Darver Castle, Co. Louth

Dostoevsky

Has anybody had their wedding in Darver Castle? We went venue hunting recently and this was on our list and proved to be the nicest surprise in a long time.

We liked it so much we decided to have dinner in the restaurant, expecting that a restaurant in a small village in rural Ireland would be dead quiet. It was packed - and they said they wanted their seat back an hour later! We could see why: the food was superb.

She loved the bedrooms; we both loved the function room. We like the idea that we'd have the entire castle for the day, and there were loads of quirky bits that we'd never have accepted in theory but worked really well there - for instance, the kitchen is part of the large area used for reception drinks.

The only obvious downside at this early stage is that there are only ten rooms in the castle - and we'll have 150 plus at the reception.

Anyway, as we don't know anybody who has had a wedding there, and only heard about it in the past week, does anybody have any feedback?

Rew

I know people who got maried there and people who have been to weddings there. Both enjoyed it and recomended it. Its a popular venue, 150+ weddings a year. We looked at it but wasn't what we were looking for.

sweetie

I've been to and worked at Darver a few times and it really is lovely. The function room is very unique and the food was great. As a guest I and most of the other guests stayed in Fairways hotel in dundalk and the hotel ran a courtesy bus to and from Darver. It wasn't the best hotel but it was cheap and suited everyone well.

ThePiedPiper

I've been to a couple of weddings there and yes, it is a lovely venue.
If it's a summertime wedding, make sure you confirm with them first that they've the air-conditioning system sorted out. A wedding I was at here a few years ago was a bit of a disaster because there was no air-con and it was the hottest day of the summer. I'm not kidding, people were actually eating their dinner outside because the heat inside was so overpowering. They may have this sorted now.

The hotel owns a few houses on the grounds of the estate that are for more guests to stay or whatever. I don't think there's room for more than 20 or 30 but at least you could have more of the immediate family and bridal party. Best of luck.

joebloggs123

It's a nice venue but only up to a certain number of people. I was at a wedding there before and it was good but there was 200 at it and not enough room for everyone. Some tables were to the left hand side of the hall behind pillars, and people felt cut off from the speeches etc because they couldn't see. The bar outside the hall also brought a lot of people out from the main dancing area. Aside from that it was good, food was nice and a good time was had and I have seen some of the wedding photos from the venue and they were nice.

kc66

A guy I know got married there and when he arrived the place was flooded. Think they worked something out on the day though.

DM addict

I was at a wedding there in November. Lovely venue, a bit unique etc. However wasn't particularly impressed with the food, to be honest - it was a little below average even. Also we were asked if we wanted a drink for the toast, but it couldn't be sparkling and there was already wine on the tables, so come toast time there were pints and G&Ts littering the table. Some of the guests stayed in the castle and various nearby houses, but we stayed in a hotel in dundalk, as above they were very good at getting people to and from the place. I believe the bride and groom had a great day.

Rew

DM addict wrote: »

Also we were asked if we wanted a drink for the toast, but it couldn't be sparkling and there was already wine on the tables, so come toast time there were pints and G&Ts littering the table.

Surprised they wouldn't do sparkling wine but the limit of what can be ordered for the toast drink is set by the bride and groom to control costs not the hotel.

belleray

Went to a wedding there a few months ago. Lovely venue, we had wonderful food.

We stayed in the Crowne Plaza down the road. They arranged deals and a mini bus to and from Darver Castle were included in the room price.

Dostoevsky

DM addict wrote: »

Some of the guests stayed in the castle and various nearby houses, but we stayed in a hotel in dundalk, as above they were very good at getting people to and from the place. I believe the bride and groom had a great day.

belleray wrote: »

Went to a wedding there a few months ago. Lovely venue, we had wonderful food.

We stayed in the Crowne Plaza down the road. They arranged deals and a mini bus to and from Darver Castle were included in the room price.

Did either of you find that many people just left the wedding early and drove back to Dublin? As half the people coming would be from Dublin, we wouldn't be keen on the party breaking up early.

sweetie

Dostoevsky wrote: »

Did either of you find that many people just left the wedding early and drove back to Dublin? As half the people coming would be from Dublin, we wouldn't be keen on the party breaking up early.

I think that would be an issue at any venue in leinster within an hours drive of dublin. If you provide good qality entertainemnt it shouldnt matter. The fairways hotel is very cheap also so very good for those on a budget. It is one of those venues that doesn't really work for the late session from 2 till early morning due to the guests mostly having to get buses back to Dundalk.

Rew

Dostoevsky wrote: »

Did either of you find that many people just left the wedding early and drove back to Dublin? As half the people coming would be from Dublin, we wouldn't be keen on the party breaking up early.

If you worried about that check what way accommodation would work for you. My memory is there is a very little in the castle and a small bit locally. Danger is everyone stays at the D hotel and the bus comes to get them and your whole wedding leaves.