Irish Castles/ Country Houses

thedavman009

Having recently popped the question, my fiancee and I have started looking at venues. I thought this was going to be an easy process but getting somewhere which ticks the boxes is proving more than a little tricky.

Our criteria is not set in stone but below is roughly what we are looking for:

Castle/ Country House
Catering for 150-175 guests
Overnight accomodation for all guests either in reception venue and or in neighbouring B&Bs, hotels etc.
Within 1/ 1.5 hours drive from Dublin Airport.

So far despite hours spent trawlign the internet all we have come up with is Kinnitty Castle which we are viewing this weekend.

Is there anywhere else that Boardsies could recommend/ advise me of.

Thanks

LandoCalrissian

We recently got married in Barberstown Castle in Straffan which is 45 mins (max) from Dublin Airport

We got not fault them in any aspect the service and food was of the highest standard

sweetie

www.mph.ie - meets all the criteria i think (not sure about the numbers)
tankardstown - lovely and they have buil on a larger function room recently
durrow castle is probably only 90 mins from dublin airport, worth checking out too

thedavman009

Brilliant thank you for the suggestions.

Really like the look of Middleton Park House and had never heard of it despite quizzing everyone I know and googleing the hell out of Irish Wedding Venues!

sweetie

thedavman009 wrote: »

Brilliant thank you for the suggestions.

Really like the look of Middleton Park House and had never heard of it despite quizzing everyone I know and googleing the hell out of Irish Wedding Venues!

its probably my favourite venue in the republic. Not sure about your numbers though...
oh I forgot bellinter house and carton house

augustus gloop

http://www.clonabreanyhouse.ie/

nice place great food, attended friends wedding there a while back really enjoyed it

liliq

I'm getting married in boyne hill house (dublin side of navan) in november.
Sounds like it could fit all your criteria.
I know there's a thread on here with some negativity about it, but every dealing I've had with them so far has been 100% professional and friendly, and I couldn't rate them higher.
(I'm not associated with them, except as a (so far) happy customer)

COngrats on the engagment

thedavman009

Thansk for all the responses.

Will have a look at each of the venues now.

The Recliner

Cabra Castle in Cavan fits into your criteria as well I think

http://www.cabracastle.com/

Getting married there in October

Gatica

These are some of the places we'd considered, though didn't get a chance to visit all of them.

The K Club - though may be a bit too large or too expensive.
Finnstown - Nicer outside I think.
Cabra Castle - really really popular place.
Luttrelstown Castle Resort - very pretty.
Dunboyne castle - ok.
Village at Lyons - at a squeeze, but really gorgeous grounds and rooms.
Killashee House - quite pretty, but they can do two weddings in different parts of the house/hotel. They're almost separate but still...
Palmerstown house - they might be in receivership though, can't remember.
Roganstown Hotel - not sure how bit it is though.
Portmarnock Hotel - looks good.
Radisson Blu at St. Helens -looks like an old house redone.
Summerhill House hotel - personally not that happy with their service.
Fitzpatrick castle - quite unusual.
Carlton Abbey Hotel - doesn't look too bad.
Tinakilly Country House - looks like a lovely setting.
Tulfarris Hotel - Really liked this place. In receivership, but they're still booming.
Brooklodge Wells and Spa - great for good organic food.
Rathsallagh House - Real old country house, horses, open fires, very old style...

liliq

Oh... I love Fitzpatricks Castle...
That would definitely fit all the criteria as well!

Theboinkmaster

sweetie wrote: »

www.mph.ie - meets all the criteria i think (not sure about the numbers)
tankardstown - lovely and they have buil on a larger function room recently
durrow castle is probably only 90 mins from dublin airport, worth checking out too

Tankardstown is superb, we got married there last year and they were awesome.

tannytantans

There's also Darver Castle outside Dundalk. I think it's more of a country house. Any reports I've heard about it have been excellent and I've two friends getting married there soon

thedavman009

Thank you everyone for all the suggestions. They have been hugely appreciated.

