Dromoland Castle Hotel and Country Estate

Dromoland Castle Hotel and Country Estate Review

Dating from the 19th century and now one of Ireland's grandest hotels, Dromoland bristles with towers rising up over a picture-perfect lake like a storybook illustration from King Arthur. A massive neo-Gothic castle, it was, in fact, the ancestral home of the O'Briens, descendants of Brian Bórú, High King of Ireland. Inside, Dromoland provides all the creature comforts any king would want: oak paneling, ancestral portraits, crystal chandeliers, Irish-Georgian antiques. Bedrooms (suites, in fact) in the main wing are the most elaborate, with four-poster beds and genuine Hepplewhite armoires. Guest rooms in the newer wings are more hotel-like, with Regency-style furniture. Rooms with a lake view are the most sought-after. For dining, the Green Room Bar and Fig Tree in the golf clubhouse offer casual options while the neo-Gothic, oak-wainscoted Earl of Thomond Restaurant is the place for a chandeliered French feast. For activities, the 440-acre estate offers a golf course, tennis, fishing, spa, and woodlands perfect for jogging and cycling.