Claregalway Castle

The exhibition of exotic flowers made the visit enjoyable, and I’m glad we went. We only got to see a small section of the tower, though, and by itself it didn’t make much of an impression.

The restoration is incredible, right down to the details. We were delighted to put up our 20x15m stretch tent here for a wedding. Stretch Tents Ireland

We were lucky enough to have Mike show us around. He was kind and knew so much, having been involved in restoring the property. The castle is a magical place, and its grandeur is something you really have to experience in person. If you can book an AirBNB stay, it’s the sort of experience that stays with you. A must see in Ireland.

Claregalway Castle is a beautiful place, though access to the hotel area is limited to ordinary visitors. You can still walk around and cross the old bridge, which is now more of a landmark and decoration, and it’s worth stopping to see it. The castle, a restored 15th-century Norman tower house, sits beside the Clare River in Claregalway, County Galway. It’s now used as a cultural and historical centre, with exhibitions, concerts, educational programs and weddings. The Burke clan controlled it during the 15th and 16th centuries as part of their Connacht holdings. It was caught up in local conflicts and changed hands several times in the 16th and 17th centuries, and was probably damaged during Cromwell’s campaign in 1651. It later fell into disrepair, serving as a barn before becoming a ruin. Dr. Eamonn O’Duane, a doctor interested in historical architecture, bought the castle in the 2000s. Its major restoration took more than 10 years, and it has now been fully restored.