Castle / Palace in County Galway
12 guests · 7 bedrooms · 2 baths
Reasons to book
Guests love it hereGuests give this property a top rating
Top-tier experienceA high end property in this area
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About this castle / palace rental
Surrounded by seven acres of lawns, park and woodland, Carraigin Castle is an idyllic holiday home in a beautiful setting on the shores of Lough Corrib, one of Ireland’s biggest lakes, famous for its brown trout and its multitude of picturesque islands. From the Castle one can enjoy boating and fishing on the lake, walking, riding and sightseeing all over Galway and Mayo, or just relax by the open hearth and contemplate the charm and simple grandeur of this ancient dwelling, a rare and beautiful example of a fortified, medieval “hall house”.
Family groups or close friends will love the relaxed atmosphere of this authentic 13th-century manor house, which has been restored by the present owner after languishing for more than two centuries as a crumbling, roofless ruin. Carraigin's church-like structure sits on a rise reached by an avenue across the tree-lined Pleasure Ground. The ancient-looking, nail-studded front door on the ground floor, often mistaken for an authentic antiquity, was actually made by the owner during the building's restoration in the 1970s. Round the corner, an imposing stone staircase leads to another grand entrance, into the lofty, oak-beamed Great Hall featuring a wide, stone-arched fireplace that provides a comforting aroma of turf and wood-smoke.
The Great Hall is the central living and dining area of the castle. It features a mix of old oak and comfortable modern furniture surrounding the welcoming hearth. Its white walls are extensively decorated with art including tapestries, brass rubbing portraits of ancient kings and knights and a magnificent triptych featuring a Galway galleon (as on that city’s coat of arms). There is a tiny but well-equipped kitchen next door with a view over the tall trees of the Pleasure Ground.
On the same level as the Hall is an oak-beamed double bedroom with a king-size bed and bathroom. A stone staircase winds upwards over this master bedroom to a family loft room overlooking the Great Hall. Another winding stairs leads up to a little single bedroom in the corner tower. From both of these second-floor rooms you can stroll out onto the castle parapets with fabulous views of Lough Corrib and the hills of Connemara and Mayo, and even those of Clare, on the other side of Galway Bay.
The rest of you sleep in the four cosy 'Vaults' on the ground floor below, their walls also lined with tapestries and other artworks. The Vaults have much picturesque charm with their oak-timbered partitions, arches and vaulted ceilings, and they work if you know each other well as the rooms lead one into the other. Vault I, the largest of the four, sleeps two in bunk-beds and features a fair-sized work table and chairs for busy teenagers and a mini-sofa for one or two in the window embrasure. Vault II (off No. 1) has a double bed and a similar window seat. Vault III (also off No.1) has one double and one single bed and a window seat. Vault III in turn gives access to Vault IV, a small single room with a three-light gothic window looking out at the standing stone sundial on the lawn.
Keywords: Manor
Family groups or close friends will love the relaxed atmosphere of this authentic 13th-century manor house, which has been restored by the present owner after languishing for more than two centuries as a crumbling, roofless ruin. Carraigin's church-like structure sits on a rise reached by an avenue across the tree-lined Pleasure Ground. The ancient-looking, nail-studded front door on the ground floor, often mistaken for an authentic antiquity, was actually made by the owner during the building's restoration in the 1970s. Round the corner, an imposing stone staircase leads to another grand entrance, into the lofty, oak-beamed Great Hall featuring a wide, stone-arched fireplace that provides a comforting aroma of turf and wood-smoke.
The Great Hall is the central living and dining area of the castle. It features a mix of old oak and comfortable modern furniture surrounding the welcoming hearth. Its white walls are extensively decorated with art including tapestries, brass rubbing portraits of ancient kings and knights and a magnificent triptych featuring a Galway galleon (as on that city’s coat of arms). There is a tiny but well-equipped kitchen next door with a view over the tall trees of the Pleasure Ground.
On the same level as the Hall is an oak-beamed double bedroom with a king-size bed and bathroom. A stone staircase winds upwards over this master bedroom to a family loft room overlooking the Great Hall. Another winding stairs leads up to a little single bedroom in the corner tower. From both of these second-floor rooms you can stroll out onto the castle parapets with fabulous views of Lough Corrib and the hills of Connemara and Mayo, and even those of Clare, on the other side of Galway Bay.
