Castle hotel
Slane
Slane Castle
A working private castle offering a first-floor Castle Suite for exclusive-use overnight stays with private dining, rather than a full hotel.
Worth the detour
Notable castles to visit
13thc.
Notable castle
Trim Castle
Built by Hugh de Lacy on the banks of the River Boyne, Trim Castle is the largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland, with a distinctive 20-sided cruciform keep.
15thc.
Notable castle
Athlumney Castle
A 15th-century tower house extended into a fortified manor house by the Dowdall family in the 17th century, overlooking the River Boyne near Navan.
19thc.
Notable castle
Killeen Castle
Originally a Norman fortification held by the Cusack family from 1172 and later the Plunketts (Earls of Fingall) until 1951, it was remodelled in the 19th century into a grand Gothic Revival mansion by architect George Papworth.
19thc.
Notable castle
Dunsany Castle
Begun around 1180-81 by Hugh de Lacy and held by the Plunkett family (Barons of Dunsany) since the early 15th century, it is one of Ireland's longest continuously occupied private homes.
1785
Notable castle
Slane Castle
Built for the Conyngham family from 1785 in Gothic Revival style overlooking the River Boyne, Slane Castle is internationally known as the venue for major rock concerts (U2, Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen).