Castle Hotels - CURIOUS IRELAND

Here’s a selection of some of the best hotels in the country. Many of these properties were former homes to some of the wealthiest families in Ireland including the Guinness family, former politicians, and bishop’s houses.

Markree Castle, Collooney. County Sligo 1800

emmet2023-05-10T16:18:22+00:00

An exceptional hotel & asteroid discoveries The impressive Markree Castle Hotel stands on land that was originally controlled by the McDonagh clan. After the Cromwellian invasion of Ireland, the lands were granted to [...]

Markree Castle, Collooney. County Sligo 1800emmet2023-05-10T16:18:22+00:00

Parknasilla Resort & Spa Hotel, Derryquin. County Kerry 1897

emmet2023-05-05T06:00:57+00:00

Location, Location, Location The Parknasilla Hotel is on the famous Ring of Kerry road and has some of the best seascapes in the country. This location, according to mythology was where the ancient Milesian [...]

Parknasilla Resort & Spa Hotel, Derryquin. County Kerry 1897emmet2023-05-05T06:00:57+00:00

Lough Eske Castle Hotel, Lough Eske. County Donegal 1868

emmet2023-06-24T11:11:07+00:00

Donegal's 5-star beauty Lough Eske was once part of the domain of the powerful O’Donnell clan who ruled from the nearby Donegal Castle for hundreds of years. After the Flight of the Earls in [...]

Lough Eske Castle Hotel, Lough Eske. County Donegal 1868 emmet2023-06-24T11:11:07+00:00

Barberstown Castle, Straffan. County Kildare c.1500

emmet2023-05-10T07:03:14+00:00

37 owners (so far) including Eric Clapton Barberstown Castle was built around c.1500 on the site of an earlier 13th-century Norman castle built by Nicholas Barby. Over the next 800 years, records show [...]

Barberstown Castle, Straffan. County Kildare c.1500emmet2023-05-10T07:03:14+00:00

Dromoland Castle Hotel, Dromoland. County Clare c.15th-c.19th

emmet2024-03-09T12:18:57+00:00

The ancestral home of the O'Brien's Dromoland is the ancestral home of the O’Briens who are the direct descendants of Brian Boru and are one of the few Royal Gaelic families. The earliest castle [...]

Dromoland Castle Hotel, Dromoland. County Clare c.15th-c.19th emmet2024-03-09T12:18:57+00:00

Clontarf Castle & Gatehouse, Clontarf. North Dublin City 1172-1830

emmet2023-05-05T22:21:21+00:00

The gorgeous gatehouse to a musical castle This was the location of the famous battle of Clontarf of 1014 involving Brian Boru. The first castle here was built by Hugh de Lacy in [...]

Clontarf Castle & Gatehouse, Clontarf. North Dublin City 1172-1830emmet2023-05-05T22:21:21+00:00

Kilkea Castle, Castledermot. County Kildare 1426

emmet2023-08-02T15:14:45+00:00

The Fitzgeralds & The Wizard Earl This was originally the site of a motte and bailey built by Sir Walter de Riddlesford in 1181. His granddaughter married Maurice Fitzgerald, and so The Manor [...]

Kilkea Castle, Castledermot. County Kildare 1426 emmet2023-08-02T15:14:45+00:00

Ashford Castle, Cong. County Mayo c.12th & c.19th centuries

emmet2023-06-25T06:34:04+00:00

Regarded as one of the finest hotels in the world Ashford Castle dates back to the 13th century when it was the principal residence of the Anglo-Norman De Burgo family. It remained in [...]

Ashford Castle, Cong. County Mayo c.12th & c.19th centuriesemmet2023-06-25T06:34:04+00:00

Adare Manor, Adare. County Limerick 1864

emmet2023-05-05T05:56:54+00:00

One of Ireland's most beautiful hotels These lands were once part of a huge estate owned by the Fitzgerald Family, the most powerful family in Ireland. During the reign of Henry VIII, the [...]

Adare Manor, Adare. County Limerick 1864 emmet2023-05-05T05:56:54+00:00

Castle Durrow, Durrow. County Laois 1716

emmet2023-10-05T22:56:14+00:00

One of Ireland's finest boutique hotels Castle Durrow was built in 1716 as a manor home for the family of Captain William Flower. Its elegant proportions and classical elements are described as grand [...]

Castle Durrow, Durrow. County Laois 1716emmet2023-10-05T22:56:14+00:00

Castle Leslie, Glaslough. County Monaghan 1870

emmet2023-05-09T10:36:57+00:00

Elegant Victorian hotel The Leslies can trace their ancestry back to Attila the Hun of Hungary through a Hungarian nobleman called Bartholomew Leslie. Bartholomew lived in Scotland during the Reign of Queen Margaret [...]

Castle Leslie, Glaslough. County Monaghan 1870emmet2023-05-09T10:36:57+00:00