Wedding venues: romantic Irish castles

From idyllic island settings to five-star luxury with spa, these romantic Irish castles offer fairytale romance and fabulous wedding photo opportunities

Drenched in romance, history and folklore, castles are the picture-perfect venue for a fairytale wedding. And Ireland is particularly well stocked with atmospheric and brooding gems – as well as offering world-class scenery. Here are six of our favourites for a dream wedding day.

Lough Eske Castle Hotel & Spa

Set in 43-acres of Donegal woodland and nestling between a lake (Lough Eske) and the Blue Stack Mountains, this fabulous property was restored to five-star luxury, reopening in 2007. It has since won numerous awards for luxury, service and as a wedding venue. With Tudor baronial interiors updated to deliver grand public rooms and boutique-hotel luxury, it also has a spectacular spa. It can host weddings for up to 280 guests and, for the bride and groom, there are beautiful garden suites or – if you do insist on the room with the best outlook – the Presidential Suite gives you private access to the castle tower. solishotels.com/lougheskecastle/ireland-castle-hotels/

Belle Isle Estate

Located on its own private island on Lough Erne, County Fermanagh and available for exclusive hire, this gorgeous castle nestles in an idyllic 470-acre estate. Dating back to the 17^th century, its picturesque ivy clad walls and imposing tower make for perfect photo opportunities. While Hamilton Wing houses the grand banqueting hall and beautiful traditional rooms, the recently restored Abercorn Wing offers boutique luxury. The castle sleeps 26, and a range of courtyard apartments can each house between two and eight people. There are cottage properties in the grounds, while boating and archery are among local activities. There’s even a water taxi to take you out and about. belle-isle.com/

Cabra Castle Hotel

With moody turrets and spectacular 100-acre grounds Cabra Castle Hotel stands close to the original castle ruins and was constructed in the early 1800s in grand baronial style. Located near Kingscourt, County Cavan, its grounds include a romantic wishing well and accommodation ranges from cottages in the grounds to the grand castle rooms. cabracastle.com/

Read about Meghan and Simon’s Cabra Castle wedding

Clontarf Castle Hotel

Clontarf is an historic gem built in the 12^th century to protect Dublin from marauders. Its location, with easy access to the capital and some of Ireland’s best sporting opportunities, now means it’s popular with marauding golfers as well as lovers. For a grand celebration, you can book The Great Hall, while the Indigo Lounge is a cool choice for a more intimate reception. The castle suites are a perfect retreat from the world for a wedding couple. clontarfcastle.ie/

Lough Cutra

Located close to the cultural gem Galway City, Lough Cutra sits on its own private lake and is available for exclusive hire for weddings. Designed by John Nash (Buckingham Palace was another of his projects), it sits in a vast 1,600-acre estate with parkland, woodland and excellent fishing. There are endless options for catering for the crowds – over 150 can dine within the castle and marquees can be erected in the grounds. The castle itself sleeps up to 20, with additional holiday cottages on the property. loughcutra.com/

Crom Castle

This spectacular property – home of the Earls of Erne – offers the West Wing for weddings and receptions, which take place in the superb Victorian conservatory. If you choose to marry in Holy Trinity Church you will be ferried there and back by the Lough Erne boat – which is about as romantic as it gets. The estate is in the heart of Ireland’s Lake District, so the backdrop is magical, with islands, follies, the old castle ruins and beautiful woodland to explore. While the castle itself can accommodate 12 people, there are cottages, camping and glamping opportunities at Crom. cromcastle.com/