13th Century Lakeside Castle in 7 Acres of Park and Woodland

• Magical

  Magical

  • Guest martin k.
  • Date of stay 04/27/13
  • Review Submitted 05/11/13
  Can't match the price, location and family friendliness of Carraigin. Restored in the 1970's, it blows my mind the amount of work, creativeness, finances, put into building this place from a pile of near rubble(I saw the before picture)! The grounds are gorgeous with walled off entry and gate; adjoining "enchanted forest" looking quite primevil- the kids and I spent tons of time there; and the hauntingly beautiful Lough Corrib, covered with islands and the occasional swan. The castle provides a rustic, comfy lived in feel with medieval touches, "great room" with fireplace(we made a fire every night, easy to do with firestarter and peat bricks that produce a wonderful smell). Plenty of heat, turned furnace off at night. No drafts or mosquitoes. One enters through the side on ground level: an entry way, straight ahead bathroom with large tub and stacked washer/dryer(Yes, a dryer, my wife loved it. Easy to use); the 4 vault rooms, each with their own door, cute and comfy; moreover, every room in the castle has it's own window. Go up the original stone stairs to the mainfloor, great room, master bedroom and bath(with small gargoyle which the kids named Gregory).Good secured wifi; cable TV. Opposite end, tiniest most well equipped kitchen ever. Full size fridge, and the spiral staircase to the small but romantic tower room. If I were alone or a kid, I would stay here: small bed, sink, 2 lights, windows to all directions, doorway to roof The parapets are about a meter up- little chance of falling off unless one stupidly stands up on the edge. Rules for the kids: not out by the lake or on the roof without a parent. The level above the great room has large comfy bed and small one and entrance to roof. We rented the boat, no time to use. The boatman took us out, showed us how to avoid the rocks/ shallow spots. Get a boatman if you really want to fish or visit an island. A caterer lives down the road and made a great meal, leftovers for 2 days. Both her and her husband are warm and welcoming. Indeed, better than the castle is the genuine Irish kindness. Cute town 3 miles; good grocer/atm, Chinese + hotel bar food. Stay local: Our sights- Cliffs of Moher; must do Ashford Castle/Cong + falcon school; Galway(get gelato), Connemara, Kinvara/Castle Banquet, Aran Isl. Dublin airport 2 1/2 hours on great motorway. Housekeeper always quick to help. I talked to the owner- thanked him for making a kids dream come true. Indeed, thanks to all!

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, families with young children, girls getaway.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Perfectly at home for a week

  Perfectly at home for a week

  • Guest Miss Shelly
  • Date of stay 03/16/13
  • Review Submitted 03/26/13
  Our group of 11 friends had a fantastic time at the castle. Beautifully furnished in scenic surrounds. We enjoyed day trips in all directions, a visit to the local bar in walking distance (opens 9pm), being entertained by local musicians we hired for our own concert (highly recommended), country strolls and even some fishing (enthusiasts should take their own tackle). despite the unusually cold spring we were warm as toast in the castle. The caretaker made sure everything was OK, phoned in occasionally but left us to enjoy the castle as if it was our own. Just fabulous.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

• Perfect Castle Holiday

  Perfect Castle Holiday

  • Guest In Love With Ireland
  • Date of stay 11/21/12
  • Review Submitted 12/04/12
  My family and I were so happy with our stay at the castle! I can't describe the feeling I got when we pulled into the driveway for the first time. The setting was absolutely beautiful and everyday I found something new to admire. The castle had everything we needed to make our stay perfect; the beds were comfortable, everything was clean, and there was even a cell phone we could use if needed. I was able to stay connected to everything back home thanks to the free wi-fi, and the town of Headford had grocery stores, take away, money exchange, and gas. I would recommend the castle to anyone looking for a comfortable, affordable, and magical stay in Ireland. I hope to stay there again very soon!

