An Enchanted One Night Stay at Dromoland Castle

 

The bathroom in our room was quite spacious as well with a separate tub, a walk-in shower, and a double sink vanity. There was also a towel warmer, lovely bath amenities and robes and slippers for all three of us as a child-sized set had been left for Emma as well.

 

 

Dining at Dromoland Castle

There are casual dining options available at the castle but we decided that having the full castle experience meant dressing up our one night at Dromoland to enjoy a fancy fine dining experience at the award-winning Earl of Thomond Restaurant. The elegant room positively sparkled with Waterford crystal chandeliers overhead and candles on the tables but didn’t feel at all stuffy despite the elaborate decor.

The service was friendly and I noticed that children were made to feel quite welcome. At 12 years of age, Emma is hardly a child any more but there were families with younger children dining in the restaurant as well. There was even a Children’s Menu available with wonderful choices such as Smoked Salmon Salad (which Emma loved) as a starter.

The innovative menu uses fresh local ingredients and we enjoyed each delicious course of our leisurely dining experience, especially the decadent desserts. A tasty and filling Irish breakfast was served in the Earl of Thomond the next morning as well.

 

Activities at Dromoland Castle

Dromoland Castle has many family-friendly activities available but as we were only staying the one night we weren’t able to take advantage of most of them. We were able to enjoy a walk around the castle grounds on the day we arrived and again the following morning before departing for Killarney.

There are also walking and hiking trails on the estate that are ideal for families, formal gardens and a lovely walled garden (reminding me of The Secret Garden) that can be explored as well. Ask at the Front Desk if you would like to feed the ducks and swans down by the lake and you will be provided with a large packet of bread that will keep the kids entertained for some time.

We had hoped to book the pony and trap ride which takes guests on a tour of the beautiful grounds of the estate but didn’t think to inquire about it until we returned from the Cliffs of Moher only to discover that it wasn’t operating the following day. In hindsight, we should have booked ahead or inquired about booking as soon as we arrived at the castle.

Additional activities that families can enjoy together include tennis, swimming, golf, cycling, clay pigeon shooting, and falconry. There’s also a spa if mom or dad need a little pampering. If I were able to do it over then I would have tried to arrange to spend two nights at Dromoland so that we would have had more time to enjoy everything that the castle has to offer.

The castle also makes a great home base for exploring this region of Ireland. The Cliffs of Moher, The Burren, and Bunratty Castle are all relatively close as are the cities of Limerick and Galway.

 

 

Parents planning a trip to Ireland shouldn’t hesitate to book a stay at family-friendly Dromoland Castle. Although it is a luxury hotel, kids are warmly welcomed and the hotel staff go out of their way to create an environment where families can relax and enjoy their holiday. We thoroughly enjoyed our time in Ireland but our night at the enchanting Dromoland Castle was a highlight that Emma will never forget.

What You Need To Know

• Dromoland Castle is a member of the Preferred Hotel Group.
• The castle is located 8 miles from Shannon Airport in Clare just outside Newmarket on Fergus.
• Accommodations at the castle include guest rooms, deluxe rooms, staterooms and suites.
• Dining options include fine dining at the award-winning Earl of Thomond Restaurant, the more informal Fig Tree Restaurant located in the Golf & Country Club, and casual dining in the Gallery. A traditional afternoon tea is also served daily in the castle between the hours of 1pm and 4:30pm. Room service is also available. It is recommended that reservations at the Earl of Thomond be made prior to arrival at the castle.
• Full Irish breakfast included.
• Complimentary WIFI in rooms and in public areas.
• The Shop at Dromoland carries a range of Dromoland products, food items, pottery and crystal as well as Dromoland logo golf attire and accessories.
• Dromoland Golf Course is widely considered to be one of the finest 18 hole courses in Ireland. There are a number of golf lesson packages available including a fun family program for parents and children.
• The luxurious Dromoland Spa offers guests an extensive selection of treatments and packages. Only guests over the age of 16 are permitted to use the spa facilities, however, the leisure facilities located in the Golf & Country Club (including the indoor swimming pool) are open to all guests including children.
• The castle offers a Kids Club during mid-term school breaks and at specific times during Christmas, Easter and summer holidays.
• Babysitting can be arranged with 24 hours notice.

I received a media rate at Dromoland Castle. My opinions are, as always, my own. This article may contain affiliate links which help support this site at no additional cost to you.