B&B Castle Hotels in Ireland – 2026
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Between Donegal Town and the wilds of the Blue Stack Mountains, in Ireland’s much underrated northwest, lies the 5 star Lough Eske Castle. The only castle hotel in Co. Donegal, it was once the seat of the infamous O’Donnell Clan and boasts a tremendous amount of local and national history. It also has an idyllic lakeside setting, 43 acres of private gardens and woodland, top-rate spa facilities, a choice of quality restaurants and bars, extremely spacious rooms and suites, and a warm welcoming atmosphere throughout. Lough Eske Castle at a Glance Castle: A historic Donegal castle with O’Donnell Clan connections and origins stretching back to the area’s medieval past. Accommodation:… > See All the Details & Book
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One of only two castle hotels within the city of Dublin, Fitzpatrick Castle has a lovely setting overlooking Dublin Bay in the quiet, prosperous south side suburb of Killiney. The present structure dates back to the 18th century and the construction of a relatively modest manor house, named Mount Malpas, later Killiney Castle, At various points in the 19th century it then received more castle-like embellishments to resemble more closely the building we see today. After a period of abandonment in the mid 20th century it was opened as a hotel in 1970 by the Fitzpatrick family and renamed Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel. Its 113 rooms are very nicely, seemingly individually,… > See All the Details & Book
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The nearest castle hotel to the centre of Ireland’s capital, Dublin, the 4-star Clontarf Castle has luxury accommodation in what is now a blend of 12th-century castle site, 18th-century manor house, and 21st-century hotel. It takes a lot of good design to get the balance right and Clontarf Castle manages it, with the first sight of the very Celtic Tiger-looking glass entrance foyer somehow managing to not look incongruous against the ancient ivy-covered tower walls behind. Once inside the theme continues with the bright and bold interiors balancing smartly the old and the new. In the bedrooms, though the relatively modern usually edges it; think old-fashioned luxury city hotel rather… > See All the Details & Book
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Castlemartyr Castle Resort has 5-star accommodation near Midleton, East Cork, adjacent to the ruins of the 800-year-old castle that bears its name. The centrepiece building is the 18th-century manor house, but most of the 103 rooms and suites are in two adjacent modern wings. Castlemartyr Castle Resort at a Glance Castle: An 18th-century manor house beside the ruins of the 800-year-old castle that gives the resort its name. Accommodation: 103 rooms and suites, with historic Manor State Rooms and Grand Suites in the old manor house alongside contemporary rooms in two modern wings. Dining: Terre offers modern French cuisine with Asian influences and Michelin-starred dining, alongside Canopy and three bars… > See All the Details & Book
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Ireland’s oldest still inhabited castle is the imposing, 12th-century era, Kilkea Castle, in Kildare, near Dublin. Now a castle hotel, it is one of the finest in the country. It has an abundance of historical character and is surrounded by a 180-acre estate which includes some beautifully tended gardens, much wild parkland and woodland, and even its own 18-hole golf course. Kilkea Castle at a Glance Castle: A 12th-century castle and one of Ireland’s oldest still inhabited castles, with an abundance of historical character. Accommodation: Rooms and suites in the castle itself, courtyard rooms in the old castle outbuildings, and separate lodges offering both B&B rooms and self-catering accommodation. The… > See All the Details & Book
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Barberstown Castle in County Kildare, not far from Dublin, has 1000 years of Irish history to its name, and is now a highly rated 4 star castle hotel. The building does include a 13th-century castle, which you can explore (and arrange private dining in the old castle dining hall) but the 55 rooms & suites are all in the adjacent Elizabethan and Georgian manor houses. The hotel has been careful not to modernize the rooms too much and the results are good. They have much historic flavour, particularly their Double Room with Four Poster Bed. It’s a four star hotel though so you can expect to be as comfortable as… > See All the Details & Book
