Dromoland Castle
Royal Pedigree

Newmarket-on-Fergus, Ireland

Dromoland Castle

A lake with swans and a walled garden that recalls the pages of Jane Austen's Emma set the scene for this fairy-tale-inspired property, the long-time home of the Barons of Inchiquin, descendants of an 11th-century king of Ireland. After becoming a hotel in 1962, the castle continued to house illustrious leaders, including President Bill Clinton and Nelson Mandela, but all guests will feel regal in this opulent setting. The white-glove treatment runs deep here, down to the perfectly baked currant scones offered at afternoon tea, the handmade chocolates at turn-down, and the room service attendant who arrives in a pressed coat and bowtie. While it's rooted in a deep past, Dromoland's modern updates include a newly-opened gift shop stocked with artisanal goods such as local cheeses and honey, and a recent overhaul of the four-room Presidential Suite, complete with a regal canopy bed.

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  • Best for
  • Family
  • Romance
  • Golf
  • Restaurant
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