Six Great Venues In Ireland To Host A Destination Wedding
Killruddery House and Gardens captured by James x Schulze
Oh how enchanting the Emerald Isle is with her verdant fields, majestic oaks, dramatic coastlines, charming pubs, kind people, adorable herds of sheep and stunning manors and castles. Ireland is an idyllic place to host a destination wedding. Imagine taking over a country manor house for a five day celebration vacation with your nearest and dearest and showing them the best that Ireland has to offer: a trip to the cliffs of the Wild Atlantic Way, sharing a pint of guinness in a 200 year old pub while listening to traditional Irish music, clay pigeon shooting, golfing on world class courses, exploring castle ruins, relaxing in front of a peat fire and tying the knot in a magical setting steeped in history and lore. The only challenge is choosing WHICH beautiful, castle-like venue to host your nuptials! Here are six of our favorite places in Ireland to host destination weddings both large and small.
Gloster House
Nestled at the foot of the Slieve Bloom mountains, in the center of Ireland, is the strikingly beautiful and unique 300 -year-old Gloster House. Unlike many other venues in Ireland, Gloster House is not open to the public and is available for exclusive use rental which means you’ll have complete privacy on all 140 acres. The house is family run (by delightful people) and can host up to twelve guests onsite in the six staterooms. It is surrounded by extensive gardens, terraces, water features, woodland and lakes. There are a number of spaces to host gatherings on the property including: the gardens, the Georgian house, the airy White Chapel, the bright Banqueting Room, and the Courtyard. We love how the property has maintained so much history and authenticity but yet is bright and light in so many spaces, an unusual feature in these traditional manor houses.
Killruddery House & Gardens
Just south of Dublin, nestled between the sea and the mountains of Wicklow, lies Killruddery House and Gardens. The historic house and grounds are one of the few Irish estates that has been held by the same family it was bestowed to 500 years ago. Today the property is not only a historic family home for Lord and Lady Ardee (and their children), but also a world class bio-diverse garden, tea room, farm shop and a remarkable venue that is completely private after business hours. The magnificent 800 acre estate includes a flowering woodland, formal 17th century gardens, a high hedged sylvan theater, long ponds and a walled garden. There are a number of indoor spaces available to use, including the spectacular orangery (the conservatory), traditional dining and drawing rooms, the library and the converted grain store. Nearby there are a number of places that offer accommodation, we recommend inviting your guests to stay at the 5 star Powerscourt Hotel.
Ashford Castle
In the west of Ireland, in County Galway, you’ll find the exceptional 800 year old Ashford Castle that was once home to the Guiness family. Today this Forbes five star hotel offers countless amenities and activities and the 350 acre estate has landscaped gardens, ancient woodland and a picturesque lake. If you wish to make Ashford Castle your own, you can rent the entire estate so it’s exclusively yours. The castle’s 83 bedrooms, suites and Lakeside Hideaway Cottage will accommodate up to 160 guests. Enjoy exclusive use of all restaurants and bars including The George V Dining Room for an unforgettable wedding breakfast, the underground Wine Cellars for a magical pre-wedding event or the impressive Oak Hall for a show-stopping reception in the heart of the castle. An exclusive use wedding also offers a range of unforgettable estate activities for you and your guests to enjoy including falconry, equestrian, golf, river cruising, fishing and spa treatments.
Ballyfin
Situated in the heartland of Ireland, is this five star Regency era country house, Ballyfin. The boutique hotel with twenty rooms is set on a 614 acre estate, which makes it an ideal place to host intimate celebrations with the utmost privacy. Situated near the Slieve Bloom Mountains, Ballyfin is a place of history, romance, tranquility and natural beauty. Choose from a selection of beautiful spaces to host a gathering: an impressive ballroom ideal for wedding receptions, a stunning State Dining Room with views over the water, inviting rooms for more intimate pre-wedding celebrations, dinners or parties and vibrant outdoor terraces or garden spaces for afternoon tea and photographs. Our favorite space by far is the conservatory which can be reached by a hidden door in the library!
Hilton Park
Ninety minutes from both Belfast and Dublin, in the center of Ireland at the end of a mile long driveway, you’ll find a charming country estate: HIlton Park. This award winning ninth generation country house and estate is a secluded and idyllic place, majestically set amidst 400 hundred acres of natural lakes, heritage woodlands, meadows, thriving kitchen gardens and grounds to roam. Hilton Park operates as both an exclusive- use wedding venue and a b&b. They can host sixteen in the house alone and twenty-four on the whole property. The owners, Joanna and Fred, are such kind and welcoming people who love sharing their historic family home and keen culinary skills with their guests, as well as a multitude of other activities such as: open-air theater nights, house and garden tours, workshops, forest yoga, clay pigeon shooting, falconry, boating and sustainable heritage living activities such as bee-keeping, fishing, rearing sheep and biodynamic horticulture in the walled kitchen garden. You can make use of the house to host a week or weekend long celebration, there is plenty of space in the house and grounds to accommodate gatherings: on the lawn, gardens, the elegant indoor rooms or the converted 18th century colonnaded pavilion with its exposed beams, original cast iron colonnades and full height ceiling.
Adare Manor
In County Limerick, you’ll find Adare Manor, a castle-like five star hotel set in 840 acres of gently rolling parkland in the heart of Ireland, nestled on the banks of the River Maigue. The luxurious 104 room hotel can be bought out for exclusive use, ensuring complete privacy and full enjoyment of the immaculately restored gothic revival style manor. On property there is a Michelin star restaurant, a La Mer spa (with clinic level services), golf course, gardens, grounds to wander and outdoor excursions (such as falconry, clay pigeon shooting, fly fishing, archery and gun dog trials). This hotel offers a very Downton Abbey level of country gentry living experience and service. There are a number of spaces for hosting onsite including a ballroom, the lawns, walled garden, the carriage room and if you opt for exclusive use- the manor is yours to create a tailor made experience for you and yours.
If you’d like a deeper dive into Irish venues, check out these posts:
Carton House: A Fairmont Managed Hotel
Flower Forward Irish Spring Wedding at K Club
Happy planning!
XO- The GATHER Girls