Castle hotels in Ireland: the most romantic luxury hotels for couples

Just a 20-minute drive from Cork City, this palatial 18th-century manor house is the perfect destination for a romantic escape for two. Set on 220 acres of impressive grounds featuring lakes, streams and an 18-hole golf course, the hotel shares its estate with the ruins of an 800-year-old castle built under Strongbow.

Enjoy some one-on-one time in the castle hotel’s spa; there are two private Couples Suites, the Serenity Suite features its own sauna, vitality pool with garden views, relaxation loungers and double-treatment areas where you can enjoy full body massages and facials.

An original 17th century castle tower with turrets and arrow-slit windows that overlook a long sandy beach on Antrim’s Ballygally Bay, this romantic castle hotel boasts manicured lawns, palm-lined paths and sea views.

The Tower Rooms feature low beams, French-polished furniture and, in some of them, showers fitted into the round turrets. If you and your other half like to stay on your toes, this castle hotel in Ireland is reputedly haunted by a friendly ghost, Lady Isabella, so brave couples can visit the “ghost room” in the tower!

With a history dating back to the 1590s, this romantic castle hotel in Ireland is set along the Wild Atlantic Way on 30 acres of private gardens and woodlands, at the gateway to the Ring of Kerry and the Dingle Peninsula.

The perfect destination for animal-loving couples, the castle is home to an Irish Wolfhound, three donkeys and four miniature horses, so if you can bring yourselves to leave your cosy room, you’ll have plenty of creature company.

Situated on its own 310-acre private island, only accessible via the resort’s private car ferry, this 16th-century castle hotel promises to be a totally romantic and intimate escape for you and yours.

Ask the award-winning kitchen team to prepare you a basket and enjoy a private picnic on the grounds amongst deer, foxes and swans. Then retire to one of the deluxe suites, boasting claw footed baths and original cast iron windows overlooking the parklands and forest.

Dublin’s only castle hotel, dating back to 1172, combines 12th-century architecture with 21st-century facilities; a romantic break offering the best of both worlds to couples.

You don’t even need to leave the capital for a luxurious castle stay, as it’s just a ten-minute drive from the city centre. You’ll be totally spoiled, from suites with four-poster beds with Butlers chocolate on the pillows to the chic Indigo Lounge with its red chandeliers and excellent wine list.

Located just 25 minutes from Wexford town and under two hours from Dublin, this 19th-century castle hotel is set on the banks of the Boro River, surrounded by open parkland and quiet wooded countryside

The castle is comprised of four luxurious self-contained suites; each suite has its own kitchen and sitting room with working fireplace, and are named after four families who have resided at Wilton over the years.

A majestic 12th century castle that was once the medieval stronghold of the FitzGeralds, earls of Kildare, Kilkea Castle Hotel & Golf is set in the lush countryside of Castledermot, just an hour’s drive from Dublin.

Expect an intimate experience in the Cashman Suite situated at the very top of the castle in The Round Tower, with its free-standing bath and 360-degree views of the estate, including 180 acres of woodlands and rose-gardens, the Killeshin Hills and the world-class 18-hole golf course.

Nestled in the foothills of the Slieve Bloom Mountains, this medieval castle hotel is set on 650 acres of rolling parkland, only 90 minutes from Dublin, Limerick and Galway.

There are 37 distinctively styled en-suite guest rooms within the castle, and our top pick for couples is definitely the Castle Suites. Be Lord and Lady of the manor for a night or two and take in the four poster beds, free standing roll top baths and views of the deer from your window.

This incredible castle hotel is tucked away in a grand estate in Meath dating back to 1764, boasting over 21 acres of spectacular grounds and woodland walks, and is only 18 kilometres from Dublin.

You and your SO should treat yourselves to a stay in the Synolda Suite, the only guest room in the Georgian House, and occupying the entire top floor. What could be more romantic than a king-size four-poster bed and a deep soaker bathtub?

On the shores of Lough Corrib, on 350 acres of parkland and forested islands, this romantic hotel occupies a 13th-century castle that blends rich history with contemporary appeal, with beautiful touches such as Waterford Crystal chandeliers and antique rosewood furniture.

Rooms are individually decorated, and if you’re a couple who wants a modern fairytale experience, then you’ll be pleased to know you’ll have USB ports and Bluetooth-enabled wireless speakers. This castle hotel in Ireland even boasts an onsite 32-seat cinema!

Nestled among the rugged Connemara landscape at the foot of the Twelve Bens mountain range, this luxurious castle hotel overlooks a salmon fishery on the Owenmore River.

Spend a night or two in one of the classic riverside rooms, located in the original building that dates back to the 1700s. These beautiful rooms boast views of the splendid 450-acre estate and are a tranquil escape from the stresses of everyday life.

This secluded castle hotel in Ireland is set on the shores of Lough Meelagh in Roscommon, surrounded by over 40 acres of green pastures, and ancient forests.

The Castle Tower Suite is the crème de la crème of romantic escapes, situated over two floors in the iconic central tower. You can even relax in your own Jacuzzi in the ensuite bathroom complete with his and hers sinks.

Check into this gorgeous 17th-century castle in Ireland and be treated like King and Queen for the weekend. Tucked away in a secluded lakeside estate on the shores of Lough Eske, it’s the only 5-star hotel in the county.

We think the Presidential Suite is perfect for couples, housing private access to the castle tower, a hand-carved king-size four poster bed, open fireplaces and a silver clawfoot roll top bath – why would you ever need to leave?

Set on 100 acres of parkland and garden, with the magnificent backdrop of Dun a Ri Forest Park, this castle hotel in Ireland is located just an hour and a half from both Dublin and Belfast.

The 12 authentic medieval-style rooms in the main castle come complete with features like four-poster beds, roll top baths, fireplaces and private balconies, perfect for retiring in after a romantic walk through the walled gardens.

A baronial castle that was once the ancestral home of the O’Brien clan, the direct descendants of Brian Boru, High King of Ireland, Dromoland Castle is now a beautiful Renaissance hotel with its own golf-course.

Take a romantic walk through the 450 acres of parkland, the flowering rose garden, 16th-century stone courtyard or around the lily pond. You can also take a one-hour tour of the castle hotel’s grounds on the pony and jarvey, passing deer, pheasant and other wildlife roaming the estate.

One of the most exclusive venues in Ireland’s North East, this ivy-clad 17th-century castle is the centrepiece of the 17-acre estate on the banks of the River Glyde, only 45 minutes from Dublin and an hour from Belfast.

The romantic castle hotel offers just 19 luxurious bedrooms and suites. Couples will love the Music Room, with its free-standing bath overlooking the River Glyde, and wandering the estate with its weir and man-made river island with footbridges, mature trees and formal gardens.

Situated along the Wild Atlantic Way in the countryside that inspired WB Yeats, this romantic Gothic castle hotel is set on 500 acres where you can enjoy horse-riding and making a wish in the castle’s wishing well.

Located in the oldest part of the castle, the three-roomed bridal apartment boasts an in-room bar and an open fire, while the bathroom and dressing rooms offer “his and hers” showers, vanity unit, sinks and a Victorian freestanding bathtub.

Spread over a sprawling 840-acre estate (basically the size of New York’s Central Park), the 19th-century Neo-Gothic castle hotel is currently being transformed into one of Europe’s leading luxury golf resorts.

Set to re-open this winter, the ‘calendar house’ (365 windows, 52 chimney stacks, seven pillars and four towers) will now include a new 42-bedroom West Wing. The castle hotel will also feature the only La Mer Spa in the UK and Ireland, making it one of just 11 La Mer Spas in the world.