We viewed outr first venue in the flesh yesterday but it was not a runner for us. Toofar from Dublin and the castle really needed some refurb and TLC.

pooch90

Any chance you'd say where it was? Will be hunting in similar locations soon.

thedavman009

pooch90 you have a PM.

Dostoevsky

tannytantans wrote: »

There's also Darver Castle outside Dundalk. I think it's more of a country house. Any reports I've heard about it have been excellent and I've two friends getting married there soon

Actually, I'd say Darver is one of the few places in Ireland which is actually a 'castle' with a verifiable medieval history, or more precisely a keep.

We were very impressed with it, although we decided against it due to most people having to travel to Dundalk for accommodation and, by extension, many people leaving early to drive back to Dublin. We didn't want the party to break up early.

But Darver Castle is a lovely, lovely venue indeed. The fact that you'd have exclusivity for your day was a bonus. The restaurant upstairs does a massive trade, and if its food is an indicator of what wedding food is like you wouldn't go wrong.

triona1

We had our reception here.http://www.stationhousehotel.ie/location/kilmessan/
Highly recommend it too everyone.
Beautiful spot and great service's.

Actually just had a quick look at the venue again and their wedding package is quiet good also.
http://www.stationhousehotel.ie/weddings/wedding-packages-&-specials/

pooch90

Hi guys, sorry to dig up a thread that's a few months old.
We are trying to decide between the aforementioned two venues. Station House and Darver Castle.

We have read that Darver will only serve at the bar until 2am, is this the case?
The thing that worries us about the Station House is whether the function room will be big enough when it is time for the band, we would have about 120-140 guests.

We will have mostly a younger crowd (well 25-40) with very few uncles, aunts etc.
We want a wedding that will have people with happy bellies, plenty of drink and just a big happy session basically.

Am really torn, thought we had made our decision but have now gone back to not being able to pick between the 2.
Any help appreciated!

bnear

Bellingham Castle Hotel in Castlebellingham Co Louth might meet your requirements. It was recently bought by the peopel who own Cabra Castle and is being completely refurbished. Its reopening in July and I know they have weddings booked for this summer so might be no harm to give it a once over... Its just off exit 15 on the M1 so about 40 minutes from the airport and motorway all the way.
Not sure how you would contact them as its not open yet possibly contact Cabra Castle.
Congrats on the engagement I hope you find the right place.:)

pooch90

Thanks for the recommendation but I really can't add another venue to the list or I'll go insane!

niallam

pooch90 wrote: »

Hi guys, sorry to dig up a thread that's a few months old.
We are trying to decide between the aforementioned two venues. Station House and Darver Castle.

We have read that Darver will only serve at the bar until 2am, is this the case?
The thing that worries us about the Station House is whether the function room will be big enough when it is time for the band, we would have about 120-140 guests.

We will have mostly a younger crowd (well 25-40) with very few uncles, aunts etc.
We want a wedding that will have people with happy bellies, plenty of drink and just a big happy session basically.

Am really torn, thought we had made our decision but have now gone back to not being able to pick between the 2.
Any help appreciated!

Been in the room in the station house and I thought 80-100 was all it was suited for really, comfortably anyway

deskgirl

When we viewed Station House it was set up for 110 and I thought it was pretty squashed at that number so think it would be too small for your numbers.

eustie5

I would recommend Brooklodge it is really beautiful and food is amazing. Belinteer house i wouldn't rate too highly needs a facelift and food just ok. Cabra castle is also very nice, have you thought about carton house even?? K club is also lovely, wouldn't be too keen on Dunboyne castle either and Finnstown castle not good, was at a wedding there and food wasn't good.

sweetie

Darver would hold a bigger number than Station house and the Fairways hotel runs free bus back for guests that cant stay in Darver. I found the accommodation in the station house to be basic but then its handy to be able to stay there and the function room whilst narrow does hold your planned number and the dancefloor will look busy! Hard to choose!

pooch90

I Know!!
I've spoken to a girl who had 150 in SH and said it was fine and dancefloor plenty big.
Darver have actually swapped to Crowne Plaza hotel now, very handy service. I just don't want to be sent to bed or lose half the crowd to the bar off the side.
Think we will revisit both this weekend and make a decision.

