Kinnitty Castle

Kinnitty Castle has had a long and turbulent history. The first Castle at Kinnitty was destroyed in 1209 and was later rebuilt by the Norman 's in 1213. Later, the Norman 's were driven out by the powerful Gaelic clan, the O'Carrolls of Ely. During the Norman period, an Augustinian Abbey was established near the Castle, of which the famous High Cross and Abbey walls still remain on the estate. In 1630, William O'Carroll built a new Castle in close proximity to the old Abbey. This was confiscated in 1641 by the English forces as part of the plantation of Offaly, or Kings County ' as it was renamed. Many, many years later in 1922, as with many stately homes in Ireland , the Castle was burned down by the Republican forces. The Castle was rebuilt in 1928 and the Bernard family lived there until 1946 when it was sold to Lord Decies who in turn sold the Castle to The State in 1951. The State retained ownership until it was purchased by the Ryan family in 1994 and has since been transformed into a luxurious 37 bedroom hotel. Today, Kinnitty Castle can be enjoyed by visitors from all over the world. It offers a 60 seater restaurant decorated in Georgian style, a library bar which houses a unique collection of antique books and journals, and an exquisite Louis XV Style Drawing Room. There are also two private dining rooms where guests may enjoy gourmet cuisine in complete privacy.

Kinnitty castle is steeped in history and there has always been a ghostly presence in the castle. The most famous ghost is a very friendly monk who is very tall and is always dressed in black. His presence is felt in The Great Hall of The O’Carroll’s. This is because the Monks have been here since 1100. He enjoys overseeing weddings and conferences as he loves the laughs and fun that people have. He is able to predict and foresee the future and he passes his messages through members of staff. Everything that he predicts always comes true. The Monk is very serious and truly believed by a lot of members of staff and guests because they too have either saw him or felt his presence. The Dungeon Bar remains a vivid reminder of the castle's colourful past. This bar is candle-lit and contains an array of historical Irish memorabilia. This bar is a great place to relax and unwind and enjoy the Irish party atmosphere listening to traditional Irish music and enjoying the array of Irish refreshments.