Ballinalacken Castle Country House Hotel
Review
Ballinalacken Castle feels made for sweet romantic escapes. I’ve endorsed it before and it somehow keeps deepening its charm, year after year. With just 15 rooms and suites, including four superior four-poster sanctuaries, you’re in for a treat of crackling cosiness and considered style. Bedrooms are comfortable, tasteful and warm, the kind of spaces where mornings linger and evenings slow. It’s a perfect base for exploring County Clare’s wonders, from the Cliffs of Moher to the Burren’s lunar hush. After adventures, return to an on-site restaurant that truly champions local produce, served with quiet confidence. The team are friendly and welcoming, and hosts Declan and Cecelia O’Callahan carry the torch with grace; Declan’s proud family have run this hotel since 1938. Nestled beside Ballinalacken Castle itself, the house seems to borrow its romance from the ancient stones, a place to exhale, reconnect, and plan tomorrow’s wanderings under Atlantic stars tonight.
- Top 100 Review
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Location
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Nearby Attractions
Doolin Cave
On Ireland’s wild west coast and a firm favourite in my Island of Ireland book, Doolin Cave delivers wonder in a single, breathtaking reveal: the Great Stalactite, unchanged for millions of years, suspended like time itself. Yet while the formation remains eternal, the experience around
Burren Smokehouse
Lisdoonvarna is one of Co. Clare’s liveliest towns and few places capture its energy quite like the award winning Burren Smokehouse. I was honoured to spend time with founders Birgitta and Peter Curtin, whose passion has turned this family-run business into a world-class operation.
The Roadside Tavern
Tucked away in lively Lisdoonvarna, the historic Roadside Tavern is the sort of pub every person on a grand tour of Ireland dreams of. Established in 1865 and still proudly family run, it’s now in the expert hands of Peter Jackson, one of Co. Clare’s most talented chefs.
Nearby Eating Out
Ballinalacken Castle Restaurant
From the moment you step in, expect a high quality of service and to be welcomed by a very friendly team. This is a family-run hotel that prides itself on providing the best of experiences. *
The Roadside Tavern
Tucked away in lively Lisdoonvarna, the historic Roadside Tavern is the sort of pub every person on a grand tour of Ireland dreams of. Established in 1865 and still proudly family run, it’s now in the expert hands of Peter Jackson, one of Co. Clare’s most talented chefs.
Gus O’Connor’s Pub
Gus O’Connor’s Pub, perfectly located in the charming coastal village of Doolin, Co. Clare, is the epitome of a traditional Irish pub. Established in 1832, it has been lovingly cared for by its current owner Patrick Sexton and his family for over 25 years, continuing a legacy where every owner