Kinnitty Castle

Kinnitty castle originally dates from 1209 and has a long and turbulent history. Even though it has been destroyed and rebuilt twice it has still retained its character and charm. Located on ancient druidic ceremonial ground, it stands in the woodlands on the slopes of the Slieve Bloom and mountains and the sheer size and beauty of the place (20,000acres) is absolutely breathtaking.

Saint Finnian, who was born in the 6th century, was a disciple of Saint Brendan who at his wish founded and governed a monastery at Kinnitty in County Offlay. After suffering various raids from Vikings the Normans later built a castle and Augustinian Abbey on the site, the walls of which were incorporated into the walls of the castle and can still be seen today.

It is believed that the castle was one of many strongholds of the clan O’ Carroll, who were reputed to have as many as 40 castles around the 11th century. The English confiscated the castle, which was built aside of the abbey by William O’ Carroll in 1630, during the plantation of Offlay or ‘The Kings County’ as it was then known in 1641.

In 1811 the castle was in the possession of Thomas Bernard whose wife, Lady Catherine Hutchinson, hired the famous Pain Brothers, who were architects of Dromoland Castle and Ardare Castle, to extend the castle to what it is today, a gem of neo gothic architecture.

After a few previous owners, a Lord Decies then sold the castle to The State in 1946. Then the Ryan family purchased it in 1994 and it has been since turned into a 34-bedroom luxury hotel. Boasting a Georgian decorated gourmet restaurant, a library bar which houses an exceptional collection of antique journals and books and a superb Louis XV style drawing room. The hotel also offers a range of leisure activities such as fishing, clay pigeon shooting and a fully equipped spa and leisure center.

People from all over the world enjoy Kinnitty Castle. It gives guests to unwind and lose themselves in the peace and tranquility of their surroundings.