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, families with young children, girls getaway.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Dream Come True

  Dream Come True

  • Guest Jason S.
  • Date of stay 08/04/12
  • Review Submitted 09/11/12
  When we planned our trip to Ireland, the one thing I wanted to do was stay in an Irish Castle. I was travelling with my wife, 6 year old son and his grandparents, so to find this amazing property on VRBO was a dream come true. By looking at the pictures on the site my expectations rose to a level that I thought could never be reached, and I worried that I would be dissapointed. That was not the case. When we drove through the gates and first set our eyes on the Carraigin Castle our mouths dropped, and we couldn't believe that we were actually staying in a castle in Ireland. We were greeted by Marian the caretaker who did a great job in letting us know everything we needed to know about the castle and the grounds. We spent the entire week exploring the castle and enjoying the fireplace each night relaxing with a couple bottles of wine. We also hired the services of a caterer who lives just up the road, who made us amazing Irish supper and packed lunches for the next day. The best part for me and my son was the enchanted forest right beside the castle. We spent hours and hours fighting off intruders and building forts in this area that looked like it was right out of Lord of Rings movie. My son and I did a quick video tour of the Castle (it won't win an Oscar) that I have put on Youtube. Please search "Carraigin" The pictures on this site do not do this place justice, it far exceeded my expectations, it was a DREAM COME TRUE. This is a week I will cherish forever!! Thanks again to Anne-Marie for allowing others to enjoy her amazing property. I will be talking about this place and recommending it to whoever will listen.

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, families with young children.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 5/5

• Wonderful Getaway

  Wonderful Getaway

  • Guest John
  • Date of stay 08/25/12
  • Review Submitted 09/07/12
  My wife's family and I stayed at the castle for a week in August. What can I say? It was exactly what we were looking for. The castle is off the beaten path, north of Galway, but close enough to so many attractions. Just driving up to the castle each day was exciting. We brought two young boys with us who lived in a fantasyland of Viking battles and Irish history for the whole week. The place was spacious and incredibly beautiful situated next to Lough Carribe. I don't know how you would want to stay anywhere else. The only drawback is that it is probably not best for high-end travelers. There are some discomforts like dampness and smells of an old castle. The kitchen is very small but not problematic. If you keep windows open at night, bugs and mosquitoes will come in. And it can be chilly, but not if you light a roaring fire in the fireplace! The appliances, such as washer/dryer worked intermittently at best. We just rolled with the minor inconveniences as a small price to pay for staying in such a magical place. I would highly recommend Carraigin Castle to any of my friends and family that are looking for a different, special place to stay in Ireland.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, families with young children.

  Owner response: What a nice review! It is so gratifying when people who share our enthusiasm come and stay. We must make sure that future guests avoid the “minor inconveniences” by clearer guidance on the operation of the washing machine and dryer (dryer brand new and both in perfect working order) and on the opening and closing of windows which should be open by day to prevent damp accumulating but closed when the lights are on at night to exclude midges (no mosquitoes in County Galway!)

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

• Perfect family getaway

  Perfect family getaway

  • Guest Angela
  • Date of stay 02/25/12
  • Review Submitted 03/07/12
  This was an excellent place to stay. Very clean given the age of the building. Be reasonable about your expectations. It's not a five star luxury hotel. It's a very cool castle. Because it was empty for a few weeks before we got there, it was a little cool and damp the first day. But they have great central heating and it warmed up pretty quickly. The stone stairs sweated for most of the week - not a problem, but note that the bathroom with the shower tub combo is downstairs. There were only four of us, so we did not use most of the bedrooms. Note that most of the beds are downstairs in interconnected rooms - not much privacy down there. Upstairs, there's a main bedroom connected to the second bathroom which only has a tub, no shower. On that same level is the amazing living/ dining room with a very small, but well stocked kitchen. There's another loft bedroom above with a full and a twin. Again, not much privacy there, but it was perfect for our needs. It would work great with one or two couples in the bedrooms upstairs and a gaggle of kids downstairs. Not sure it would be ideal, with say, 4 couples all wanting some semblance of privacy. But it's great for a large group of friends. Bathrooms were dated but clean. Washer and dryer in the downstairs bathroom. We only had problems with the hot water when we tried to take 4 showers right after each other. We figured it out after that. Satellite tv had great kids channels. Wifi was dependable but sometimes slow. I'm being as critical as possible to give potential renters some idea of what to expect, but I can't emphasize enough how awesome this place is. We hope to come back during a summer to just chill more at the castle and rent their motorboat. The lake is gorgeous. There are so many cool nooks and crannies that the pics don't give justice to. My one regret is that we were so busy site seeing that we didn't take a day to just breathe there. We also had fantastic weather, so that kept us out and about. Marion the caretaker is so helpful with any questions or problems you may have. Location is great to explore Galway, the Burren and the Aran islands. It is an ideal getaway. And really a great value. Highly recommended!!

