The minute we set on the dates and main locations for our Irish trip, I started looking into possibilities to have an overnight stay in – a castle.
You see, I have a thing for graveyards, churches and castles. Some to visit, some to sleep in. Since many of the castles in Ireland offer the leisure retreat option, I started an immediate search for a perfect one.
Perfect in terms of budget and close within our planed travel route.
Regarding peak summer season filled with usual tourists, weekend getaway guests and wedding planners, it wasn’t an easy task.
But I was determined so in the end I booked Kilronan Castle. Twice. Because of the two options for the trip. A) staring the trip from Dublin clockwise or B) counter wise.
Originally built as a house back in 1820 the castle now operates as a spa hotel.
Set in County Roscommon, on the shore of Lough Meelagh the estate has a long and rich history that dates back all the way 6th century when St. Ronan and his daughter St. Lasair established a church here.

Back in the day, Tenison family used to live in the area.
Although male member were brave soldiers, it wasn’t unusual for them to spend all their inherited money later to reimburse themselves by marrying wealthy heiresses.

Not the most clever thing, but then again, not so dumb either.
Anyway one of those ‘’pearls’’ decided to build a residence fit for a family of its great stature. It was called Castle Tenison.
The 8th Earl of Kingston expanded the original three storeys castle and gave it a bit of Gothic Revival look.
The beginning of 20th century brought political changes and the later owners preferred to live elsewhere so castle remained deserted.
Some of the contents of the castle were sold at auction and the building was later used by workers that were building a road in the northern part of the county.
When the new property developer took over the property, the castle was just walls as the roof was moved in the 1950s in an attempt to mitigate taxation.
During the restoration project, historians and curators were consulted and some of the original paintings of the extended members of the Tenison family were acquired.
Bit by bit one a privately owned home has turned into publicly used 4* hotel. Our home for a day 🙂
Arriving late in the afternoon, we didn’t loose time as there was so much to experience.
While M took the opportunity to roll around the king size bed, while unpacking I decided to take the opportunity of a stroll around the estate while the sun was still out.

We choose the shortest walking trail through the forest before grabbing an aperitif and heading to dinner.
The next day, after a rich and satisfying breakfast we took the opportunity to relax in the indoor swimming pool area that has sauna, steam room and jacuzzi offered into a price of the room stay.
Since check out was generously set at noon there was even some time to wonder around the backside of the estate contemplating on how many people are involved into a production to serve a fully booked hotel with a wedding venue.
In the whirlwind of my thoughts we were interrupted by a couple that heard us speak Croatian. In the middle of nowhere in the west of Ireland we met a couple from Zagreb. We exchanged some points of view of the castle and Croatian economy before getting back on the road again.
We were off to Donegal. Last stop before crossing the border to Northern Ireland.