We had an exquisite experience during our stay in Gregan's Castle and Hotel. The staff went above and beyond to make our stay in ease and luxury. Our suitcases were carried to out suite while we were shown Greggan's reception, bar, reading room, (formerly fancied by C.S. Lewis and others for insporation) the dining hall, the art gallery hallways, and of course, our elegant suite. Champagne was brought to the room shortly as I enjoyed a drink and a lovely bath soak before dinner. Dinner and all meals served at Gregans, were prepared with culinary mastery and served with grace and joy from the castle's hosts. I highly recommend staying awhile as you find yourself part of the Gregan's family and become lost in it's beauty and ambiance. read more

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Gorgeous property, stunning views from our room, friendly and welcoming staff (and awesome bartenders in the cozy bar), and the food def lived up to the hype. Wonderful dinner with top notch service. Full Irish breakfast was included with our stay and was a lovely combination of self serve meats, cheeses, yogurts, pastries, fruit, granola, breads and juices plus, made to order items off the menu. Everything made in house or sourced from small local farms and producers. So, here's the shocker ...this is not a castle, it's more of a country house/estate but it is warm, cozy, inviting, and just lovely in ways a castle just couldn't be anyway. Fires in the fireplaces, little nooks and corners with comfy chairs and whimsical artwork all throughout. I would've been happy to just meander around the hotel and property for days but there is so much to see and do in the area as well. An absolute must is a Burren tour, you cannot begin to understand or appreciate the terrain in this area without learning about it firsthand. The hotel staff will happily set that up for you, we had our tour with Shane Connelly and he was as the Irish would say, a real character. He did not disappoint, the authority in the area and we enjoyed every bit of teasing he threw at us along the way, which was plentiful and great fun. If you are fragile or thin skinned don't book this one and save the good time for the rest of us! Also to note, there are two cats that live in the hotel and are given free range in specific public areas. They happily doze in the bar by the fire, oversee you playing cards or doing a puzzle and will occasionally enjoy your lap, if invited. So if you don't like cats please don't book. I travelled with someone that is allergic to cats and wasn't bothered at all but that may not be everyone's experience. I found the rescue donkeys, horse and cats to be a perfect addition to a charming property. read more

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We were suppose to spend two nights here and left after one! Extremely allergic to cats and just couldn't take it any longer. Two cats roam the interior and with all the upholstered furniture it was quite claustrophobic!! Owner was not very apologetic and quite rude when we called to chat about leaving early. Agree with others that it isn't really a castle! Wouldn't advise unless you love cats! read more

First of all, you are not staying at a castle. Second of all, if you are allergic to cats, DO NOT STAY HERE!!! Third of all, half of the furniture needs to be thrown away. It's very old and the common rooms definitely feel cluttered! The other half of the furniture needs to be re-stuffed and reupholstered. But, if you can get past that, the place is amazing. The location is beautiful, the service is fantastic and the food was excellent. I would come back again, but stay in a suite. You feel like you've come home every time you walk through the door. Everyone greets you like they are truly happy that you've returned from whatever excursion you've been on. They know your name and honestly make you feel like family. Lastly, I would recommend venturing out about 20 minutes to this lobster restaurant that our driver recommended. It was exceptional and it was called Leanne's I think. Everyone knows about it. read more

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The title is misleading! This place is not a castle but a manor home turned into a B&B. Just arrived and I feel like I am at dead Great Grandmas house!!! My room is so small to share with someone from the group. Paint peeling in bathroom mold in shower curtain. Opened window and smelt smoke! The whole place smells of smoke! Outdoor/indoor cats roam freely, not good if you are allergic. Plus all the diseases they can carry from being outdoors. The service was excellent! The food was amazing different. Personally for me this is not a place I would generally stay in because of my allergies. It was part of a tour I was taking. If you enjoy being in place with no What I have learnt in Ireland they use peat in the fireplace.I then discovered I am highly sensitive and allergic to it. read more

I was traveling to Ireland to get married and booked Gregans Castle Hotel for the night before my wedding. My fiancé and I were really excited to stay here. At $376 a night, the hotel was a splurge for us, but given it was for the night before our wedding, we decided to go for it. Unfortunately, about a month before our trip, I realized I had booked our room for the wrong month. (Yikes! Immediately cue sick feeling.) I contacted Gregans Castle Hotel via email and phone to inform them of the situation and ask if we could change our reservation and book our room for the correct night a month later. As their hotel policy states, I was told that any cancellations or changes made within a week of the reservation would result in a 100% loss of the cost of the room. I was told that this policy is in place to protect the hotel against the loss of a room, since it can be difficult to re-sell the room on short notice. I know hotels need to have policies like this and that I was the one who made the mistake, but this is an instance where I think a human element was missing. In checking the booking site and as verified in my conversations with hotel staff, there were still rooms available for that night. No loss would have been occurred by the hotel from moving my reservation to the correct month. In fact, I would have had to upgrade to a nicer room due to limited availability for the correct date and pay a higher rate for the room, which I was more than willing to do. The Gregans Castle hotel philosophy states that one of the elements that makes the hotel so special is a commitment to "improving and innovating everything we do". I wanted to share feedback on my experience in the hope that situations like this are handled with more consideration, empathy and compassion in the future. read more

