Castles in Ireland: Castle Hotels You Can Stay In & Iconic Castles to Visit

Ireland boasts a rich history, and scattered across its lush landscapes are some of the most enchanting and historically significant castles in the world. After years of travelling Ireland, staying in castle hotels, and visiting historic fortresses, one thing is very clear: not all castles are meant to be stayed in and that’s exactly how it should be.

I pull over for every ruined castle I pass., if I spot grey stone crumbling against the green hills, I’m stopping. Some are proper sites with car parks and information plaques. Most are just fields with a tower house sinking into the earth, sheep grazing around what was once someone’s home.

I’ve peeked through windows missing their glass, stood in hallways open to the sky, tried to imagine the roof that used to be there. The castle hotels I’ve stayed in are saturated in history and I always want to know the stories that played out before they became luxurious stays for tourists.

Some Irish castles have been transformed into luxurious hotels where you can sleep beneath stone battlements, dine by candlelight, and wander centuries-old estates. Others are preserved as historic landmarks and are best experienced through guided tours, banquets, exhibitions, and walks.

To make planning easier, this guide is divided into sections:

Castle hotels in Ireland you can stay in

Castles in Ireland that are best visited, not slept in

Family Friendly Castle Hotels: These castles are known for welcoming children, offering space to explore, flexible dining, and activities that keep kids engaged.

Castle Hotels in Ireland

These castles offer on-site accommodation from five-star luxury to affordable boutique stays and self-catering castles.

County Galway

Abbeyglen Castle Hotel

Constructed in 1832, Abbeyglen Castle has served as an orphanage, fallen into dereliction, and been carefully restored, with many locals claiming the castle still carries echoes of its turbulent past in its corridors and towers Abbeyglen Castle Hotel is a 4-star castle hotel surrounded by gorgeous woods and parkland. Built in 1832, it has been used as a Protestant orphanage, a derelict sheep shelter, and was beautifully restored in the 1960s by the Hughes family. Prices can be as low as €98 out of season outstanding value for a castle stay.

Ballynahinch Castle Hotel

Dating back to the 1700s, Ballynahinch began life as a fishing lodge and was once linked to Grace O’Malley, with its remote rivers, forests, and stone interiors preserving a strong sense of Gaelic Ireland. Ballynahinch Castle sits on 700 acres in the heart of Connemara with views of the Twelve Bens. Once inhabited by Grace O’Malley, it is now one of Ireland’s finest hotels.

Expect riverside walks, exceptional dining, outdoor pursuits, and easy access to Connemara National Park, Kylemore Abbey, and Clifden. Prices average €300 per night.

County Clare

Dromoland Castle Hotel

Originally a defensive stronghold of the O’Brien dynasty, descendants of High King Brian Boru, Dromoland evolved into a grand 19^th century estate, with generations of power, politics, and privilege woven into its walls. Dromoland Castle is a five-star luxury hotel set on 400 acres. Family-friendly amenities include kids clubs, babysitting, and outdoor activities. Close to the Burren and Cliffs of Moher.

County Kilkenny

Kilkea Castle (County Kildare border but traditionally grouped here)

An 800-year-old castle offering stays in the castle, carriage house, or lodge rooms. Activities include falconry, archery, whiskey tastings, and estate walks. Rooms in the Lodge start at €190 Euros.

County Kerry

Ballyseede Castle Hotel

Built in the 18th century, Ballyseede Castle is steeped in Civil War history and local folklore, with its most famous resident spirit, Hilda, said to still wander the halls accompanied by the scent of roses. County Kerry’s only castle hotel, set on 30 acres of woodland near Tralee. Known for its resident Irish wolfhound and friendly ghost Hilda. Rooms range from €140–€275 including breakfast.

County Cavan

Cabra Castle Hotel

Dating back to the 17^th Century, Cabra Castle’s romantic architecture hides darker legends, including tales of forbidden love and ghostly cries that locals claim still echo through the estate. Located in Dún na Rí Forest Park, Cabra Castle offers 24 bedrooms and 6 cottages. A popular castle hotel with strong ghost lore and great value pricing (€140–€220).

