The 11 Best Castle Hotels in Ireland

Set in an 11th-century castle the Clontarf Hotel combines ancient architecture with 21st-century facilities. 10 minutes’ from Dublin city centre, this boutique hotel offers an award-winning restaurant and luxurious bedrooms.

Rooms at the Clontarf Castle Hotel feature air-conditioning, LCD satellite TVs and free Wi-Fi. There is a 24-hour room service menu and beds have pillow-top mattresses.

The Fahrenheit Grill serves fine cuisine and specialises in local beef and fish dishes. The Knights Bar has ornate ceilings, huge open fireplaces and stained glass windows.

The Indigo Lounge, with its stylish sofas and red chandeliers, serves morning coffee, afternoon tea and an excellent selection of wines.

There is a bus stop outside of the Castle with regular services to the city centre.

The Fitzpatrick Castle Dublin Hotel overlooks Dublin Bay and is a 20-minute drive from Dublin. It offers rooms with free Wi-Fi, a pool and 2 award winning restaurants.

The rooms at the Fitzpatrick Castle Dublin Hotel feature en suite bathrooms and satellite TVs. They also include hairdryers, telephones and tea/coffee making facilities.

The AA Rosette PJ’s Restaurant serves fine food and The Mapas restaurant features fresh local produce.

The leisure centre has a whirlpool spa, a 20 metre indoor heated swimming pool, a Scandinavian wood sauna and a steam room. There is also a fully equipped gym. Please note that all guests are required to wear a swimming cap while in the pool, pool caps are available to purchase from our Fitness centre reception.

Children are welcome in the swimming pool and reception can give you a copy of specific swimming times for children.

There is a DART station 10 minutes away which services Dublin. The James Joyce Museum and Dalkey Castle are both within one mile and free parking is available at the Fitzpatrick. Dublin airport is 43 km from the property.

With a stunning, secluded setting on the shore of Lough Rynn, surrounded by over 300 acres of breathtaking scenery and ancient forests, this magnificent castle is now an elegant 4-star hotel.

Rich in ancient character and original charm, Lough Rynn Castle still retains all of its historic splendour, with antique furnishings, open fires, wood panelling and decorative stone and glasswork. Today, the hotel combines its traditional elegance with modern comforts and facilities.

The castle bedrooms feature air handling units and broadband internet access, while the estate's former stables and pheasantry have also been converted into luxurious accommodation. All rooms are tastefully decorated with rich, luxurious fabrics and beautifully preserved original features.

The Sandstone Restaurant offers an elegant fine-dining experience and has received an AA Rosette award. The restaurant offers a series of table d’hôte and à la carte menus, created using the finest, freshest seasonal produce from Leitrim and the surrounding counties.

Located just 45 minutes' drive from Sligo Airport, Kilronan Castle Hotel & Spa features an indoor swimming pool.On-site spa and a fine dining restaurant. Free WiFi is available throughout the hotel.

An en-suite bathroom, flat-screen TV and antique furniture are provided in each room. Tea/coffee making facilities are also provided.

The Douglas Hyde Restaurant offers fine dining with a range of dishes made using locally sourced produce.

Local activities include hiking, golf, sailing and biking. Lough Key Forest & Activity Park is a 20-minute drive away and boasts a variety of wildlife and historic buildings.

With a history dating back to 1180, Kilkea Castle provides accommodation set on 180 acres of woodland, gardens and a golf course. Among the facilities of this property are a restaurant, a 24-hour front desk and a shared lounge. A concierge service, free parking and luggage storage are available for guests.

The estate boasts 140 bedrooms with several accommodation options. Each of the 11 Castle Bedrooms are uniquely designed and the Carriage Rooms are located within the courtyard of Kilkea Castle where guests can choose from interconnecting and wheelchair accessible rooms. All rooms feature HDTV, luxury bathroom amenities and free WiFi.

Guests can enjoy a whisky in the castle bar, The Keep, before dining at Restaurant 1180 with a view overlooking the castle gardens. This fine-dining restaurant provides seasonal local produce and offers traditional Irish cuisine with a hint of International. Alternative dining options are located in the Clubhouse and include The Bistro, which offers a more informal dining experience, as well as Hermione’s Restaurant which features a simple yet sophisticated setting.

Kilkea Castle offers many outdoor activities such as an 18-hole Championship Golf Course, horse-riding, clay pigeon shooting, falconry, tennis, archery and fishing. The property also features a Spa with 5 treatment rooms including a large couples suite, a Relaxation Room, a Thermal Suite with a Hydrotherapy Pool and a Beauty Lounge for hair, make-up and nails.

Carlow is 15 km from the accommodation, while Kildare is 28 km away. The nearest airport is Dublin, 84 km from Kilkea Castle, and the property offers a paid airport shuttle service.