The rest of you sleep in the four cosy 'Vaults' on the ground floor below, their walls also lined with tapestries and other artworks. The Vaults have much picturesque charm with their oak-timbered partitions, arches and vaulted ceilings, and they work if you know each other well as the rooms lead one into the other. Vault I, the largest of the four, sleeps two in bunk-beds and features a fair-sized work table and chairs for busy teenagers and a mini-sofa for one or two in the window embrasure. Vault II (off No. 1) has a double bed and a similar window seat. Vault III (also off No.1) has one double and one single bed and a window seat. Vault III in turn gives access to Vault IV, a small single room with a three-light gothic window looking out at the standing stone sundial on the lawn.
Keywords: Manor
Amenities at 13th Century Lakeside Castle in 7 Acres of Park and Woodland
Non-smoking
No pets allowed
Map of County Galway
Ratings and reviews
Summary of reviewsGuests were incredibly pleased with their stay at Carraigin Castle, praising the amazing people like Geraldine, JT, and David. Visitors enjoyed the superb accommodations, authentic atmosphere, and delightful dining experiences. The castle's rich history, beautiful grounds, and activities like exploring the lake added to the magical experience.
10.0 / 10.0Outstanding·Oct 2025
Amazing, simply amazing. Rent this Castle for an experience of a lifetime. Our family of 9 absolutely loved it. Take advantage of the offer to have a welcome meal prepared. It seemed expensive for the welcome meal at first glance but lasted us for days, so much delicious food.Do it, stay here !
10.0 / 10.0Outstanding·Aug 2025
Staying in this unique council was an enjoyable experience for the whole family. The grounds were beautiful. We took lots of family pictures and enjoyed the countryside. It was the perfect location to venture out on day trips.Our first night we had a lovely meal catered by Tina. Way too much food but what a wonderful treat! She was able to cater to our mini dietary restrictions and made lots of homemade scones and jams, etc. for us.The owner, AnnMarie was very good at promptly corresponding and replying to our questions.Thank you so much for a wonderful stay!
10.0 / 10.0Outstanding·Aug 2025
This is one of the most incredible places I have ever stayed. My kids loved the tower and walking around the top of the castle. The grounds, the history, and the hosts were all fantastic! We were set up with great accommodations, recommendations for activities in the area, and even a catered meal to be provided on check-in.
5.0 / 10.0·Mar 2022
The castle is exactly as advertised...possibly even better, and the surrounding area is breathtaking! We had 6 kids ages 14-21 with us that all stayed in the first floor vault rooms while the adults stayed in the master bedroom and the loft. It was a great way for the kids to have their own space, but also a perfect place for us all to hang out together. We did several day trips in the area and cooked most of our meals at the castle (the local grocery store, Joyce's, had everything you could want and the prices were great!). Every evening after dinner we would have tea/dessert/cocktails by the fireplace and watch the sun go down over the lake from the turret. The kids really enjoyed roaming the grounds or heading out on the boat to explore the lake between day trips. Staying in a perfectly restored13th century castle was truly amazing, but the icing on the cake was the trio of Geraldine, Tina and David that worked together all week to make everything about our stay feel like a true vacation. Geraldine greeted us on our arrival and walked us through the castle and grounds cheerfully answering any questions we had. She made herself available for anything (I locked us out, there was a hot water issue she handled...). We contacted Tina before the trip about catering a dinner (definitely do it!) and she had baskets of fruit, homemade breads and jams, cheese and crackers and snacks waiting for us when we arrived. The night of the catered dinner Geraldine and Tina arrived, set the table and delivered a piping hot meal fit for a king! Everything from the main course to the desserts was from scratch and heavenly! When I read that the portions lasted 3 days I assumed they were light eaters...but even with a pack of hungry teenage boys we had plenty of leftovers! David was hilarious and very patient teaching the older kids all about the boat and Loch Corrib. He was also a wealth of information about places to go in the area. He, like Tina and Geraldine, also made himself available to any issues we might have with the boat. We did a day trip out the the Aran Islands and when we got back we saw that Tina had left us fresh scones by the front door...after biking all day they were devoured before the fire was lit! Anne, who was the contact person was also quick to get back to us with any questions we had. I think we are now officially spoiled and will now compare every vacation to this one, the bar has officially been set!
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Top rated by guests
10.0Outstanding
(84 Ratings)
Guests were incredibly pleased with their stay at Carraigin Castle, praising the amazing people like Geraldine, JT, and David. Visitors enjoyed the superb accommodations, authentic atmosphere, and delightful dining experiences. The castle's rich hist...
From real guest reviews summarized by AIDon't miss out! Price and availability may change
