Dromoland Castle Hotel
County Clare, Ireland
Newmarket-on-Fergus, County Clare, Ireland, V95 ATD3
Original Property Opened in 1014
Historic Hotels Worldwide member since 2011
- 2022 Historic Hotels Worldwide® Awards of Excellence Winners
- 2022 Historic Hotels Worldwide® Awards of Excellence Nominee Finalists
- The 2023 Top 25 Historic Hotels Worldwide® Holiday Traditions and Spectacular Displays List
- 2022 Top 25 Historic Hotels Worldwide® Most Romantic Hotels
- The 2022 Top 25 Historic Hotels Worldwide Most Magnificent Gardens
- The 2022 Top 25 Historic Hotels Worldwide Holiday Traditions and Spectacular Displays Is Announced
- The 2023 Historic Hotels Worldwide Top 25 Afternoon Tea Experiences
- The 2026 Top 25 Historic Hotels Worldwide® Most Magnificent Gardens List Is Announced
- The 2024 Top 25 Historic Hotels Worldwide® Most Romantic Hotels List Is Announced
- The 2024 Top 25 Historic Hotels Worldwide® Most Magnificent Gardens List Is Announced
- The 2024 Top 25 Historic Hotels Worldwide® Afternoon Tea Experiences List Is Announced
- 2024 Top 25 Historic Hotels Worldwide Holiday Traditions & Spectacular Displays List Announced
- The 2025 Top 25 Historic Hotels Worldwide Most Romantic Hotels List Is Announced
Ireland’s most magical address, Dromoland Castle Hotel, has been welcoming guests since the 16th century. It is the ancestral home of the O’Briens of Dromoland, with a lineage that dates back over 1,000 years to one of the last High Kings of Ireland, Brian Boru. The castle was massively updated and renovated in the 1820s, with additions, carvings, and priceless art, and little having changed since then. After traversing a long, curving drive past a large-walled garden and the large lake, visitors can behold the monumental castle, with its four linked castellated turrets and Gothic porch. Dromoland Castle Hotel is the gateway to Ireland’s history and culture, perfectly located to explore the South and South-West of Ireland, and the Wild Atlantic Way, 2,500 km of unforgettable coastal roads. Also located in County Clare is the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark, an ancient lunar-like limestone landscape. Locally, visitors can experience Ireland’s rich history, from the medieval town of Ennis to a medieval feast at Bunratty Castle, and a stroll past the Georgian buildings of Limerick City. Dive into Ireland’s ancient heritage with a day trip to the magical Aran Islands and music-filled streets of Galway City, or make for the coast and breathe in the purest air rushing over the Atlantic spray.
Discover
- Discover the glorious accommodations of the Dromoland Castle Hotel. Come see the rooms where countless celebrities resided, such as John Travolta, Jack Nicholson, and Bono. The hotel has even hosted the likes of former U.S. presidents, including Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.
- Admire the Gothic Revival-style architecture of this extraordinary historic hotel. The Dromoland Castle Hotel was originally created during the 16th century by the distinguished O’Brien family, who are the Barons of Inchiquin. The castle still bears their coat of arms.
- Gaze upon the inherent beauty of the Burren. This majestic landscape is defined by its famous seaside cliffs, ancient volcanic rocks, and distinctive plant life, such as the Irish Eyebright. The Burren is even protected as a Special Area of Conservation by the European Union.
Explore
- Explore King John’s Castle in neighboring Limerick. This legendary fortress was constructed during the 13th century at the behest of King John of England. King John’s Castle today is among the best-preserved Norman castles in Europe.
- Travel to The Cliffs of Moher nearby. A protected UNESCO World Heritage Site, The Cliffs of Moher are among the most awe-inspiring geographic features in all of Europe. Visitors can obtain especially outstanding views of the North Atlantic, as well as the picturesque Aran Islands from a local structure known as O’Brien’s Tower.
- Visit Knappogue Castle. Established in the 15th century, Knappogue Castle has hosted two Irish presidents, as well as other heads of state like Charles de Gaulle. A wonderful feature of the castle is its walled garden, which dates to 1817.
Experience
- Experience Craggaunowen nearby. This remarkable destination was once a formidable castle created by the famed MacNamara family. It is now an open-air museum that features a remarkable reconstructed medieval village.
- Tour The Hunt Museum in downtown Limerick. This impressive cultural institution has 2,500 different artifacts that cover everything from prehistoric Ireland to ancient Egypt. Among its most noteworthy collection items are the Antrim Cross, the O'Dea Mitre, and several works by Pablo Picasso.
- Stroll through the Poulnabrone Dolmen. The Poulnabrone Dolmen is an amazingly large portal tomb that the ancient Irish constructed thousands of years ago during the Neolithic Period. This remarkable destination is now protected as a National Monument of Ireland.
Taste
- Savor a fantastic Irish meal at the Earl of Thomond, the Dromoland Castle Hotel’s outstanding restaurant. This fine dining establishment offers a variety of local dishes to try.
- Delight in some Irish stew when traveling around County Clare. Perhaps Ireland’s greatest native dish, Irish stew consists of a mouthwatering combination of meat (typically lamb), potatoes, onions, and other vegetables. No trip to the Emerald Isle is ever complete without tasting this exquisite meal.
- Experience the grandeur of a Castle which calls for feasting, making merry, and treating oneself to the very best of everything. Whether a hearty full Irish breakfast, a whimsical Afternoon Tea, or a cocktail served by a roaring fire, the dining options at Dromoland make each meal an occasion.
FEATURED ACCOMMODATIONS
Featured Offers
Preferred BAR including Complimentary Full Irish Breakfast for two guests. This package is valid year-round, subject to room availability.
With 10% off rates and complimentary breakfast, seeing the world is even more exciting. Simply book and pay for a stay at a participating hotel with your Visa card to take advantage of this exclusive offer. Exclusive offer available only to Visa card holders. Offer only valid at participating hotels.
Book the Best Available Rate at this property on HistoricHotelsWorldwide.com and receive a complimentary one-year family membership (a $30 value) to the National Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States, a member of the International National Trusts Organisation.