Situated in Castletownshend, The Castle offers adults-only accommodation with free WiFi and harbour views, as well as a garden and a private beach area.

Guests at the bed and breakfast can enjoy a continental or a Full English/Irish breakfast.

A terrace is available on site and hiking can be enjoyed within close proximity of The Castle.

Clonakilty is 35 km from the accommodation, while Bantry is 37 km from the property. The nearest airport is Cork Airport, 82 km from The Castle.

Featuring a garden and views of river, Wilton Castle is an apartment situated in a historic building in Enniscorthy, 33 km from Carrigleade Golf Course. The 4-star apartment features garden views and is 38 km from Altamont Gardens. The apartment also provides free WiFi, free private parking and facilities for disabled guests.

Each unit comes with a fully equipped kitchen with a dishwasher, a fireplace, a seating area, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with walk-in shower and a hair dryer. An oven, a microwave and toaster are also featured, as well as a kettle. At the apartment complex, all units have bed linen and towels.

Guests at the apartment will be able to enjoy activities in and around Enniscorthy, like fishing. Wilton Castle has a picnic area and a terrace.

Mount Wolseley (Golf) is 48 km from the accommodation, while Leinster Hills Golf Club is 49 km away.

Situated on 220 acres, Castlemartyr Resort consists of a grand 17th century country manor house that sits adjacent to the ruins of an 800-year-old-castle, the luxury 5-Star Castlemartyr Resort is a destination richly steeped in Irish history and tradition. History includes Strongbow, Walter Raleigh, the Knights Templar and more.

Over a number of years the grounds and buildings have been tastefully updated, they have been magnificently restored and elegantly enhanced to offer 108 guest rooms and suites, along with 36 luxury residences. The bedrooms and suites, located in the hotel building, have a luxurious contemporary feel and contain all the facilities for today’s traveller.

Come and experience Castlemartyr Resort and after a day filled with one of the numerous resort recreational amenities such as golf, tennis, and outdoor fun one should visit the spa for the ultimate wellness experience and see why it is regarded as the best in Ireland.

Castlemartyr Resort is known as a venue for relaxing, rewinding and also enjoying the award winning dining experiences with 5 different dining venues on site. The resort is also family friendly and extends a warm welcome to all guests whether attending a conference, enjoying golf, or an escape away for some family fun.

• Enjoy a challenging game of golf

• Taste delectable meals inspired by surrounding nature at Canopy Restaurant

• Experience a truly amazing gourmet journey in Terre

• Leave stress behind with a personalized spa treatment

• Borrow a bike to check out the neighbouring village, including the Traditional Pub The Hunted Hog

• Sip afternoon tea in the historic Manor House

Set within 43 acres of forest at the foot of the mountains, this stunning castle boasts huge rooms with 32-inch flat-screen TVs. The 5-star hotel offers a luxurious spa within its beautiful gardens.

Cosy bathrobes and slippers are provided in each luxury room, along with a wood-panelled marble bathroom. Rooms include oak furniture and idyllic garden views.

Cedars Restaurant has a terrace and features traditional dishes including seafood from the nearby port of Killybegs. The Gallery Bar serves light meals and snacks whilst the Father Browne Bar provides a more cosy setting for enjoying a drink or having a light bite to eat. The new whiskey cellar showcases Donegal’s unique whiskeys with bespoke tasting experiences.

The Cara Organic Beauty and Spa has a steam room, sauna, massage suites and outdoor hot tubs. There is a fitness centre and the swimming pool is located in a glass atrium, offering views over the grounds.

Guests can fish on Lough Eske, less than 5 minutes’ walk from the hotel, while Donegal is less than a 10-minute drive. Donegal Golf Club is a 15-minute drive, while Donegal Adventure Centre and Surf School is a 30-minute drive.

All guests are welcome to enjoy complimentary history tours, taking place 11am daily, complimentary use of the guest bicycles, and access to the swimming pool and gym.

The Mount Falcon Estate in Ballina sits on the banks of the River Moy.

The rooms at the Mount Falcon Estate have flat-screen TVs and Wi-Fi access. They also offer bathrobes, slippers and free luxurious toiletries.

The hotel offers guests 2 miles of private fishing along the river. The Ballina and Enniscrone golf courses are both within a 15-minute drive of Mount Falcon Estate.

Ballynahinch Castle Hotel in County Galway is set within 700 acres of woodland, with the beautiful backdrop of the 12 Bens Mountain range.The excellent restaurant holds 2 AA Rosettes.

Activities organised by the hotel include, hiking, cycling, walking, woodcock shooting and Lobster experience in the summer.This 4-star luxury castle hotel overlooks its impressive salmon fishery on the large private estate.

River and lakeside walks may reveal the local wildlife on the estate. The hotel has a walled garden.

Some rooms have striking views over the river, mountains and woodland. 24-hour room service is available. Facilities include a TV in some of the rooms.