County Monaghan

Castle Leslie Estate

Home to the Leslie family since the 1600s, Castle Leslie is known for its eccentric aristocratic past, artistic residents, and an unusual number of reported hauntings tied to tragic family events. Castle Leslie has hosted royalty, musicians, and world leaders. Offers Victorian treatment rooms, horse riding, kayaking, and afternoon tea. Room rates range from €120–€304 including breakfast.

County Dublin

Clontarf Castle Hotel

Originally a medieval stronghold dating to the 12th century, Clontarf Castle stands near the site of the Battle of Clontarf, where Brian Boru defeated the Vikings in 1014, shaping Ireland’s future. Located just outside Dublin city centre, Clontarf Castle blends medieval history with modern luxury. Close to Bram Stoker’s birthplace and Dublin Airport. Rooms range from €159–€299.

Luttrellstown Castle Resort

Built in the 15th century, Luttrellstown Castle has hosted royalty, Hollywood stars, and historic weddings, while its vast estate conceals centuries of political intrigue and aristocratic life. A five-star exclusive-hire castle set on 560 acres with a championship golf course. Famous for hosting the Beckham wedding and many royal guests.

County Roscommon

Kilronan Castle Estate & Spa

Originally built in the early 1800s and later abandoned, Kilronan Castle was painstakingly restored using historical records to recreate the grandeur of a bygone aristocratic era. Offers a spa, fine dining, and easy access to Boyle Abbey and Sligo.

County Offaly

Kinnitty Castle Hotel

Kinnitty Castle has risen from ashes more than once, with the current Gothic Revival structure built in 1928, and legends of monks, spectres, and restless spirits lingering from earlier incarnations. Set at the foothills of the Slieve Bloom Mountains and offers fine dining, outdoor activities, and proximity to Birr Castle.

County Waterford

Waterford Castle Hotel

Set on a private island, Waterford Castle was the ancestral home of the Fitzgerald family for over 800 years, its isolation offering both protection and secrecy during centuries of unrest. Located on a private island in the River Suir, this restored 16th-century castle offers hotel rooms, lodges, and falconry experiences.

County Donegal

Lough Eske Castle Hotel

Originally built in the 15th century and later reduced to ruins, Lough Eske Castle has been reborn as a luxury hotel while retaining legends tied to the O’Donnell clan and Donegal’s turbulent past. A luxury five-star castle hotel set on a 43-acre estate along the Wild Atlantic Way. Features a spa, pool, and elegant dining.

County Leitrim

Lough Rynn Castle Hotel

Once home to the notorious Lord Leitrim, whose ruthless reputation led to his assassination, Lough Rynn Castle carries a darker chapter of landlord rule within its refined modern setting. Former home of Lord Leitrim, now a refined castle hotel with walled gardens, cottages, and access to outdoor activities. Prices from €110 off-season.

County Sligo

Markree Castle

Owned by the Cooper family for over 370 years, Markree Castle blends military origins with Victorian elegance and is said to contain secret passageways and priest holes from penal times. The only castle hotel in Sligo, set on a 500-acre estate with wildlife, walking trails, and exclusive-use options.

County Mayo

Belleek Castle

Belleek Castle was built between 1825 and finished in 1831 for the cost of £10,000 It was taken over by the Mayo County Council in the 1950s and they used the Manor House as a hospital & military barracks and then abandoned it. In 1961 Marshall Doran, a merchant navy officer and an avid collector of fossils and medieval armour, bought the property beautifully restored it and opened it as a hotel.

Northern Ireland – Castle Hotels

Ballygally Castle (County Antrim)

Built in 1625, Ballygally Castle is famed for the ghost of Lady Isabella, said to roam the tower after being imprisoned by her husband centuries ago. A 17th-century castle hotel on the Causeway Coast with sea views and a resident ghost along with one of the Carved Doors on the tour of Doors from Game of Thrones.

Belle Isle Castle (County Fermanagh)

Set on a private island in Lough Erne, Belle Isle has been inhabited since the 12th century, with layers of medieval, Georgian, and modern history beneath its elegant façade. The Castle offers full-castle hire and self-catering cottages.

