Castle History
Lough Eske Castle traces its roots all the way back to the late 1400’s and the famous O’Donnell family that founded the nearby town of Donegal.
The original castle was first built around 1474. A date stone of 1621 remains on the property to this day. The current Lough Eske Castle was constructed in the 1860s on the site of an old Brooke mansion, but was destroyed by fire in 1939. The newly renovated Lough Eske Castle stands as a continuing testament to the rich history of Lough Eske and the surrounding region.
Rooms at Lough Eske
Each guestroom at the Solis Lough Eske Castle blends the timeless allure of our Gaelic heritage with the amenities and conveniences of a modern world-class hotel.
These beautifully appointed rooms feature bespoke furnishings and specially commissioned works of art, spacious bathrooms and high speed wireless internet. Many include antiques and 4-poster beds. All are decorated in calm neutral tones and offer striking views of the natural beauty that surrounds the castle.
Accommodation range from the contemporary stylishness of our Garden Suites…to the country charm of our converted stables…to the more traditional elegance of our Castle Suites with their leaded windows, exquisite antiques and private access to the castle tower.
Dining at Lough Eske
The new Cedars Restaurant combines easygoing elegance with a very contemporary sense of style. The dining room itself is quite stunning with its floor-to-ceiling, button-back upholstery and modern crystal light fixtures. Glass doors open onto a lovely slate terrace with outdoor seating – a delightful place to admire the manicured lawns and woodland views.
The Executive Chef has created a tantalizing menu that features fresh, local ingredients, masterfully prepared. There are organic selections and local beef. Superb Irish stew. Fresh catches from nearby Killybegs, Ireland‘s premier fishing port. And, of course, a wonderful collection of fine wines from around Europe and the world.
Spa Solis
Situated in the castle garden, the setting is refreshing and peaceful. Its beautiful sandstone and rich wood floors reflect the natural beauty of the sylvan surroundings. Your experience here is made complete by our skillful staff.
Spa Solis features four single treatment rooms, two couple suites, one pedicure/manicure room and a thermal suite with hot benches, steam sauna, luxury showers and more. The relaxation area is equipped with six designer beds that face into the courtyard. We also provide spacious men's and women's locker rooms.
You can work out in our fully equipped fitness center. It includes high-tech treadmills, exercise bikes and other equipment. We also invite you to take a dip in our spacious 12m indoor swimming pool with its beautiful glass atrium.
The following locations are in close proximity to Lough Eske
County Donegal
Donegal is the fourth-largest county on the island and one of the most sparsely populated. It’s also one of the most beautiful, with a coastline 400 miles (644 km) long, and many lakes and rivers, mountains and moors. Because of its lack of people, it looks much as it must have centuries ago. It also means that it is a very relaxing place to spend time. Everywhere you go there are wonderful views, empty beaches, and charming little villages. Among its many interesting features are the highest sea cliffs in Europe, Slieve League, and Glenveagh National Park. The Donegal Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking region) is the largest in the country. There is so much to see and do in Donegal that you could very easily spend weeks instead of days. The county also is famous worldwide for its tweed and for its distinctive Parian china. Enya, one of Ireland’s most successful contemporary singers, and her siblings, the band Clannad, are natives of the Donegal town of Gweedore, which is famous countrywide for its traditional Irish music.
Derry City (1.5 hours)
The story of Derry is a long and tumultuous one. Set on a hill on the banks of the Foyle estuary, strategically close to the open sea, it came under siege and attack for over a thousand years. You can walk along the great 17th-century walls, about a mile round and 18 feet thick, which withstood several sieges and even today are unbroken and complete, with old cannon still pointing their black noses over the ramparts. The great siege lasted for 105 days. Today, there’s an atmosphere of optimism in Derry and the city buzzes with life. It’s an artistic city, with theatres, galleries and other cultural centres and a number of annual festivals. Its people, with their gentle accent, are very welcoming.
The Giant's Causeway (2.5 hours)
During the Paleogene period, Antrim was subject to intense volcanic activity, when highly fluid molten basalt intruded through chalk beds to form an extensive lava plateau. As the lava cooled rapidly, contraction occurred. While contraction in the vertical direction reduced the flow thickness (without fracturing), horizontal contraction could only be accommodated by cracking throughout the flow. The extensive fracture network produced the distinctive columns seen today. The basalts were originally part of a great volcanic plateau called the Thulean Plateau which formed during the Paleogene period.
Legend has it that the Irish giant Fionn mac Cumhaill (Fionn McCool) built the causeway to walk to Scotland to fight his Scottish counterpart Benandonner. One version of the legend tells that Fionn fell asleep before he got to Scotland. When he did not arrive, the much larger Benandonner crossed the bridge looking for him. To protect Fionn, his wife Oonagh laid a blanket over him so he could pretend that he was actually their baby son. In a variation, Fionn fled after seeing Benandonner's great bulk, and asked his wife to disguise him as the baby. In both versions, when Benandonner saw the size of the 'infant', he assumed the alleged father, Fionn, must be gigantic indeed. Therefore, Benandonner fled home in terror, ripping up the Causeway in case he was followed by Fionn.
The Inishowen Peninsula (2 hours)
Inishowen is a peninsula of 884.33 square kilometres (218,523 acres), situated in the northernmost part of Ireland. Inishowen has many historical monuments, dating back to early settlements, and including the ruins of several castles, and the fort at Grianán Aileach. The ancient Grianán Ailigh fort at Burt was the one time seat of the High Kings of Ireland, including both High Kings of the Mac Lochlainn Clan, who held power in Inis Eoghain for many centuries. It was restored in the nineteenth century, although some damage in recent years has resulted in the partial collapse of the south side wall. Among the main castle ruins of Inishowen are Carrickabraghey on the Isle of Doagh, the Norman Castle at Greencastle, Inch Castle, Buncrana Castle and Elagh Castle.
Sligo (1 hour)
Sligo, which has a close association with the poet W.B. Yeats offers a fine museum and gallery, much of which is devoted to the great man. Close to Sligo you will find 5,000 year-old megalithic tombs left by the ancient Celtic people. Also worth a look are the ruins of the 19th century Sligo Abbey. One interesting possible diversion will take you to the town of Knock where in 1879 Mary, Joseph, and St. John miraculously appeared. The number of witnesses on that evening and the many subsequent healings that have taken place here leave little doubt in many people's mind that something incredible did in fact happen here. A 12,000 seat Basilica was built to accommodate the vast number of visitors each year.