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, families with young children, girls getaway.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 4/5

• LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

  LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

  • Guest Nancy
  • Date of stay 10/01/11
  • Review Submitted 11/15/11
  Visiting Ireland has always been a dream of mine; so when my son and friend agreed to visit the country with me we started looking for rentals. It came down to two different properties. I asked my son for input and he simply stated why would you stay anywhere else in Ireland; choose the castle. Of course our choice was the right one. The discriptions and pictures are very accurate. The place is wonderful. Lots of space. The lake and grounds are beatutiful. We loved the big thick comforters on the beds; the oversized bath towels, plenty of hot water. The kitchen is small; but well equipped. We used the washer/dyer every three days; because we packed light. The village of Headford is wonderful. We took many of our suppers there. The caretaker recommended several good places for us to eat at. The caretaker called to check up on us after a week; she made it clear that she was around if we needed anything or simply had any questions. She never hovered or smorthered us. The castle was a great home base for site seeing. In 3/4 hours we were able to be in Dublin; where we spent the day. We also drove down to the South to Dingle (4/5 drive); we spent the night; did the Ring of Kerry the next day and then drove over to Cork to vist the Blarney Castle than beat a path back home to the castle. What a great feeling it is to see that big white tower looming over the tree tops to let us know we were almost home after a long two days of sight seeing. We also went up to the Giants Causway and spent the night in Northern Ireland; another 4/5 hour drive. After the big trips we took short trips closer to the castle the following days. Everything is close to the castle; Galway has the best shopping and eateries. There are so many nice areas in driving distance of an hour or two that can be enjoyed; the caretaker will give advice on these areas also. Go to Ireland; stay in the castle; enjoy the castle; get in the car and drive to see everything Ireland has to offer; then go back home to your castle. Driving was fine; we only got horns blown at us three times; in two weeks that was remarkable. Then you can be just like me; I haven't been able to get the stupid grin off of my face; nor the stars out of my eyes. Ireland is the most wondeful /magical place on earth; so why not see it and stay in a castle while your at it. You won't be sorry.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, girls getaway.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 6/6

• a most magical week!

  a most magical week!

  • Guest Aniko
  • Date of stay 06/25/11
  • Review Submitted 07/19/11
  our large family stayed at carigan for a week this summer. it was a big family reunion of sorts. staying in a castle was a magical experience. it fit our family perfectly. each family had lovely sleeping quarters. we were able to be together in the great room for meals and hanging out time. the castle was comfortable and well decorated. the children particularly loved the downstairs vaulted rooms and the tower bedroom, they pretended we were all students at hogwarts (harry potter.) the grounds of the castle were amazing, the beautiful lake was fun to boat around or just sit beside and enjoy. the location in headford was ideal for trips to galway or up north to cong and westport. our week at carigan castle will be a special memory that will not be forgotten. thank you!

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, tourists without a car, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, families with young children, girls getaway.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

• Great Family Get Away

  Great Family Get Away

  • Guest Wendlings
  • Date of stay 06/11/11
  • Review Submitted 07/01/11
  We spent a week at Carrigan this past July and thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Castle. Our children, 4 and 8, thought it was spectacular and had lots of fun exploring the castle. The country side was beautiful, and nicely situated near Galway and with easy day trips to the Aran Islands and the Cliffs of Moher. The grounds were beautiful and we also rented the boat - another delight. Would highly recommend this as a great getaway spot and vacation for families and groups. We had a wonderful time!

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• It couldn't be more perfect!

  It couldn't be more perfect!

  • Guest Murreydobe
  • Date of stay 05/07/11
  • Review Submitted 05/23/11
  Our party of 4 adults spent a truly magic week at Carraigin Castle. No matter how attractive it may seem in photos, it's better in real life! All modern amenities are provided, but that medieval feeling still pervades your every moment. Beautiful location right on the banks of Loch Corrib, and the nearby town of Headford can supply just about anything you might need. We'll be back-we're determined to find that secret tunnel!

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, girls getaway.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

Special reduced letting rates for 2013:
For self-catering parties of 2-12 guests
Rates quoted are for 2 guests
Every additional guest is an extra €45/week
Low rates (Jan and Feb; Nov-Dec) .......................... €800-€1000/week
Mid-season rates (Mar-May; Sep-Oct) ....................... €800-€1200/week
High season rates (Jun-Aug, Christmas, Easter, New Year) .. €1200-€1600/week

Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.