Realistically, our numbers may not even reach 120, we're only estimating at this point.

We've the 2 of them provisionally booked and we need to decide in a week.

sweetie

I was a guest at a Darver wedding and it was a bit of a shame to have to leave at 2am and go back to the hotel when the party was still going for some of the guests. It's nice to have the option of a late night session which is a staple of many Irish weddings.

bob_sponge

Pooch90 - I don't know Darver at all so can't offer you a comparison but just wanted to say that I had my wedding reception in the Station House Hotel with similar numbers to yours. We had a 7 piece band so we didn't bother with a stage to save space. Worked out really well. I went around all the tables during dinner talking to our guests and it wasn't cramped at all. I absolutely loved it as a venue and three of our guests went on to have their own weddings there so it obviously made a good impression on them too.

pooch90

Sweetie, are you a poster on weddingsonline?
I've been told there that the bar closes at 2 as well, despite management saying last orders were 2.45.
I'm just trying to figure out if it closes for the wedding at 2, then guests of the actual castle get to drink til 2.45 in the castle kitchen?
If it's 2 seperate people saying it closes at 2 for normal guests, they can't deny it. Was this a recent wedding Sweetie?

Station House serve til after 4, which is much more realistic.

Thanks a million bob_sponge, I really haven't heard a bad word about the SH.
I think I just want a load of bad reviews of Darver Castle so I only have one option and don't have to choose!

clint_silver

pooch90 wrote: »

Sweetie, are you a poster on weddingsonline?
I've been told there that the bar closes at 2 as well, despite management saying last orders were 2.45.
I'm just trying to figure out if it closes for the wedding at 2, then guests of the actual castle get to drink til 2.45 in the castle kitchen?
If it's 2 seperate people saying it closes at 2 for normal guests, they can't deny it. Was this a recent wedding Sweetie?

Station House serve til after 4, which is much more realistic.

Thanks a million bob_sponge, I really haven't heard a bad word about the SH.
I think I just want a load of bad reviews of Darver Castle so I only have one option and don't have to choose!

Ive played both places many times, darver stops serving at 2. station house uses the main room as its ressies so keeps going til 4.

If theres a ressies bar at darvers discretion, thats their own choice but I wouldnt be making that my guiding rule over whether to pick it or not. everyone will be tanked up by 2am and for the sake of topping up with 1 extra pint at that time Id be looking to other criteria to decide.

Darver is fantastic, brilliant food, great staff (I think the nicest in Ireland), station house is great, I play in a 6-7 piece band and we fit on the stage area and dance floor will be full and 120-140 wont be "stuffed", more "compact". I wouldnt have any more then that 140 though.

you will not go wrong with either of them for me.

tosser5

I was at a wedding in Darver and it was all lovely, food, setting and friendly staff, would really recommend it.

pooch90

clint_silver wrote: »

Ive played both places many times, darver stops serving at 2. station house uses the main room as its ressies so keeps going til 4.

If theres a ressies bar at darvers discretion, thats their own choice but I wouldnt be making that my guiding rule over whether to pick it or not. everyone will be tanked up by 2am and for the sake of topping up with 1 extra pint at that time Id be looking to other criteria to decide.

Darver is fantastic, brilliant food, great staff (I think the nicest in Ireland), station house is great, I play in a 6-7 piece band and we fit on the stage area and dance floor will be full and 120-140 wont be "stuffed", more "compact". I wouldnt have any more then that 140 though.

you will not go wrong with either of them for me.

Thanks a million clint.
To be honest, the bar closing at 2 would be a make or break. Our friends and ourselves would very much be the type to sit around for a few hours after all the noise and chat.
Great to know that the one thing I was worried about with SH isn't actually an issue.

Think decision is made!

Thank you to everyone for input.
Here's hoping we can get a celebrant!

PS, Clint-any chance you would send me on details of your band??