Amidst the beautiful scenery in Ireland, you can find many castles full of history and great architecture, all worth a visit. In this blog, we’ll let you know about the most beautiful castles in Ireland, where you can find them, and what to expect from your visit.
Blarney Castle and the gift of the gab
One of the most famous castles In Ireland is Blarney Castle. Built in the 10th century, the castle is not necessarily known for its architecture, but for the Blarney Stone, which has been set on the keep in 1446. Legend claims the stone to be a piece of the Stone of Scone, which is said to have been brought to Ireland by crusaders.
Kissing the stone – which has to be done upside down – is said to endow the kisser with the gift of the gab. Every year, tens of thousands of tourists try their luck on the stone. If you also want to be given the gift of the gab, and want to visit even more historical castles, have a look at our Blarney Castle Tour from Dublin. Blarney Castle is also surrounded by beautiful gardens and other mythical sights.
Source: K. Mitch Hodge on Unsplash
Victorian Ashford Castle
800 years old, set right next to a lake in county Mayo and now a 5-star luxury hotel – Ashford Castle is truly a stunning sight. The victorian castle was built in 1228 and has been owned by several families throughout the years: In 1852 Benjamin Lee Guinness bought the estate and added more buildings as well as streets and planted thousands of trees. Even before it became a hotel, guests like George V, the prince of Wales, and US-president Ronald Regan stayed at the castle. Today, the beautiful castle serves as a luxury hotel, which is also why it can only be experienced from the inside when staying as a guest.
Source: Shanna Beasley on Unsplash
Kylemore Abbey in Connemara
While this building never served as a castle and was originally built as a private building, Kylemore Abbey cannot be missed on this list. Set in the stunning countryside of the Connemara valley, Kylemore Abbey now serves as a monastic site and also a tourist attraction, offering self-guided tours through the building, where visitors learn about the history of the Abbey, as well as to its Victorian Walled Gardens. The main attraction, however, remains the outside of the Abbey, as you can see for yourself in the photo.
Source: Melissa De Yoe on Unsplash
Lismore Castle – Rent your own castle
This beautiful castle in Waterford, fortified in 1185, still serves as a home to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire. And it can be your home for a while, too. Well, if you’ve got the money for it. Lismore Castle can be rented by groups or families who then have exclusive access to it, with a butler, cook, gardener and more making sure that this stay is going to be memorable.
Source: Sonya Brady on Unsplash
Dunluce Castle in Northern Ireland
If you are a fan of Game of Thrones, you might already have heard about this castle. In the HBO show, it serves as the castle Pyke, home of the family Greyjoy. While the fantasy castle is of course intact during the show, Dunluce Castle, originally built in the 13th century, consists of ruins today. That however makes it even more fascinating and especially the backdrop of the castle, which is set right on top of the cliffs, make it a sight you’ll definitely want to see when visiting Northern Ireland or during your road trip on the Causeway Coastal Route.
Source: K. Mitch Hodge on Unsplash
Honorable mentions
Next to those highlights, there are many more beautiful castles worth a visit in Ireland: From Dublin Castle in the capital and Kilkenny Castle to estates in more remote areas. Here, the Rock of Cashel, Cahir Castle, Trim Castle or Bunratty Castle invite you to learn more about Irish history. And you can often walk in the footsteps of your favourite actors, as many Irish castles served as a filming location for famous TV series and films. Vikings, Game of Thrones, Braveheart or Excalibur for example, to only mention some of them.
Source header photo: Daniel Zbroja on Unsplash