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Just outside the town of Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland’s only castle hotel is the 4-star Ballyseede Castle. It has a history dating back to the 16th century and pleasingly blends many modern comforts with historical grandeur. It also has award-winning food, beautiful grounds, and a pleasant, relaxed atmosphere throughout. Ballyseede Castle at a Glance Castle: 4-star castle hotel with a history dating back to the 16th century, blending modern comforts with historical grandeur. Accommodation: Rooms and suites are available in the castle itself and in a nearby lodge; castle rooms include beautifully furnished suites and superior rooms, while the lodge is more modern and B&B-like. Dining: Two restaurants and a bar, with… > See All the Details & Book
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A very grand 4-star castle hotel in County Cavan, Ireland, Cabra Castle is a lovely sight both inside and out. It is a place where luxury and old-world elegance are complimented by friendly staff, good food and drink, and the acres of ancient woodland of the surrounding Dun A Ri Forest Park. Cabra Castle at a Glance Castle: A grand 4-star castle hotel with beautifully elegant interiors, period fittings and furniture. Accommodation: Old-style luxury double/twin bedrooms in the castle itself, plus cottage and courtyard rooms on the grounds, furnished in traditional style. Location: Near Kingscourt in Co. Cavan, bordering Meath and Monaghan and about an hour from Dublin City. Dining:… > See All the Details & Book
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Right outside Clifden, Connemara, this homely, welcoming Irish castle hotel can be a great base for exploring the region. Abbeyglen sits a wooded hillside overlooking Clifden Bay and with The Twelve Bens Mountains in the background it feels rural, but is yet only a five minute walk from the centre of the town (uphill on your way back though – be warned!) It’s a four star hotel in a Victorian-era castle folly that is wonderfully well kept, both the interiors and the gardens that surround. Rooms are spacious and comfortable, Abbeyglen is certainly a quality hotel. Classically styled with antique furniture, four poster beds and free standing bath tubs they feel… > See All the Details & Book
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Consistently rated as one of Ireland’s best luxury hotels, the first thing to recommend about the four-star Ballynahich Castle in Galway is its superb location. It has 350 acres of peaceful, mature woodland that sit below the Twelve Bens Mountains like a green oasis in what is very much the heart of Connemara, one of Ireland’s most beautiful natural landscapes. It will also impress with extremely high levels of service, comfort, and facilities, its salmon lake, its top-class restaurant and welcoming bar, and its interesting, rather eclectic history. Ballynahinch Castle at a Glance Castle: A historic manor-house-style castle hotel with connections to the O’Flaherty Clan, the Martin family, and… > See All the Details & Book
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The most renowned of all Ireland’s castle hotels, 5-star Ashford Castle in Co. Galway, is an extremely impressive property, with an extravagant setting, an imposing exterior, and very lavish interiors. Those factors combined with a great range of modern facilities, great food, and high levels of service, make Ashford Castle a consistent choice for lists of the best hotels in Ireland, and indeed in Europe. Ashford Castle at a Glance Castle: A historic castle hotel dating back to 1228, with later Victorian and Gothic Revival additions. Accommodation: 83 individually designed rooms and suites, plus one private Hideaway Cottage, furnished with antique pieces, works of art and high-quality fabrics alongside the… > See All the Details & Book
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In County Clare, near Shannon Airport and the Cliffs of Moher, the 5 star Dromoland Castle is very much one of Ireland’s best castle hotels, and best hotels in general, it can be said. It has history too of course, a full thousand years of it, though the present castle structure is 19th century Gothic Revival. It was very closely associated with the O’Brien clan, direct descendants of Ireland’s most famous king, Brian Boru. There’s a lot to take in at Dromoland, beyond the sense of history (they do history tours). It has a Michelin star awarded restaurant, 500 acres of private park and woodland, a world class golf course, spa… > See All the Details & Book
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In the foothills of County Offaly’s Slieve Bloom Mountains, the 4 star Kinnity Castle Hotel is surrounded by 650 acres of parkland. and has over seven centuries of Irish history to its name. As is the case with the vast majority of castle hotels, the current building was built much later, in this case the early 18th century on the site of the previous castle. The interior design is generally careful and thoughtful at Kinnity, especially the bedrooms (check them out here) and it does feel more historic than most. The castle is quite large but there are only 37 guest rooms. Much of the place then is common space,… > See All the Details & Book
