Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel

We spent our final night in Ireland at Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel, and while we didn’t get to take full advantage of everything the hotel and surrounding area had to offer, we made the most of our time. The hotel itself is nice — perched on a hilltop, surrounded by trees, and overlooking the ocean. It truly has the charm of a castle. The spa was a highlight, featuring an indoor pool, hot tub, dry and steam saunas, and even an ice bath. We absolutely loved this relaxing experience. Our room was very clean and nicely appointed. Although we didn’t get a chance to dine in the restaurant, we ordered room service and it was delivered quickly — and was excellent. Since it stayed light until nearly 11 PM (gotta love July in Ireland!), we took a short, easy hike to a nearby monument with 360° views and a mini pyramid. It only took about 15 minutes to reach the top, and the views were breathtaking. The next morning, we had a quick taxi ride to the airport and were on our way. Highly recommended for a unique and peaceful stay just outside of Dublin.

My wife and in-laws stayed here, and we had a great experience. The rooms were a bit dated, but that’s to be expected in a historic castle setting. The staff were overall friendly, and the surrounding area was beautiful with a relaxed, leisurely atmosphere that made exploring truly enjoyable. If you enjoy long walks or hikes, this area is perfect—it offers scenic routes and peaceful nature. The hotel itself featured a spa area (note: children are allowed), and we also took part in their charming afternoon tea, which was a must-do. I recommend this place to anyone looking to unwind and relax. If a slow, leisurely pace is what you’re after, this is the place for you!

You know the saying "you get what you pay for?" that sums up our experiences here. I felt conflicted about what rating to leave. On the one hand, this place was exactly what I expected it to be. We wanted a reasonably priced place to stay outside of Dublin with parking, where we could have breakfast and a place to sleep. The Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel delivered on that, which is all we really needed. However, it feels disingenuous to leave a 5-star rating. The hotel is admittedly quite dated, the breakfast was fine, and the amenities like the fitness center and pool are clearly there to serve the community and not the guests. For example, pool hours are restricted based on swim lessons, and most adult times are a gaggle of people looking to swim laps (also, the whirlpool was down.) We were extremely grateful that the very nice porter was able to bring us a fan because the room was stiflingly hot, and I didn't feel like paying an extra 40 euros a night for a room with a better breeze. Everyone we interacted with was helpful and pleasant, and it was extremely easy to get into Dublin (drive or walk to the station and take the DART.) While it is a bit of a climb back uphill, the town center and train station were in a very reasonable walking distance. We were bummed the dungeon bar wasn't open, but enjoyed the library bar. We were not dissatisfied by our stay by any means and, as long as you manage your expectations, you won't be either.