7. Dromoland Castle
The elegant 16th-century Dromoland Castle has its roots in the family lineage of Donough O’Brien, who ruled Dromoland in 1014 and is a family name of high nobility in Ireland. The 450-acre estate is now a destination for travelers, who come to stay in the lavish bedrooms with canopied beds and embellished furniture fit for a king.
The estate has a spa, a championship 18-hole golf course, and outdoor recreation, and it is a popular destination for weddings. While the Dromoland Castle is a destination versus a day visit, you can still swing by for a peek at the grounds, even if you are not staying here.
8. Castle Ward
For Game of Thrones fans, the Castle Ward is an unforgettable experience. The 18th-century castle is the main filming location for the show. An exciting way to enjoy a visit to Castle Ward is to take part in a medieval banquet or sign up for the ClearSky Adventures on-site, which lets you try on Game of Thrones costumes with experts, who teach you how to shoot arrows in the courtyard.
Non-Game of Thrones visitors will enjoy the unusual architecture of the castle. When the castle was built for Lord Bangor and his wife, they could not agree on a structural style, so they compromised by building one side in Gothic architecture for him and the other in Palladian geometry to suit her. The Castle Ward is one of the most unique in Ireland.
