Kilkea Castle

“This castle hath a pleasant seat.…”

Kilkea Castle is Ireland's pre-eminent castle hotel and golf club. Less than an hour from Dublin, the magnificent rose gardens and skilfully renovated rooms provide a unique setting for your holiday, wedding or business conference. Kilkea Castle was built in 1180 and is the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Ireland. Kilkea Castle has been home to some legendary figures, among them Silken Thomas and Gerald Fitzgerald. The skilful renovations have only added to the splendour and comfort. The immediate builder and the first occupier was one Sir Walter de Riddlesford, a young knight who had accompanied the first invasion party of Anglo/Normans in 1170. From his name he was probably of Anglo/Saxon, rather than Norman stock, but was reputed to be a relation of the King's. Apart from building Kilkea however, he played no other prominent part in history and the family in fact died out in the third generation. The pattern of life which centred around the Castle was very much the same as everywhere else in Ireland, namely recurrent war, usually local for summer time soldiers only, but periodically on a national scale. Because of war time conditions, the records are very inadequate; perhaps this is just as well as the story is sadly monotonous.

Castledermot, the home of Kilkea Castle, is a small town in South Kildare with a population of approximately 800. The name of Castle Redmond originated in an early Christian monastic settlement of about 500A.D. Castledermot once held a 13th century Franciscan Friary, which was later plundered by Robert Bruce in 1317. Only the walls of the church of the friary remain.

Kilkea Castle houses 36 guest rooms, including suites. Every room is unique and the quality is exactly what you'd expect from Ireland's finest castle hotel. De-Lacy's restaurant offers a blend of traditional and contemporary cuisine's. Our menus emphasis fresh natural foods carefully prepared and artistically presented.