Ireland is home to some of the world’s most spectacular ancient castles, many of which have opened their doors for couples to commemorate one of the most important days of their life – their wedding day. These castles provide an exceptionally romantic setting with such things as beautiful tapestries, open fireplaces, historic artefacts. More often than not, they offer unusual accommodation and regal suites sure to impress the wedding guests too.
Here’s Five Fabulous Castle Wedding Venues in Ireland as reviewed by couples in 2023.
Clontarf Castle Hotel
Starting with Dublin’s leading castle hotel, Clontarf Castle is the first on our list. It is located just 10 minutes away from City Centre and the venue shares 800 years of wedding history. Its 12th century architecture, landscaped gardens and romantic outdoor terrace will add charm and beauty to your wedding.
One of the cool things about this venue is that it is a wedding venue for all seasons. Think of Spring sunshine and seasonal flowers starting to bloom. Summer weddings will be imbued with the fragrance of lavender in the gardens and Autumn brings more crisp temperatures, and the turning of the leaves. . Clontarf Castle really comes into its own in the winter as it transforms this a romantic mediaeval venue into a festive Christmas and winter Wonderland
The hotel hosts all types of weddings -from civil ceremonies to Intimate or Grand celebrations. Recently renovated, the Great Halls host up to 120 guests. It is truly regal with purple tones and lofty ceilings and a specially built-in bar. The Viking Suite is fully air-conditioned with natural daylight and is ideal for hosting civil ceremonies or receptions. The Fahrenheit Restaurant brings more of those historical vibes with its 12th century high- beamed ceilings and ornate glass windows.
Castlemartyr Resort
Our next castle venue is in East Cork on a 220-acre estate complete with a river, a lake and a forest. The Castlemartyr Resort is a combination of a 13th-century castle with additional modern guest rooms and a spa. The manor house is the centre of this one-of-a-kind resort, having been renovated and expanded to include beautifully furnished accommodations, a restaurant and an 18-hole inland links-style golf course.
The venue only hosts only one wedding per day adding that extra exclusivity for your big day and making you feel even more special. The wedding team at the resort will cater to all your needs creating a unique experience for your wedding. Whether you are choosing a traditional wedding or something more informal and casual, the team will make sure to add creativity to your wedding.
The Capel Suite can host weddings of up to 200 guests. With its huge chandeliers, warm lighting, tall windows and luxurious curtains, the suite sets the stage for an awesome wedding bash and there’s no ballroom in Ireland quite like it. It is also an HSE registered venue for hosting civil ceremonies in the different rooms tailored according to your needs and requirements.
4* Abbey Hotel 18th Century Castle Manor
This next venue is located at the heart of Ireland and has its roots in the 18th century. Abbey Hotel is a well-known family-run wedding venue which was established in 1963 and is 55 minutes to Ireland West Airport and 90 minutes from Dublin Airport.
The venue is close to the ruins of a 12th century Dominican abbey, providing a stunning setting for your wedding pictures that caters to both traditional and civil ceremonies, as well as outdoor humanist events. Additionally, the hotel has won the Restaurant Association of Ireland Award for Best Chef and Best Hotel for seven years in a row.
They have recently restored their ballroom to maintain their exceptionally high standards. the hotel can host up to 350 people. You will love to explore their gorgeous new “Secret Walled Garden” area, where your guests can enjoy music and beverages before and/or after the reception.
Castle Dargan Estate
The Castle Dargan Estate is Sligo’s premier wedding venue nestled on 170 acres of rolling parkland in a country estate with a Darren Clarke-designed golf course and Icon Spa.
The Castle’s luxury wedding suite, the Ormsby Room, features floor-to-ceiling windows with breathtaking panoramic views while the Coach House Lounge is ideal for a small champagne or wine reception after your ceremony.
The team at the Castle Dargan Estate believe that each wedding is unique and they host only one wedding per day and will be there to look at every single detail for you to make your special day more memorable.
Killeen Castle
Our last in the list is Killeen Castle which is located on a 600-acre estate and serves as the ancestral home of the Plunkett family and the Earls of Fingall. This 12th century castle is surrounded by walled gardens and countryside views and is located in the heart of Co. Meath, just a 35 minutes drive away from Dublin City Centre and Dublin Airport.
If you are looking for a grand celebration, The Sycamore Suite is located in the clubhouse of the venue and can cater up to 160 guests. It also offers bright and spacious rooms for wedding receptions. The walled gardens are perfect to host the Civil Ceremonies in summer in their beautifully manicured walled gardens.
Although the castle is not open, you can use it as a lovely backdrop for your wedding photos. The venue will make sure that your guests have a relaxed and lovely stay as they have 26 bedrooms in their 6 lodges.
These were the top castle wedding venues in Ireland. We hope you liked this edition and we will continue to post more venues with different types and styles. If you are looking for more options, check out our full listings here! We will be back with more of these lovely venues and hopefully one of them might steal your heart.
