Headford Rentals Ireland County Galway Headford

13th Century Lakeside Castle in 7 Acres of Park and Woodland | Other in Headford

10.0 (85 Reviews) |   7 Bedrooms  2 Bathrooms  12 Guests  Stay&Play
Headford Other | 13th Century Lakeside Castle in 7 Acres of Park and Woodland

7 Bedroom Place in Headford

Surrounded by seven acres of lawns, park and woodland, Carraigin Castle is an idyllic holiday home in a beautiful setting on the shores of Lough Corrib, one of Ireland’s biggest lakes, famous for its brown trout and its multitude of picturesque islands. From the Castle one can enjoy boating and fishing on the lake, walking, riding and sightseeing all over Galway and Mayo, or just relax by the open hearth and contemplate the charm and simple grandeur of this ancient dwelling, a rare and beautiful example of a fortified, medieval “hall house”.
Family groups or close friends will love the relaxed atmosphere of this authentic 13th-century manor house, which has been restored by the present owner after languishing for more than two centuries as a crumbling, roofless ruin. Carraigin's church-like structure sits on a rise reached by an avenue across the tree-lined Pleasure Ground. The ancient-looking, nail-studded front door on the ground floor, often mistaken for an authentic antiquity, was actually made by the owner during the building's restoration in the 1970s. Round the corner, an imposing stone staircase leads to another grand entrance, into the lofty, oak-beamed Great Hall featuring a wide, stone-arched fireplace that provides a comforting aroma of turf and wood-smoke.
The Great Hall is the central living and dining area of the castle. It features a mix of old oak and comfortable modern furniture surrounding the welcoming hearth. Its white walls are extensively decorated with art including tapestries, brass rubbing portraits of ancient kings and knights and a magnificent triptych featuring a Galway galleon (as on that city’s coat of arms). There is a tiny but well-equipped kitchen next door with a view over the tall trees of the Pleasure Ground.
On the same level as the Hall is an oak-beamed double bedroom with a king-size bed and bathroom. A stone staircase winds upwards over this master bedroom to a family loft room overlooking the Great Hall. Another winding stairs leads up to a little single bedroom in the corner tower. From both of these second-floor rooms you can stroll out onto the castle parapets with fabulous views of Lough Corrib and the hills of Connemara and Mayo, and even those of Clare, on the other side of Galway Bay.
The rest of you sleep in the four cosy 'Vaults' on the ground floor below, their walls also lined with tapestries and other artworks. The Vaults have much picturesque charm with their oak-timbered partitions, arches and vaulted ceilings, and they work if you know each other well as the rooms lead one into the other. Vault I, the largest of the four, sleeps two in bunk-beds and features a fair-sized work table and chairs for busy teenagers and a mini-sofa for one or two in the window embrasure. Vault II (off No. 1) has a double bed and a similar window seat. Vault III (also off No.1) has one double and one single bed and a window seat. Vault III in turn gives access to Vault IV, a small single room with a three-light gothic window looking out at the standing stone sundial on the lawn.
Keywords: Manor

13th Century Lakeside Castle in 7 Acres of Park and Woodland is located in Headford. 13th Century Lakeside Castle in 7 Acres of Park and Woodland provides accommodation, featuring Laundry, Parking, Wellness Facilities, among other amenities. This Other features Laundry, Parking, Wellness Facilities, to make your stay a comfortable one.

13th Century Lakeside Castle in 7 Acres of Park and Woodland has 7 Bedrooms , 2 Bathrooms, and max occupancy of 12 people. The minimum rental for this property is 1 nights, but this can change depending on the season you plan on staying. Previous guests have given good rated it, and VRBO labeled it a top-rated Other because of the excellent services rendered by the owner or manager of this Other, and has consistently provided great experiences for their guests. Most families or guests that use it recommend it to their friends and some of them are repeat guests. Other has a friendly neighborhood, and the Headford has interesting places to visit. If you want to learn more about the Other in Headford, such as places to visit and things to do nearby, you can check below to learn more.

