13th Century Lakeside Castle in 7 Acres of Park and Woodland

13th Century Lakeside Castle in 7 Acres of Park and Woodland

Photo gallery for 13th Century Lakeside Castle in 7 Acres of Park and Woodland

Aerial view
Rainbow over Castle
Exterior
Exterior
Exterior

Overview of 13th Century Lakeside Castle in 7 Acres of Park and Woodland

10 out of 10 Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • KitchenKitchenKitchen

Check out the area

Headford,, County Galway
  • Popular LocationEyre Square32 min drive
  • Popular LocationQuay Street32 min drive
  • Popular LocationUniversity of Galway35 min drive
  • AirportShannon (SNN)92 min drive

Rooms & beds

7 bedrooms (sleeps 12)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Twin Bed and 1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Twin Bunk Bed

Bedroom 4

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 5

1 Twin Bed and 1 Double Bed

Bedroom 6

1 Twin Bed

Bedroom 7

1 Twin Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathroom 2

Spaces

Kitchen
Balcony
Dining Area

About this property

13th Century Lakeside Castle in 7 Acres of Park and Woodland

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

Property manager

Annemarie

Amenities

House Rules

Check in after 5:00 PM
Check out before 10:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0-17
Children welcome

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed
Pets considered

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Non smoking only

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited

We should mention

A car is required for transportation to and from this property

About the neighborhood

Headford

Located in Headford, this castle is on a lake. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Lough Atalia and Millennium Children's Park and Playground, while Quiet Man Museum and Town Hall Theatre are cultural highlights. Traveling with kids? Consider Cong Mini Golf Club, or check out an event or a game at Galway Greyhound Stadium. Motor boating and fishing offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with cycling and hunting nearby.

What's nearby

  • Ashford Castle - 31 min drive
  • Eyre Square - 32 min drive
  • Quay Street - 32 min drive
  • University Hospital Galway - 33 min drive
  • University of Galway - 35 min drive

Getting around

  • Galway Station - 35 min drive

Restaurants

  • The Angler's Rest - 11 min drive
  • Heneghan’s - 11 min drive
  • Campbells Tavern - 11 min drive
  • Homeplace - 11 min drive
  • Supermac's - 11 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is 13th Century Lakeside Castle in 7 Acres of Park and Woodland pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at 13th Century Lakeside Castle in 7 Acres of Park and Woodland?

Check-in begins at 5:00 PM.

What time is check-out at 13th Century Lakeside Castle in 7 Acres of Park and Woodland?

Check-out is at 10:00 AM.

Where is 13th Century Lakeside Castle in 7 Acres of Park and Woodland located?

Located on a lake, this family-friendly castle is 10.7 mi (17.1 km) from Hackett Castle and 11.4 mi (18.4 km) from Ballymagibbon Cairn. Cong Mini Golf Club and Ashford Castle are also within 16 mi (25 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labeled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 70 out of 72 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 72 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 72 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 72 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 72 reviews" "

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Rachel N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Tayler - Mekayla Birthday Extravaganza
What a spectacular experience we had. It was agreed upon by our group, that Carraigin Castle holds a very unique, inviting, and warm energy. The history and design was exactly what we hoped for, with it being most of our 1st trips to the Irish countryside. The castle held 10 people (1 couple and 8 single adults) comfortably to sleep, and a dinner party of 21 people total. Geraldine was quite responsive and delightful, as well as Tina, who provided all the catering for the dinner. Our only wish is that we had more time to stay! We hope to return in the summer at some point, as the grounds were equally as enchanting! To have an opportunity to use the boat on the lake would be a dream. Highly recommend it if the time of year allows it. Overall, everyone was extremely pleased with this castle. It was just the right amount of charm in every way.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Barb R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
An Ideal and Dream Come True Visit
Perfection is just one word to describe our stay! Others would be superb accommodations, wonderful scenery, delightful local flavor, and superior guest relations! Geraldine Egan is a wonderful manager and made us feel right at home. She was thoughtful and considerate and took care of us in splendid fashion. The meal awaiting us upon our arrival was a fabulous spread prepared by the talented Tina Matthews. The entire visit was such a great experience, one that made our hearts smile.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Cindy D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Amazing Castle
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay here. The castle and grounds are even better than the photos. It was chilly enough to use the fireplace which added to the fun. Take advantage of Tina's prepared meal for your first night. We also went out on the lake with David. Another great experience. We would definitely stay again.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
AMAZING castle stay
What an incredible stay!!! Very authentic--loved to see all the work and effort that went into lovingly restoring this castle. We had an amazing stay. The grounds are also amazing as is the opportunity to go out on Lake. The dinner ( that you can order) the first night is so incredible and so generous we ate from it for days afterwords. It was a dream vacation for my 60th birthday in the land of my birth and it was worth every penny! An excellent stay for grownups and younger ones alike!!!
Stayed 9 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Even Better Than We Could Have Hoped!
Everything about our castle experience exceeded expectations. The beautiful pictures don't do the property justice. The view in every direction is picturesque, the grounds are beautifully maintained, and the interior was a unique delight. Geraldine gave us a warm welcome with a tour and provided nibbles (bread, fruit, crackers) that lasted for days. We took the advice of other reviews and had our first night catered by Tina which provided not only a delicious meal, but leftovers for days, and after that, still enough to make ourselves a stew. David gave us a tour of the lake on the fishing boat that is provided. Like everyone we encountered, he was friendly and informative. The interior was plenty spacious for our group of 8. There are a total of ten beds with 4 of them being queens (?) and very comfortable. My youngest daughter loved the small room in the "tower." Any questions or issues that came up were handled promptly (Geraldine lives close by). Everyone was delighted with our stay. I can't say enough good things about the experience!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

About the host

Hosted by Annemarie

Host profile image
When Christopher bought the site of Carraigin Castle, his friends and family panicked at the idea of his attempting to restore what looked like a shapeless heap of stones. Even the builder who undertook to have a go at putting the place together thought he was 'cracked'. Chris had grown up near a ruined castle, and it had been his childhood dream to restore one. He was, therefore, quite determined to go ahead with the project. By doing a lot of research into medieval hall houses and visiting nearly every castle in Ireland, Chris lovingly designed every corner and corbel of the building, including the roof and the original door latches. I am particularly fond of the down-stairs front door. It took Christopher 7 years (!) to design it and collect the materials – hand-forged nails, oak planks etc. Finally he took one whole month off to build it, and although I am his wife and I say so myself, the result is quite delightful. In spite of its authentic medieval appearance, Carraigin is as warm and comfortable as any modern holiday home.

Why they chose this property

Chris had grown up near a ruined castle on the other side of the lake. After a long search all across the West of Ireland he found (and fell) for the ruin.

What makes this property unique

We come for the fishing, fabulous walks, fireside chats and peace and quiet aplenty. There's a boat to rent, with outboard, life jackets, fishing rods and an introduction to Lough Corrib by a local fisherman.
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