as the 18th-century manor house, Mount Malpas, acquired the turrets and castle-like flourishes in the 19th-century that give it its castle folly architecture today. Inside, the 113 guestrooms are… > Read More
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Tucked between Donegal Town and the Blue Stack Mountains, we love Lough Eske Castle’s setting, with the lake on one side and woodland all around, it feels wonderfully secluded. The rooms are exceptionally spacious, whether you stay in the castle itself or in the former stables and garden cottages, and are pretty much as good as you’ll find in any luxury urban hotel. The decor is fairly formal, and demur… > Read More
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In a beautiful setting in the wilds of Connemara, Galway, Ballynahinch Castle has acres of woods, a lake and a famous salmon fishing river on its grounds, within which you’ll find miles and miles of beautiful country walks. It also makes a superb base for further exploration of some of Europe’s most iconic scenery. The hotel itself is full of old world charm, and is a relaxed, sociable place that… > Read More
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We first loved Abbeyglen Castle Hotel for its setting. It sits above Clifden Bay with the Twelve Bens away in the distance. it feels very rural Connemara, but with the centre of Clifden, the region’s capital in all but name, just a short walk away. The hotel itself occupies a Victorian-era castle folly and has a comfortable, welcoming feel. It’s not the grandest castle hotel in Ireland, nor does it… > Read More
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Some castle hotels can feel a little formal or overly grand, but Ballyseede has a warmth and ease about it. The location helps too. It’s just outside Tralee in County Kerry, and makes a very convenient base for exploring this, one of Ireland’s most beautiful regions. The castle dates back to the 16th century and retains plenty of historic character. We preferred the rooms and suites in the castle itself,… > Read More
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Long the jewel in the crown of Irish Castle Hotels, and more than ever after its acquisition, and subsequent upgrade, by the Red Carnation Hotel group in 2013, the 5 star Ashford Castle is a globally recognized brand. We could never not put Ashford in a list of Ireland’s best castle hotels. It’s always in the running for Ireland’s best hotel in general in fact. So you can come with extremely… > Read More
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Dromoland Castle has obvious grandeur, and a big reputation. It is in fact one of South West Ireland’s very best hotels. Location wise it’s convenient too, not far from Shannon Airport, Limerick City and close enough to the Cliffs of Moher for a day trip. There’s a lot of history here, tied to the O’Brien clan and going back around a thousand years, although the castle you see today is… > Read More
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Different from most castle hotels in Ireland, Clontarf Castle is just minutes from the centre of Dublin, making it a decent choice for anyone wanting a luxury city break with a little history thrown into the mix. Parts of the property date back centuries, but the interiors are contemporary, with not too much of the history on display inside. Purists looking for creaking staircases and medieval ambience may prefer somewhere… > Read More
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Co. Cavan isn’t generally an obvious destination for foreign tourists to Ireland, it’s an unassuming, typically rural, inland county that many people only end up passing through on their way from Dublin to the more mountainous, coastal charms of places like Sligo or Donegal. This location might be one of the reasons Cabra Castle is more under the radar for foreign visitors than other castle hotels in Ireland, but it… > Read More
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There are plenty of castle hotels in Ireland that rely heavily on their heritage Castlemartyr Castle Resort gives it more than a nod, sure, but it mainly wowed us with the facilities of a genuinely first-rate luxury resort. The setting certainly helps too. The estate is in peaceful, rural East Cork, and the estate has 220 acres of gardens and woodland, and the ruins of the 800-year-old Castlemartyr Castle. While… > Read More
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Kilkea Castle is perhaps Irelands most authentic castle hotel. There’s a huge amount of history here, dating back to the 12th century, and is reputed to be Ireland’s longest continually inhabited castle. It’s in County Kildare, under an hour from Dublin, so it’s very easy to reach. We liked the variety of accommodation at Kilkea, from rooms inside the castle itself and courtyard rooms, to more modern, more independent, lodges… > Read More
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There is plenty at Barberstown Castle for anyone interested in Irish history, but it never feels overly grand. Instead, the atmosphere is warm, comfortable and relaxed. We also appreciated the location. Being less than half an hour from Dublin Airport makes it a nice, easy choice for a first or last night in Ireland, or just a break from the city. The rooms are found in the Elizabethan and Georgian… > Read More
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In the foothills of County Offaly’s Slieve Bloom Mountains and surrounded by a scenic 650-acre estate, Kinnitty Castle Hotel offers romance and seclusion. The history here stretches back more than seven centuries, although the present castle dates largely from the early 18th. It’s a pretty big castle but there are just 37 rooms, creating a nicely intimate feel. The rooms are spacious sure, but much of the space is given… > Read More
