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<p>Ireland is a land of fairytales. Rolling emerald hills, fables of giants, dark hedges, leprechauns, and of course, castles! Castles are littered all over the countryside, and are truly spectacular to see. And the best part? You can actually live the fairytale and stay in one! (or two, or 3....). There is almost nothing more romantic or intriguing than staying in a real castle, on a beautiful garden estate surrounded by nature. If you're going to Ireland, here are my <strong>top castle picks</strong> to check out:</p>
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<p><strong>Lough Rynn Castle</strong> - This lovely castle estate in Leitrim was created for a wealthy landowner in the 1800’s and has a true castle feel. Claw foot tub, huge fireplace, large grounds with a walled garden. Spend time walking by the lake, enjoying over 300 acres of land and return for meal from their award winning kitchen and a drink in Dungeon Bar.  Great for couples and families looking for an authentic castle experience. </p>
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<p><strong>Lough Eske Castle</strong> - This Castle in Donegal was built in the 1800’s and and has been hosting guests ever since. It was restored and opened as a hotel in 2008. Includes traditional castle rooms, large well appointed suites with heated marble bathrooms floors, heated towel rack, walk in closet and a huge comfortable bed!&nbsp;No detail has been overlooked at this lovely 5 star property, and it even has a large spa, for all of your relaxation needs. Its a modern take on a traditional castle property, as has even been named Ireland's Castle Wedding Venue of the Year 2020. If you're looking for romance and pampering, this is it!</p>
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<p>And if you book either of these with me....I can get you <strong>exclusive perks</strong> that you cannot get by simply booking on your own. <a href="https://www.lindsaystravels.com/contact/">Contact me</a> for details!</p>
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<p>Of course, Ireland has more than just castle hotels, they also have stand alone castles for you to visit. Amongst my favourites are <strong>Donegal Castle</strong> and <strong>Slane Castle</strong>.</p>
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<p><strong><a href="http://www.welovedonegal.com/donegal-castle.html">Donegal Castle</a></strong> - A boutique authentic castle, with many original stones still intact. Walking around the grounds makes you feel like you are back in the 12th century. They have restored much of the castle to its original state and offer frequent guided daily tours.  I highly recommend the tour, as it is an excellent education about the history of the Donegal area, and goes into detail about the historic roots of the divide between north and south Ireland. I really felt I learned a lot about the origins of Irish culture here, and definitely recommend stopping by. </p>
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<p><strong><a href="https://www.slanecastle.ie">Slane Castle</a></strong> - Castle and a Distillery? Yes please! This is a modern yet historical castle, owned by one family and only 25 minutes from Dublin airport near the small town of Slane. Over 200 years old, the wife of the owner was a favourite of King Edward the 4th and he would make regular visits to see her here. In more recent history, it has been the site of a number of large music festivals, with headliners including U2, Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Metallica and others. It survived an internal fire in the 80’s and has been fully restored. Absolutely picturesque. While you're there, also take in a tour of their on-site whiskey distillery. Combine the castle tour with the distillery tour and finish off with a delicious lunch. </p>
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<p>I would be happy to help set up your next Castle adventure in Ireland. <strong><a href="https://www.lindsaystravels.com/contact/">Contact me</a></strong> today for details!</p>
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