Ballynahinch Castle Hotel is one of Ireland's finest luxury castle hotels. Voted #1 in Ireland by the readers of Condé Nast magazine. Set in a private 700 acre estate of woodland, rivers and walks in the heart of Connemara, Co. Galway. This authentic and unpretentious Castle Hotel stands proudly overlooking it's famous salmon fishery, with a backdrop of the beautiful 12 Bens Mountain range.
During your stay relax in your beautifully appointed bedroom or suite with wonderful views, wake up to the sound of the river meandering past your window before enjoying breakfast in the elegant restaurant, which was voted the best in Ireland in April 2017 by Georgina Campbell.
A stay in Ballynahinch Castle is the perfect destination for an activity break or simply relaxing by one of our six open log fires. Expert guides are available to assist in every activity, on the sea, the mountains, rivers and trails or in the library exploring the rich culture of this spectacular region.
Ballynahinch Castle Hotel is located along the Wild Atlantic Way in the West of Ireland. This makes us a perfect base for touring this 2,500km (1,500miles) of amazing driving route from Donegal to Co. Cork. Local attractions in Connemara on the drive include Killary Harbour, Inish Bofin, Sky Road and Roundstone village. Visit our Locations & Attractions page for more information.
The Comfy rooms situated in the original house (with three in the riverside wing) are warmly decorated in the style of the country sporting estate. Each with its individual character they vary in shape, size and aspect. Please advise at time of booking if a room in the original house is preferred
There are also large spacious rooms overlooking the river, some with four posters. Two superior rooms are located in the original house however the river views from these rooms are somewhat obscured by the woodlands, they are perfect for those wishing to stay in the original house but want the extra space of a dressing room, a bathtub and walk in shower. All superior rooms offer bathrobes, slippers and twin wash hand basins.
The Luxury rooms are large spacious rooms with glorious views across the river, garden and woodlands these generous hotel rooms are finished to a superb standard. Walk through dressing rooms, separate bath and shower, comfortable and spacious seating areas conspire to keep you in your hotel room longer. Those on the ground floor have access to the riverside gardens through French doors. One room has a shower only, please advise at time of booking if a bath is required.
Few exclusive lodges offer the immersive tranquillity of Lettery Lodge. Gazing upon the mist ringed peak of Ben Lettery this luxury retreat provides world class comforts in a landscape like no other. Located two minutes walk from reception, guests check in at the hotel before being accompanied to the lodge which has its own parking. The ground floor master suite enjoys magnificent views of Ben Lettery with a dressing room and en suite with a freestanding bath tub and separate shower. Upstairs has four superior rooms which can be twin or king all en suite with walk in showers.
The lodge enjoys a fully equipped kitchen with dining table, dining room, a lounge with open log fire, a games room with billiard table and a yoga studio overlooking the mountain.The lodge is located one minute walk from the hotel, guests check in at the hotel before being accompanied to the lodge which has private parking.
The Owenmore Restaurant
There are few restaurants in Ireland that enjoy an aspect as breath-taking as the Owenmore at Ballynahinch Castle. Overlooking the magnificently appointed terraces above the majestic Salmon River the Owenmore Restaurant offers a relaxed elegance that reflects the subtle understated sophistication of the kitchen. Gianluca Marongiu and his team extract the very best in Irish food. A visit to the Owenmore restaurant is a treat for all the senses. Following a considered and elegant refurbishment guests can feast their eyes on the beautiful collection of art that adorns the walls, complementing the artistry of the kitchen works. While savouring the delights of the kitchen you can take in the works of Gerard Dillon, Louis le Brocquy, Jack Yeats , Mary Swanzy, Walter Frederick Osborne, William John Leech and Leo Whelan. A thoughtful and subtle collection that sits comfortably in this most beautiful of restaurants.
The Fisherman's Pub & Ranji Room
The Fisherman’s Pub and Ranji Room at Ballynahinch Castle represent all that is great about Connemara. Celebrating authentic local produce and producers the menu showcases the larder of Connemara in a relaxed and friendly environment. Seasonally informed dishes are the norm. Wild Atlantic salmon and Killary prawns, delicate fresh fish landed at Rossaveal or slow cooked pork from our own pigs and organic venison and woodcock; whatever the season dictates Chef Pete Durkan and his team capture and present it in this most atmospheric of pubs.
BALLYNAHINCH CASTLE
There are some who visit Ballynahinch Castle Hotel and Estate and never leave the grounds, such is the choice of activities available in the heart of Connemara. Hiking our trails, taking a fly-fishing tutorial, biking, or simply sitting in the tranquility of the grounds listening to the song of the river as it makes its interminable journey to the sea; there are so many things to do and ways to engage with Connemara.
One of the great attractions of Ballynahinch Castle Hotel is that all these activities are easily accessible without difficulty and delivered by professional and enthusiastic guides. Every morning our one of our experienced fishing guides, and our walking guide Noel are available in Fisherman's Pub at 9.30am for a coffee and a chat. Whether you have already booked an activity, want to do so or are simply seeking advice; they will ensure that your day gets off to a great start.
Fishing - Renowned as one of the finest fisheries in Ireland, the Ballynahinch Catchment drains an area of 68 square miles and is a diverse system of interconnected loughs and rivers, drained by the Ballynahinch River and offering the very best of fly fishing in Ireland. This majestic river, with fishing rights owned exclusively by the Ballynahinch Estate, winds its way underneath the Castle for three kilometres until it reaches the wild Atlantic Ocean at Bertraghboy Bay, Connemara Ireland. All salmon and sea trout entering this magnificent system must swim up this river through the Ballynahinch Castle Hotel Estate giving Ballynahinch its world-renowned reputation as a famous salmon and sea trout fishery making it the ideal place for fishing weekend.
Woodcock Shooting - Ballynahinch Castle Hotel & Estate, famed for once being the largest estate in the Great Britain and Ireland, maintains over 30,000 acres of unspoilt, wild woodcock shooting in the Connemara region of the West of Ireland. Driven & walked-up woodcock shooting combined with luxurious accommodations in this 250 year-old castle make this a one of Ireland’s best woodcock shoots. The vast Ballynahinch Estate, with large tracts of commercial forestry and native Irish deciduous woodland, make it a most ideal over-wintering habitat for the migrating Eurasian woodcock.
Clay Shooting - For both ladies and gentlemen, for the complete novice who has never touched a gun, for an experienced shot who would like to enjoy an hours shooting, a competitor who needs some coaching with a problematic target or indeed someone who would like to improve their general ability with a shotgun, the Connemara Shooting School at Ballynahinch Castle Hotel will take you through every aspect of safety, gun handling and the methods for breaking all your targets.
Cycling - Connemara offers wonderful coastline cycling and stunning countryside cycling tours, which allows you to experience the joy of the natural Galway landscape. Whether you simply want a leisurely, gentle cycle tour or are an experienced cyclist looking for an active cycling challenge, we can help you to arrange your cycling trip so that there’s no surprises! For those travelling with their own bikes we have a secure lock up and a work stand for your use. Bicycle hire is also available.
