Clontarf Castle

Photos of Clontarf Castle

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Rooms at Clontarf Castle

Clontarf Castle offers 111 guest rooms, ranging from the luxurious to the truly extravagant, with design that mesmerises your senses, and all the in room touches you need to ensure the perfect nights rest.

Deluxe Rooms

All guest rooms are equipped with the facilities listed below, but if you need anything extra, from flowers and champagne in your room on arrival, to a gourmet dinner in our restaurant, or even your favourite fruit, just let us know and the staff at Clontarf Castle will endeavour to exceed your requirements:

• 28 inch LCD screen television
• Pillow top mattresses
• CISCO IP Telephone system with direct dial access 
• Interactive satellite TV, movies, music library and internet access 
• Broadband internet access
• Bespoke photography
• Laptop–friendly safes
• Individually controlled air conditioning and climate control
• 24 hour room service
• Splendidly stocked mini bar
• Hairdryer
• Tea and coffee making facilities
• Trouser Press
• Laundry/dry cleaning
• US & European electrical sockets

Executive Rooms

Executive Rooms at Clontarf Castle offer all the guestroom comforts of  Deluxe Rooms with the addition of the following:

• Larger bedroom space, some with dramatic four poster beds (others have 2 double beds)
• Individually designed with their own unique character and wallcoverings.
• Complimentary bottled mineral waters
• Fluffy bathrobes
• JBL ON TIME– Time machine dock for iPod (coming shortly)
• Morning & Evening Housekeeping service

Dining at Clontarf Castle

Fahrenheit Grill

Clontarf Castle's new restaurant, Fahrenheit Grill is regarded as one of the finest restaurants in Dublin, and comes very highly recommended in the respected food guide; 'Georgina Campbell's Ireland 2009'.

Indigo Lounge

Serving beautiful coffee and pastries from eight in the morning, through to café style dining in the evening, this bohemian lounge with oversized sofas and mood lighting, radiates cool chic.
Red chandeliers, stylish glass wear and individual style seating make this Lounge a setting like no other.
One could be forgiven for retreating here all day, starting with  morning coffee, indulging in afternoon tea, and completing with a  choice of your favourite wine by the glass!

Knight's Bar

The Knights Bar is a place of refinement - elegant and sophisticated, evoking a feeling of medieval romance; The Knights Bar is firmly rooted in the traditions of an ancient castle, while providing guests with 21st century standards and service.
Time honoured, time respected, this bar is located in the original castle showcasing a dramatic ceiling, huge open fire places and atmospheric stained glass windows.

A Chequered and Lively Past...

Clontarf became a significant location in Irish History, more than a century before the Castle was built. Brian Boru, the High King of Ireland, and the famous Battle of Clontarf, on Good Friday, 23rd April 1014, will always be associated with and central to the history of the Clontarf area.
It all began when Mael Morda, King of Leinster, began to plot against Brian Boru. Mael Morda made an alliance with Sitric, the Viking King of Dublin, who was assisted by the Vikings of the Orkney Islands and the Isle of Man. Brian Boru marched against them and the great battle was fought at Clontarf.
It ended in victory for Boru's army. However, on the night of the victory, Boru was praying in his tent, surrounded by five men, who were guarding him. A small group of Vikings, who were retreating from the battle through a wooded area, close to the site of what is now Clontarf Castle, came across the guarded tent. Realising who was being protected; they killed all five guards and went on to kill Brian Boru, who by now was 72 years of age.
In 1172 Hugh de Lacy built the castle as an inner circle of defence sites protecting Dublin.
In 1641 Luke Netherville of Corballis (near Donabate) and an army of 12,000 men took possession of Artane Castle and village in defence of their religious beliefs.
George, King of Clontarf,  then owner of Clontarf Castle joined in the rebellion. Netherville and the King seized a vessel believed to contain the weapons and ammunition of the enemy. After they seized the weapons they returned to Swords and a lot of the local farmers and fishermen joined Netherville's rebellious army.
On 15th December 1641, the Puritan Republic General, Sir Charles Coote, led a troop of soldiers into Clontarf to quell the rebel activities. He found most of the ships cargo of weapons and ammunition in George King's Clontarf Castle. Then the massive sum of £400.00 was put on the King's head and the Castle was confiscated. Coote marched on to Swords and defeated Netherville and his rebel army.
On 14th August 1649 Oliver Cromwell granted the estate to John Blackwell, who sold it to John Vernon, who was Quartermaster General of Cromwell's army here in Ireland. The Vernons were in Clontarf for almost 300 years, with a family motto of 'Vernon Semper Viret', which means 'Vernon always flourishes'. In 1660 John Vernon passed the Castle on to his son Edward. Edward died in 1684 and one of his sisters took over the castle. In 1695 a first cousin of Edward's, also named John Vernon claimed rights to the castle. An Act of Parliament granted the estate to him in 1698.
In 1835 the original building was unsafe and a distinguished Irish architect, William Vetruvius Morrison, was called in to survey the building. He perceived the problem as sinking foundations and the building was demolished. It was rebuilt and the castle as we know it, was completed in 1837.
The male line of the Vernons failed and the estate was passed on to George Oulton, through one of John Vernon's nieces. JG Oulton took over the Vernon estate and became President of the Clontarf Cricket and Football Clubs. He had five children, two of whom are still alive and living in England. He died in the castle on April 17th 1952 and the castle was left to his son, Desmond Oulton, who sold it to pay death duties and other debts.
The building was vacant for a number of years until 1957 when Mrs. Egan bought it. She sold it to Eddie Regan in the 1960's.
The Regans extended the Castle to cater for the wedding trade and growing cabaret trade, which was run throughout the year. In 1972, Gerry and Carmel Houlihan bought the castle and ran it as one of Ireland's best cabaret venues until April 1997, when the last cabaret show was staged.
The Castle was closed from June 1997 and reopened in June 1998, as a superb four-star hotel.
In 2007, €10 million was spent on further upgrading and renovating the Castle to the standard you see today.

About Our Capital City

Dublin is the capital city of the Republic of Ireland. It is situated on the east coast of Ireland, where the river Liffey enters the Irish Sea. Although one third of the country's population lives in the Greater Dublin area, the city still retains the charm and intimacy of the small town that was the birthplace of Wilde, Yeats and Beckett. The low-rise landscape features distinctive Georgian public buildings, streetscapes and parks. The city offers visitors wonderful shopping, vibrant theatre and entertainment options and, of course, the traditional pubs that are famous the world over.

Dublin is a lively cosmopolitan city brimming with culture. You could spend your time strolling the streets soaking up the atmosphere, relaxing in its cafes and bars or you could check out its myriad historical, literary and cultural delights. The 8th century illuminated manuscript, the Book of Kells, must be viewed. It is on display at the impressive Trinity College, Ireland's first university (founded 1592) in the heart of Dublin. For the rest of your time, it is up to you how much you want to pack in. Phoenix Park, twice the size of New York City's Central Park, Georgian Dublin around Stephen's Green, the National Botanical Gardens, National Museum, Kilmainham Jail and the Hugh Lane Municipal Art Gallery are all highly recommended stops on your tour. Then there's the Guinness Storehouse and Jameson Distillery.  A visit to Dublin's Temple Bar to experience the lively Dublin pub culture is a must, though many of Dublin's best bars can be found outside this area in the streets and laneways around Grafton Street, the shopper's street of choice.