My friend and I are going to Ireland in about a week and would like to know what castles to go see. We are starting in Dublin and then going up to Belfast, driving along the coast, and to Galway, down to Shannon. Would love any suggestions! Thanks!

Sorry I can't help you much as when in Galway, we hit the pubs, it was St Patrick's day! However, in Shannan we stayed in Dromoland Castle and it was a highlight of our trip. The first place I ever stayed that provided brandy on a table between two wingback chairs and replaced it on demand, complimentary. And the grounds are beautiful!!

Near Dublin:

http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/mid...st/TrimCastle/

The firts two posters mentioned castle hotels. If you are interested in visiting actual castles, here are a few websites. Have a look, see what interests you and which ones are on your suggested route. Trim Castle would be an excellent choice.

www.irishtourist.com
www.irelandnow.com/castles.html
www.irelandseye.com/IRELAND/irish/castles

You said "see" casstles, so I am assuming that you mean to visit not stay.

As mentioned above, Trim Castle is on the way to Belfast. In Northern Ireland near Belfast is Carrickfergus Castle. Near the Giant's Causeway is DunLuce Castle.

In the Galway area are Dunguaire (9n Kinvarra on the way to Shannon) and Aughnanure (near Moycullen and Oughterard, just off the N59). Dunguaire has a medieval banquet.

Near Shannon are Bunratty and Knappogue. Both have medieval banquets in the evening. Some people call these touristy, and I guess they are, but I found them lots of fun. At Bunratty is a recreated village with houses which were moved when Shannon airport was built. Others were also added later. One street is a recreated street in a Victorian town with the shops and cratsmen you would have seen at that time. An interesting look at times gone by.



Also not far from Shannon is Cragganouwen with a tower fort (sort of a castle) and a village built on a crannog (an island in a lake) Today you walk over a bridge to get there, but in prehistoric times you would have walked on stepping stones beneath the water's surface and set in a pattern that only the particular tribe would have known. There are wild boar in the woods fenced off from the walking path, but usually visible to visitors. There are also rare and ancient breeds of sheep and cattle here. Tim Severin's, the Brendan, is on display here. In 1976 Severin built this boat using hides and tar and then sailed across the Atlantic to prove that St. Brendan could have done it in the fifth century and been the first European to set foot in North America. Interesting!

Have fun! Hope we get a trip report and some pictures.

In Northern Ireland:
http://www.ni-environment.gov.uk/carrick.htm
http://www.northantrim.com/dunlucecastle.htm

In Donegal:
http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/Nor...DonegalCastle/

Affordable castle hotel near Sligo:
http://markreecastle.ie/

Trim is very interesting. There is a great B&B kind of diagonal to it, Highfield House. Trim is where they filmed a lot of scenes from Braveheart.

We did enjoy the medival banquet at Bunratty. You are seated at long tables, the wine is included in the price of your meal and it flowed freely.

Thanks!! This is all great info! Cannot WAIT!

songdoc writes: "... Ashford Castle (in Cong). It's INCREDIBLE. You might also stay at Dromoland Castle (close to Shannon airport). It's fantastic and probably more convenient -- but not quite as "WOW" as Ashford Castle."

Cong is 'the Quiet Man' village, setting for the Movie starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. It's near Galway so it should fit nicely into your itinerary.

Dromoland Castle, in Southwest County Clare (but close to Shannon airport) would be an excellent choice for your next to last night. I say 'next to last' because you'll probably have to be at Shannon early for your flight back; and it would be a shame to miss the morning in the Castle Gardens

Dublin Castle is fascinating - I can;t believe no one has reo'd it. The tour was great an dit;s packed with history.

seeshell, on the Sky Road above Cliften (Connemara) there stands the substatial ruins of a beautiful castle, set on a grassy field overlooking the sea. The structure is in a magnificent setting. We probed around it when we were staying up the road at the Abbeyglen "Castle" hotel nearby - an excellent stopping place.

Would like to know if other Fodorites have visited this place?

Haven't been to the castle ruins mentioned in the previous post -- but I also recommend Dublin Castle.