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Unique Amenities

  • Parking
  • Pool
  • TV
  • Balcony/Terrace
  • Security/Safety
  • Bedding/Linens
  • Wellness Facilities
  • Fireplace/Heating
  • Entertainment
  • Child Friendly
  • Internet
  • Kitchen
  • Laundry
 
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Policies

Check-in Check-in time starts at 5:00 pm
Check-out Check-out before 10:00 am
Child Policy Children are welcome. note from host: children welcome
Pet Policy Pets not allowed
Other Policy Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector and a smoke detector special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed this property is managed through our partner, vrbo. you will receive an email from vrbo with a link to a vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
 
Headford, Ireland

What Our Guests say 500 + Reviews

Dec 5, 2024 10:09:47 PM
Summary: This property was AMAZING!!!! It was a dream come true, as we have always wanted to stay in a castle. My son was studying abroad in Galway from America, and we did not want to leave him on our Thanksgiving holiday. We ended up finding this property and surprised the kids with it. The property exceeded any picture and was so cozy and grand at the same time. There was a lot of love put into the renovation and how it is decorated. It felt authentic and like home at the same time. Our teenage kids loved exploring the castle and the property and we played many games in the great room. The kids loved making the fire every day and being together. Perhaps what was even better than the castle were the people who support it. From Anne, the owner, to Geraldine the property manager, to Tina, the caterer, they are all wonderful and beyond helpful! When my son's housing plans fell through, Anne was helpful with locating reliable people in the town. When our rental cars were not given to us, Geraldine went above and beyond helping us to find car service and even bringing us to the grocery store to stock up on food. Geraldine was such a lovely presence and made everything special during our entire stay. Also, Tina catered two meals for us, and both were outstanding!!!! We feasted on them for days! I can't say enough about the wonderful treatment and beautiful accommodation. Our family felt as if it was truly an Irish blessing. We hope to be back in the future!
Lisa I. Lisa I.
Oct 1, 2024 09:55:16 AM
Summary: So glad the owners had the vision and fortitude to restore this castle from crumbling ruins to what it is today, and allow others to experience staying in an actual private castle. The grounds and view of the lake (especially from the parapets) were beautiful! Many interesting staircases, doors, books and sunlit window seats. The large fireplace and dining table were great for gathering around. Definitely a memorable stay.
Allyson S. Allyson S.
Jul 9, 2024 09:37:42 AM
Summary: What a joy it was for our family to stay in Carraigin Castle. The grandchildren loved the "cell" bedrooms, and we all loved the great room with its giant fireplace. From the charming reading nooks, we looked out on the lake or the fields with sheep. Tina provided delicious meals, while David gave us an entertaining boat ride! The owners were also so helpful, with tips on places to visit. Highly recommended!
Candace O. Candace O.
Jul 3, 2024 03:21:15 AM
Summary: The Carraigin Castle and grounds are a special place. Once in ruins, the new owner lovingly and meticulously restored the Castle to its original glory (and added running water and electricity). Our party of ten (ages 9-78) enjoyed our stay immensely. The owners are very hospitable and shared with us the history of the site. As descendants of George Staunton on my mother's side, the time at the Castle and at Cargin Cemetery held special meaning for us. Geraldine is a delightful housekeeper. We recommend that you retain Tina to cater your first meal (an enormous feast) as the leftovers (along with soda bread, scones and fruit) will fill your party for several days. We would have liked to take the boat out onto Lough Corrib but some flight cancellations affected our opportunity to use the boat. The white castle, verdant green landscaping, and the reflection of the cloudy, blue sky on the lake is beautiful and peaceful. We hope to return again for a longer stay.
Jeffery L. Jeffery L.
Jun 17, 2024 06:27:22 AM
Summary: I want to let everyone know who thinks of not staying at this 13th Century Grand Norman Castle, you're out of your mind! My family stayed a few days and loved the great people, Geraldine, JT, and David. They were the best. They were there at anytime with the best Irish smiles and hospitality. Well, the Castle is AMAZING!! The Castle is absolutely built to Norman Architectural plans, and there are treasures everywhere in the construction, and with the Deco inside. Throughout the Castle, many treasures are awaiting your stay! Our family loved every minute and every experience that we had and would of stayed longer, but this is a place that everyone should visit. I Tip My "Texan Hat" to those who are involved in letting my family stay. The memories built there together will out live any other family adventures. I would tell you more, but I need to book another stay! Before you:) Thank you to Geraldine, JT, and David!!! see you soon, hopefully. Thank you JM-Sir, you are a great MAN!
David W. David W.
Sep 23, 2023 11:48:39 PM
Summary: Perfection is just one word to describe our stay! Others would be superb accommodations, wonderful scenery, delightful local flavor, and superior guest relations! Geraldine Egan is a wonderful manager and made us feel right at home. She was thoughtful and considerate and took care of us in splendid fashion. The meal awaiting us upon our arrival was a fabulous spread prepared by the talented Tina Matthews. The entire visit was such a great experience, one that made our hearts smile.
Barb R. Barb R.
Sep 17, 2023 04:55:01 PM
Summary: We thoroughly enjoyed our stay here. The castle and grounds are even better than the photos. It was chilly enough to use the fireplace which added to the fun. Take advantage of Tina's prepared meal for your first night. We also went out on the lake with David. Another great experience. We would definitely stay again.
Cindy D. Cindy D.
Sep 7, 2023 10:02:00 PM
Summary: What an incredible stay!!! Very authentic--loved to see all the work and effort that went into lovingly restoring this castle. We had an amazing stay. The grounds are also amazing as is the opportunity to go out on Lake. The dinner ( that you can order) the first night is so incredible and so generous we ate from it for days afterwords. It was a dream vacation for my 60th birthday in the land of my birth and it was worth every penny! An excellent stay for grownups and younger ones alike!!!
Aug 5, 2023 09:46:16 PM
Summary: Carraigin Castle: Our family stayed one week at the castle and we absolutely loved the premises with the access to the lake and the stunning view! Annemarie had already provided us with useful informations about what not to miss during our stay in advance via email so that we were well prepared. When we arrived Geraldine gave us a warm welcome and showed us around in the castle explaining everything we needed to know, she also responded quickly to the questions we had during our stay. Since we read so much praise about Tina‘s food we asked her to cater for us on the first evening - and it was amazing! Some of the dishes lasted several days - and even then they were as tasty as on the first day! Thanks to David‘s perfect introduction to the boat we were able to drive around on the lake which we totally enjoyed. We also received additional great advice from his family and Tina where to go while being in this part of Ireland so that we saw some impressive places away from the crowds. Therefore thanks to everyone involved!
Konstantin T. Konstantin T.
Aug 2, 2023 04:51:41 AM
Summary: Everything about our castle experience exceeded expectations. The beautiful pictures don't do the property justice. The view in every direction is picturesque, the grounds are beautifully maintained, and the interior was a unique delight. Geraldine gave us a warm welcome with a tour and provided nibbles (bread, fruit, crackers) that lasted for days. We took the advice of other reviews and had our first night catered by Tina which provided not only a delicious meal, but leftovers for days, and after that, still enough to make ourselves a stew. David gave us a tour of the lake on the fishing boat that is provided. Like everyone we encountered, he was friendly and informative. The interior was plenty spacious for our group of 8. There are a total of ten beds with 4 of them being queens (?) and very comfortable. My youngest daughter loved the small room in the "tower." Any questions or issues that came up were handled promptly (Geraldine lives close by). Everyone was delighted with our stay. I can't say enough good things about the experience!