Crom Castle (County Fermanagh)

A Victorian castle set within a major conservation estate, Crom Castle reflects aristocratic life of the 19th century while preserving ancient woodland and monastic ruins on its grounds. The West Wing can be rented as a five-star self-catering stay.

Narrow Water Castle (County Down)

Originally a 15^th century tower house later transformed into an Elizabethan Revival mansion, Narrow Water Castle combines defensive origins with the refinement of a country estate.Luxury self-catering apartments within a historic castle estate near the Mourne Mountains.

Top Picks for Families

Dromoland Castle: One of the most family-friendly castle hotels in Ireland, with kids’ clubs during school holidays, babysitting, estate activities, and thoughtful touches like bedtime cookies and milk.

Ashford Castle: Excellent for families with older children — hawk walks, cycling, cinema room, boating, fishing, and acres of safe estate grounds to explore. Day visitors can access the estate grounds for roughly €5.00 per person, while experiences like afternoon tea start at approximately €80. Activities such as falconry or boat tours incur additional, separate fees.

Ballynahinch Castle: Ideal for outdoorsy families who enjoy walking, rivers, wildlife, and relaxed country living rather than formal luxury.

Very Good Family Options (More Relaxed / Budget-Friendly)

• Ballyseede Castle: Welcoming atmosphere, large grounds, friendly staff, and a resident Irish wolfhound that kids love.
• Cabra Castle: Forest park setting, space to roam, and family-sized cottages make this a strong value option.
• Clontarf Castle: Great for families visiting Dublin — easy transport, spacious rooms, and proximity to parks and the coast.
• Lough Rynn Castle: Calm, uncrowded location with gardens, woodland walks, and nearby outdoor activities.
• Kilronan Castle: Works well for families with teens who enjoy pools, spa access, and countryside exploring.

Family-Friendly Castles to Visit

These castles are excellent educational, interactive, or outdoor experiences for children.

Best Day-Visit Castles for Kids

Bunratty Castle

One of the best in Ireland for families, costumed guides, folk park, animals, and medieval banquets.

King John’s Castle

Highly interactive exhibits, hands-on archaeology, and great views — excellent for school-age kids.

Trim Castle

Huge open space, dramatic towers, and guided tours that engage older kids.

Kilkenny Castle

Large parklands, gardens, and family-friendly tours right in the city centre.

Short Visits / Iconic Stops

Blarney Castle: Kids enjoy the grounds and caves, though the Blarney Stone climb is better for older children.

Malahide Castle: Good family tours, large parklands, and easy access from Dublin.

Castles in Ireland to Visit (But Not Stay)

These castles do not offer overnight accommodation and are best experienced as historic sites.

Dunguaire Castle (County Galway)

Built in 1520 in the 16^th century by the O’Hynes clan, Dunguaire Castle once guarded Galway Bay and later became a gathering place for poets and writers of the Irish Literary Revival, giving rise to its long tradition of storytelling, music, and medieval feasts. Famous for medieval banquets with poetry, music, and storytelling. One of Ireland’s best evening castle experiences.

Bunratty Castle (County Clare)

Built in the 15th century on a former Viking settlement, Bunratty Castle has survived repeated destruction and rebuilding, and its massive halls now recreate the feasting and revelry of medieval Ireland. A fully restored 15th-century castle with Ireland’s most famous medieval banquet and folk park.

Kilkenny Castle (County Kilkenny)

Standing on the River Nore for over 800 years, Kilkenny Castle was the seat of the Butler family and played a central role in Irish political life, with hidden defensive features still visible beneath its elegant restoration. One of the best-preserved castles in Ireland with over 800 years of history.

King John’s Castle (County Limerick)

Built in the early 13th century on the orders of King John of England, this strategically placed Norman fortress guards the River Shannon and conceals archaeological layers spanning Viking settlements, medieval minting, and siege warfare beneath its modern interactive exhibits.

Trim Castle (County Meath)

Constructed by Hugh de Lacy in the late 12th century, Trim Castle is the largest Norman castle in Ireland, its massive keep and curtain walls revealing sophisticated medieval defensive design that later made it a natural choice for filming Braveheart.

