I need to find this castle in Ireland that is available for stay and special events, like weddings. It is very?
Q. theatrical in a sense. The owners are very lively, along with the rooms. They have bonfire nights on the property and have villagers dress up and do all kinds of festivities. I ran across the site a few years back, and was hoping to visit someday. I cannot remember the name but would like to hold my wedding there. It has a long history...it isn't one of those usual huge castle hotels like Ashford but has real character. Can anyone please help point me in the right direction?
A. Bunratty Castle in Co Clare has medieval banquets & various other activities, not sure if they do weddings but you could always ask
http://www.shannonheritage.com/Attractions/BunrattyCastleFolkPark/
http://www.shannonheritage.com/Attractions/BunrattyCastleFolkPark/
Where should we travel to see castles?
Q. My husband and I plan to go to Scotland and Ireland for our 20th Anniversary. Where are the best castles to see and tour? Thanks in advance!
A. Well, there's going to be some castle tour overloads but here are some which I have visited and loved, and some from recommendations that I've got from people I know and who have been there :)
Ireland
1) Kilkenny Castle - my favourite in Ireland by far, and the guided tour is well run with lots of informations about the castle. The Long Gallery is just awesome.
2) Dublin Castle - the chapel with its plaster imitation fan vault is quite spectacular really, and the state apartments are very elegantly decorated
3) Waterford Castle - this could actually be great for your anniversary celebration as the castle is located on an island and it's now a hotel so you can say you've live in a castle (even if just for a bit). I've only been there once for dinner with my relatives so I didn't really get to see the whole place.
4) Bunratty Castle - visit the folk park and while it's a bit kitschy to see people dressed in medieval costume and to participate in the banquet, for visitors it's really quite a lot of fun
5) Blarney Castle - this castle is famous for its stone at the top of the castle aka the Blarney Stone. Kiss this and you're supposed to have the gift of gab. The turning upside down bit to get to the stone may seem scary but it's fine really. The garden is lovely in the summer but I'm not sure what it's like in the winter.
6) Abbeyglen Castle - this is in Connemara and it's also now a hotel. While I've never been there, my friend said it's gorgeous. Then again, it's Connemara, which is a beautiful place to be in any case.
Scotland
1) The Edinburgh Castle - this is a must-go in my opinion, and it has a great view of Edinburgh all around!
2) Blair Castle - a bit of the way but it's stately and the landscape in Perthshire is also magnificent
3) Eilean Donan Castle - this is a Hollywood darling, having been featured in Highlander, Made of Honour and Elizabeth the Golden Age. Now, this one is really out of the way and rather unfortunately they're only open between March and November.
Happy 20th Anniversary!
Ireland
1) Kilkenny Castle - my favourite in Ireland by far, and the guided tour is well run with lots of informations about the castle. The Long Gallery is just awesome.
2) Dublin Castle - the chapel with its plaster imitation fan vault is quite spectacular really, and the state apartments are very elegantly decorated
3) Waterford Castle - this could actually be great for your anniversary celebration as the castle is located on an island and it's now a hotel so you can say you've live in a castle (even if just for a bit). I've only been there once for dinner with my relatives so I didn't really get to see the whole place.
4) Bunratty Castle - visit the folk park and while it's a bit kitschy to see people dressed in medieval costume and to participate in the banquet, for visitors it's really quite a lot of fun
5) Blarney Castle - this castle is famous for its stone at the top of the castle aka the Blarney Stone. Kiss this and you're supposed to have the gift of gab. The turning upside down bit to get to the stone may seem scary but it's fine really. The garden is lovely in the summer but I'm not sure what it's like in the winter.
6) Abbeyglen Castle - this is in Connemara and it's also now a hotel. While I've never been there, my friend said it's gorgeous. Then again, it's Connemara, which is a beautiful place to be in any case.
Scotland
1) The Edinburgh Castle - this is a must-go in my opinion, and it has a great view of Edinburgh all around!
2) Blair Castle - a bit of the way but it's stately and the landscape in Perthshire is also magnificent
3) Eilean Donan Castle - this is a Hollywood darling, having been featured in Highlander, Made of Honour and Elizabeth the Golden Age. Now, this one is really out of the way and rather unfortunately they're only open between March and November.
Happy 20th Anniversary!
What should I see while in Limerick, Doolin, or Kerry, Ireland?
Q. My friend and I are going for three weeks, and are both 23. Also if anyone has any advice about where to stay (someplace with charm- open to hostels, bed and breakfasts, or hotels as long as they aren't too generic), that would be awesome.
A. Limerick: Try and get for the weekend, the Milk Market is great, food stalls and live music. St John's castle is good, and Limerick's nightlife is pretty good in general. One pub I quite like is Nancy Blake's on Denmark Street. Bunratty Castle and folk park is about 15 minutes outside of Limerick on the way to Ennis, and that is well worth seeing. Also check out Limerick Printmakers, and the city gallery. Lots of B&Bs in Limerick, particularly around the train station and out the Ennis Road.
Doolin is basically a village, and yes there are lots of hostels, I'm sure you can book online - in fact, if you're going soon, you really should book ahead as it's a very popular holiday destination. See the nearby Cliffs of Moher, also the Burren, the Ailwee Caves (Bring a warm jumper, it's cold deep in the earth). Most local musicians tend to go to nearby Lisdoonvarna for music sessions, I highly recommend the Roadside Tavern, they also do nice meals. If you have time, and the weather is good, you could also go out of one of the Aran Islands for a day. When in that part of the country, I tend to stay at Rooska House Bed & Breakfast in Lisdoonvarna.
Kerry - where exactly are you staying? Killarney is a very touristy town, but Muckross House and Park is beautiful, beside the lakes and with the mountains as a backdrop. Dingle is also very popular, as many people do the Ring of Kerry. Personally though I'd recommend doing the Healy Pass on the Beara Peninsula, if the weather is good you'll have some superb Sound of Music moments, as the sound carries up from the valley floor on the Kerry side.
Doolin is basically a village, and yes there are lots of hostels, I'm sure you can book online - in fact, if you're going soon, you really should book ahead as it's a very popular holiday destination. See the nearby Cliffs of Moher, also the Burren, the Ailwee Caves (Bring a warm jumper, it's cold deep in the earth). Most local musicians tend to go to nearby Lisdoonvarna for music sessions, I highly recommend the Roadside Tavern, they also do nice meals. If you have time, and the weather is good, you could also go out of one of the Aran Islands for a day. When in that part of the country, I tend to stay at Rooska House Bed & Breakfast in Lisdoonvarna.
Kerry - where exactly are you staying? Killarney is a very touristy town, but Muckross House and Park is beautiful, beside the lakes and with the mountains as a backdrop. Dingle is also very popular, as many people do the Ring of Kerry. Personally though I'd recommend doing the Healy Pass on the Beara Peninsula, if the weather is good you'll have some superb Sound of Music moments, as the sound carries up from the valley floor on the Kerry side.
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