FAQ's

Is this Headford other pet-friendly for guests?

No, pets are not allowed at this property. Check the guest reviews to learn what guests had to share.

Does the Headford other have a swimming pool?

Yes, this Headford other has a swimming pool. Check the Facility Overview section for details about the pool and other available facilities.

How much does it cost per night to stay in Headford other?

Best-rates for the Headford other starts from $467 per night with includes Entertainment, Internet, Kitchen, Pool, TV, Balcony/Terrace, Security/Safety, Bedding/Linens, Fireplace/Heating, Child Friendly, Laundry, Parking, Wellness Facilities StayAndPlay offers fully equipped golf villas, golf hotels, golf resorts, luxury golf cabins, and exclusive golf retreats, making it easier than ever to find your perfect golf escape — ideal for families, peaceful getaways, or pet-friendly retreats with the whole crew.

Is Headford other a family-friendly place to stay?

Based on the information we have received from the owner or our partner, this is considered to be a family-friendly property. Families have rated this other Good or guests have recommended them suitable for families. As reported by the owner or manager, the other has specified that children are welcome. Please see details about suitability for your family or inquire with the property to learn more.

Is the Headford other wheelchair accessible or offer services for disabled guests?

Based on the information received from our partner, the Headford other has not specified they are wheelchair accessible. Likewise, there is not an elevator specified as being available at the property. Specific accessibility details may be addressed in the property details section of this page.

What is the minimum night stay policy for the Headford other?

Based on the information reported by the owner or manager, the Headford other indicates 1 day stay policy at this other. Guests are cautioned that the minimum stay policy may differ based on seasonality or availability and may be at the discretion of the owner or manager.

What cancellation policy is in place for Headford other?

Based on the information reported by the owner or manager, details for the cancellation policy for the Headford other are as follows: Cancellation policy Guests are cautioned that the cancellation policy may differ based on seasonality, availability, or current travel restrictions. Guests should also be aware that this policy may be subject to change and should be confirmed prior to booking. More details may be available on this page in the property description. However, early check-in or late check-out can sometimes be negotiated between the guest and the owner or the manager of this property.

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