Slane Castle (County Meath)

Home to the Conyngham family since the 18th century, Slane Castle blends aristocratic history with modern cultural legacy, hiding a working whiskey distillery and centuries of estate life behind a façade now synonymous with legendary live music performances.

Blarney Castle (County Cork)

Dating back to the 15th century, Blarney Castle is best known for the Blarney Stone, but beyond the famous kiss lie hidden caves, dungeon passages, and ancient ritual sites woven into the surrounding grounds.

Malahide Castle (County Dublin)

Occupied by the Talbot family for nearly 800 years, Malahide Castle has witnessed executions, Cromwellian violence, and betrayal, leaving behind a reputation as one of Ireland’s most haunted castles. A historic and famously haunted castle surrounded by parkland near Dublin.

Lismore Castle (County Waterford)

Founded as an abbey in the 12th century, Lismore Castle later became a bishop’s palace and noble residence, associated with figures like Sir Walter Raleigh and Prince John of England.

Donegal Castle (County Donegal)

Constructed by Red Hugh O’Donnell in the 1400s, Donegal Castle was deliberately burned after the Battle of Kinsale to prevent enemy occupation, later rebuilt in Jacobean style.

Ireland offers one of the most diverse castle experiences in Europe from five-star luxury hotels to atmospheric ruins best explored on foot.

County Antrim (Northern Ireland)

Dunluce Castle

A dramatic clifftop ruin with powerful legends of shipwrecks and collapsing halls, best suited to families with older children due to exposed edges and uneven ground.

County Tipperary

Cahir Castle

One of Ireland’s best-preserved medieval castles, set on a river island with wide courtyards and clear storytelling that makes it easy for children to understand castle life and sieges.

County Cork

Blackrock Castle

Originally a 16th-century coastal fort, Blackrock Castle now houses a science observatory with hands-on exhibits, making it one of the most engaging castle visits for families in Ireland.

Whether you want to sleep behind ancient walls or simply walk through centuries of history, this guide helps you choose the right castle for the right experience.

Have you stayed in or visited a castle in Ireland? Tell us all about it.

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Exploring the fascinating regions of Ireland

 Exploring Northern Ireland

Ireland’s Ancient East

Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands

Ireland’s The Wild Atlantic Way

Discovering Dublin

There are 26 counties in the Republic of Ireland and you can start discovering them all

Carlow  – Ceatharlach Four lakes though the lakes are now gone  

Dublin  -Baile Átha Cliath Town of the hurdled ford  

Kildare  – Cill Dara Church of the oak  

Kilkenny  – Cill Chainnigh Church of Cainnech a saint  

Laois  – Laois  Named after the Uí Laoighis  tribe

Longford  – An Longfort The fortress  or  ship port  

Louth  -Lú  – Named after the god  Lugh  

Meath  – An Mhí The middle once the heart of Ireland  

Offaly  – Uíbh Fhailí Descendants of Failí a tribal name  

Westmeath  – An Iarmhí West Meath  

Wexford  – Loch Garman Lake of Garman a mythical figure  

Wicklow  – Cill Mhantáin Church of the toothless one a monk  

Clare  – An Clár The plank a bridge across the River Fergus  

Cork  – Corcaigh Marsh  

Kerry  – Ciarraí People of Ciar  a tribe named after a dark-haired warrior  

Limerick  – Luimneach Bare spot  or  bare marsh  

Tipperary  – Tiobraid Árann Well of Ara a spring near the River Ara  

Waterford  – Port Láirge Lárag’s port a Viking leader  

Galway  – Gaillimh Stony river named after the River Corrib

Leitrim  – Liatroim Grey ridge

Mayo  – Maigh Eo Plain of the yew trees

Roscommon  – Ros Comáin Wood of Comán a saint

Sligo  – Sligeach Shelly place plentiful shellfish in the river

Cavan – An Cabhán – The hollow

Donegal – Dún na nGall Fort of the foreigners

Monaghan – Muineachán Little thicket