Travel Tuesday Looks at Irish Castle Stays on VMTV’s Elaine Show

Malahide Castle & Gardens

Malahide Castle is set on 250 acres of parkland just 10 minutes from Dublin Airport. The castle is now back open for daily tours, hear stories of the generations of Talbot Family who called Malahide Castle their home for nearly 800 years. Take a family friend on the Magical History Story Telling tour or the Classic Tour, where visitors can explore the private rooms and learn how the castle played a key role in Irish politics and social life in Ireland.

In addition, the private gardens including the West Lawn, home to a magical 1.8KM interactive fairy trail and the Walled Botanical Garden are back open for visitors to enjoy throughout the summer months. Visit the The republic of Irelands’ only Butterfly House and over 5000 species of rare plants originating from places like Australasia and Chile.

Open daily from 9.30am until 6pm. Last entry to the castle is 4.30pm. Family ticket to the Fairy Trail and Butterfly House is €22 for 2 adults and 2 children. Family castle entrance and fairy trail tickets from €35.Tickets can be booked online at www.malahidecastleandgardens.ie or purchased on arrival at the admission desk, subject to availability

Set on gorgeous grounds Castle Leslie Estate is opening on 3^rd June with Bed and Breakfast from €250 per room. With its authentic interiors and old-style hospitality, the Castle at Castle Leslie Estate exudes old world grandeur and offers complete respite from the world. The Castle is not a typical hotel experience – you won’t find televisions, radios, or minibars in the Castle bedrooms. However, we do offer all of our guests complimentary WiFi in all public areas and bedrooms in The Castle. The unique and dramatically different bedrooms are tranquil and calm – havens for sleeping and dreaming. The Castle is filled with beautiful furniture, antiques and heirlooms. It has twenty one original and uniquely decorated bedrooms and bathrooms. From romantic boudoirs designed with relaxation and privacy in mind to more flamboyant bedrooms decorated with rich deep colours, there’s a room and a view to suit every taste.
Each bathroom is unique and features include the first plumbed bath in Ireland, a throne toilet and a complete bathroom hidden away in a doll’s house. Some baths are fabulously large, ideal for a romantic soak for two. There is no pressure  to do anything except relax and indulge yourself.

Log fires crackle in the hearths and there are several elegant rooms in which you can relax in privacy or in the company of friends. Breakfast is served until eleven in the dining room. You can enjoy Afternoon Tea in our stunning Pavilion with its panoramic views of the gardens and Glaslough Lake or relax in the magnificent Drawing Room with its grand piano and famous De La Robbia fireplace. All these features combine making Castle Leslie Estate one of the most sought after luxury escapes in Ireland. https://www.irelands-blue-book.ie/houses.html/castle-leslie

Kilkenny Castle is the jewel in the crown of this enchanting Medieval City. No visit to Kilkenny is complete without visiting the world famous Castle. Few buildings in Ireland can boast a longer history of continuous occupation than Kilkenny Castle. Built in the twelfth century, Kilkenny Castle was the principal seat of the Butlers, earls, marquesses and dukes of Ormond for almost 600 years. Visitors can choose to explore the ancestral home of the Butler family with either a self-guided visit or a guided tour. The visit of the Castle includes the dining room, Victorian nursery and the picture gallery with its hand painted hammer beam roof.

Markree Castle in County Sligo is close to Sligo town and a short drive to the wonderful surrounding sights of Sligo such as Ben Bulben, Knocknree and WB Yeats country. I’ve been a big fan of Sligo since I took a visit last summer and you’ve everything from surfing to seaweed baths and sumptuous cuisine. See sligotourism.com

Hallmark filmed in the castle for two months four years ago and Johnny Cash booked it out on 4 nights complete. This is where he and Sandy Kelly performed the Wood Carver song….also where the creator of the song ‘All things bright and beautiful’ was written by Cecilia Francis

See https://www.romanticcastlesireland.com/

Markree Castle – 2 Nights B&B with 1 Dinner

Midweek – 2 Nights B&B with Dinner on one night from €440.00 based on 2 people sharing

Weekend – 2 Nights B&B with Dinner on one night from €470.00 based on 2 people sharing

Set in beautiful wooded grounds Belleek Castle is beside the River Moy. Belleek Castle was built between 1825 and finished in 1831 for the cost of £10,000. The building was commissioned by Sir Arthur Francis Knox-Gore for the cost of £10,000 and . The manor house was designed by the prolific architect John Benjamin Keanes, and the Neo-Gothic architecture met the taste of the time, when Medieval styles became fashionable again. The house is thought to have replaced an earlier structure & is named after the original Belleek Castle, a 13th Tower House Castle situated on the banks of the River Moy. Francis lived at Belleek Castle with his wife Sarah and his 9 children until his death in 1873. According to his wishes he was buried in Belleek Demense. A striking Neo-Gothic Monument, designed by James Franklin Fuller, now marks his grave and is situated in the middle of Belleek Woods. It is said that his wife & favourite horse are both buried beside him. His eldest son Charles Knox-Gore inherited & became the 2nd Baronet. Charles died without issue in 1890 & was also buried in Belleek Demense beside the River Moy, and his dog Phizzie was buried beside him. The house was inherited by his sister Matilda who married Major General William Boyd Saunders of Torquay. Their grandson William Arthur Cecil Saunders-Knox-Gore sold the house in 1942.

TASTE THE ESTATE – 2 NIGHT PACKAGE at Kilronan Castle

Treat yourself to a well-deserved break away & enjoy 2 Nights’ accommodation with Full Irish Breakfast each morning, and a delicious meal with a seasonal & locally sourced A la Carte Menu in our award winning, fine dining Douglas Hyde Restaurant, on the evening of your choice. All guests enjoy complimentary access to our Leisure Centre which includes a 14m Swimming Pool, Sauna, Steam Room, Jacuzzi and Techno gym.

Package from €235pps book with https://www.originalirishhotels.com/hotels/kilronan-castle-estate-spa

Blarney Castle & Gardens open 7 days a week 9am -5pm with last admission at 4pm

Blarney Castle & The Blarney Stone will reopen this Saturday and only on weekends for the month of May with a view to fully opening in June. With 60 acres of wonderful gardens to explore including the poison garden and magical fern garden.

Best rate is available through www.blarneycastle.ie and no pre booking needed.

Adult Admission                                               €16 online (€18 at our ticket office on site)

Family (2 adults + 2 children)                      €40 online (€45 at our ticket office on site)

 

Takeaway café available on site and have a wonderful plants sales area containing some plants from our gardens!