I called ahead and verified Gregan's Castle's offerings prior to visiting. In short, they flat out lied to me and my travel agent. This is not a Castle the "Gardens" are nothing more than basic entry way landscaping. The rooms are basic and barely clean, Gregan's is the opposite of luxury. The "plumbing" makes noise all night. The gallery shows rooms that don't exist, a gross misrepresentation. Room service is not available unless planned far in advance. The staff is very unaccommodating. This hotel severely disrupted my holiday plans. read more

Wow. Just wow. This place holds a few special places in my heart. I spent a majority of my first trip to Ireland here. I had the best meal of my life here. I proposed in the rose garden here. Gregans Castle is staffed by some of the nicest people I have ever met. James goes above and beyond to ensure your happiness. The rooms are cozy and cute. Watch out in the shower however. The water pressure insures that you will not have a spot of dirt on your skin. Or possibly skin on your body. The grounds are beautiful and the views of the Burren are amazing. Expect to see some wildlife, vibrant rainbows and millions of stars. Breakfasts are the standard Irish fair with your choice of main dish. Their full Irish was the best I had in Ireland. Their dinners are phenomenal. I had the beet appetizer and beef entrée. The chef's use of foams and subtle flavors made the the appetizer un"beet"able. The fillet, potato and marrow were perfect. The desserts rounded out a once in lifetime experience. After dinner, I suggest a glass of wine or pint of Murphy's in the Corkscrew Bar. I loved this place and my fiancée and I plan on coming back for as many anniversaries as we can. Outstanding. read more

Nothing wrong with this place. Ideal for couples and the food is great. The surrounding grounds are beautiful. Hard to believe a place likes this exits. Excellent! read more

All I can say is that Gregans Castle was the cornerstone of the most fantastic vacation we could have ever imagined. We sought the Irish countryside - rolling green hills, rocky landscapes, winding roads - and we found it. But Gregans Castle was more than a perfect launching point for visiting landmarks such as the Burren and the Cliffs of Moher - it was a home away from home. The staff were so incredibly hospitable. Like visiting an old friend, they sought to our needs in a friendly non-invasive manner. The room was quaint and the bathroom luxurious with wonderful towels and a bath robe. The grounds were tremendously manicured with the most beautiful little flower-filled walkways and a little area reserved for croquet. It is conveniently located a hop-skip and a jump from Ballyvaughan where you can find restaurants, a grocery store, and a little light souvenir shopping (as well as a late night pizza/taco place if you have the munchies). Notably, Gregans Castle restaurant was superb. My husband and I had the best meal we've ever encountered (and that's comparing Gregans Castle to Ashford Castle where we stayed for 2 nights). Our dining experience was limited to several tables allowing for a very attentive experience. Our waiter, Shane, was charming and informative. The food was unparalleled and the ambiance just lovely. You do have to reserve a time for dinner, as you would expect with an upscale restaurant. To share a story commenting on their remarkable hospitality... when we first arrived, my husband's luggage was lost. I called the front desk to ask if there was a washing machine available. Initially, I was told laundry services were over for the evening. That was actually the answer I was expecting. 2-3 minutes later I received a call back stating they could wash his laundry and have it ready in the morning. Unfortunately, we had an early excursion booked the next morning that wouldn't work either. I thanked them for their graciousness and hung up. 2-3 minutes later, Simon (the owner) called and said they could have the laundry washed and delivered late that evening. I was baffled by the level of attentiveness and kindness. On several occasions, my husband and I had the fortune of hanging out at the bar with Ken. He was amazingly attentive, charming, knowledgeable about the area, and just a lot of fun. My fondest memories of Gregans were the hours spent in the Corkscrew Room. All I can say is Gregans Castle Hotel was a stupendously wonderful experience. It was more than a hotel stay - it was an experience. I am now trying to hunt down some Irish Peat to recreate the lovely smell of entering the hotel in the evenings. This is the THE place to stay if you wish to visit the Western countryside. Wonderful. read more