Excellence Luxury Villas · Ireland
Luxury Castles and Country Houses in Ireland
Castles, Georgian manors and farmhouses, from the harbours of West Cork to the Kilkenny hills
As featured in
Long avenues, turf fires and the Atlantic at the end of the lane
Few countries do the country house quite like Ireland. There are Georgian mansions at the end of long beech avenues, stone tower houses that have watched over the same river for five hundred years, and farmhouses facing the Atlantic with nothing but sheep between you and the sea. Then there is the welcome, which is as warm as its reputation, and a flight from London of not much more than an hour.
Our Irish collection runs to 43 houses. It ranges from castles in Kildare and Cork to manors in the Westmeath lake country, a house beneath the Blackstairs Mountains, farmhouses on the Dingle Peninsula and a cottage on the Fanad Peninsula in Donegal. The largest have 22 bedrooms, room enough for a wedding party or three generations of one family.
Here is where to go, when to come and what to do once the fire is lit.
Ireland at a glance
- Houses
- 43 castles, manors and country houses, with up to 22 bedrooms
- Guide prices
- Typically £2,900 to £13,500 a week, from around £1,600
- Best areas
- Cork and Kinsale, Kerry and Dingle, Kilkenny, Kildare and the midlands
- Best time
- May to September for long light evenings; spring and autumn for quiet roads
- Getting there
- Dublin, Cork, Shannon and Kerry airports, or the ferry from Holyhead or Fishguard
Browse all 43 properties in Ireland
Villa numbers and guide prices are updated daily from our live collection.
Emerald Lodge Ireland2 bedrooms
Gothic Castle Estate United Kingdom9 bedrooms
Rent Kinsale Hall Cork in Ireland22 bedrooms
Castle Kildare Ireland140 bedroomsWhere to stay in Ireland
Cork and Kinsale for harbours and food, Kerry and the Dingle Peninsula for the wild Atlantic coast, Kilkenny for medieval streets, and Kildare and the midlands for racing, golf and great estates.
Harbour towns and the long fingers of the south west
Kinsale has some of the best restaurants in the country, a harbour full of boats and Charles Fort, a seventeenth-century star fort guarding the approach. It is around half an hour from Cork airport, and the Old Head of Kinsale golf links sits on a headland nearby.
Cork itself is worth a morning for the English Market, and Blarney Castle is just outside the city for anyone who wants to kiss the stone. Further west the coast breaks into peninsulas: Bantry Bay, with Bantry House above the water, and the quiet Sheep's Head, where Ahakista is little more than a pier, a pub and a view.
Explore Munster
Mountains, islands and the end of the road
The Wild Atlantic Way runs for around 2,500 kilometres from Donegal down to Kinsale, and Kerry is where it is at its most dramatic. The Dingle Peninsula is Irish-speaking country, and the Slea Head Drive loops past beehive huts and beaches with the Blasket Islands offshore.
The Ring of Kerry circles the Iveragh Peninsula, with Killarney National Park and its lakes at one end. In summer, weather permitting, boats leave Portmagee for Skellig Michael, the monastic island that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Far to the north, Fanad Head lighthouse in Donegal marks the other end of the coast.
Search houses in Ireland
Medieval lanes, racehorses and quiet lakes
Kilkenny is the best preserved medieval city in Ireland. Its castle was home to the Butler family for almost six centuries, and the Medieval Mile runs from there to St Canice's Cathedral. The Kilkenny Arts Festival fills the streets each August.
Kildare is horse country. The Curragh hosts the Irish Derby each summer, and the Irish National Stud, with its Japanese Gardens, makes a good afternoon out. Further west, the lakes around Mullingar are good for fishing and walking, and to the south east the Blackstairs Mountains rise between Carlow and Wexford.
Browse houses in Kilkenny
Oysters, a crowned goat and a very long dusk
Irish food has come a long way from its old reputation. Think Atlantic oysters and crab, smoked salmon, farmhouse cheeses and lamb from the hills, and in East Cork Ballymaloe has been setting the standard for decades. Every August, at Puck Fair in Killorglin, a wild goat is crowned king for three days, which tells you most of what you need to know about Kerry.
May to September brings the longest days, with light until late in June. Spring and autumn are quieter, and the rain is part of the bargain at any time of year. Our concierge can arrange private chefs, tee times, fishing and race days.
Ask our conciergeFeatured properties in Ireland
Manor Coilltean Kinsale: Spacious 8-Bedroom House with Beach Access – County Cork8 bedrooms · sleeps 20From £13,853 a week
County Meath Castle | 7-Bedroom Chateau in OLDCASTLE7 bedrooms · sleeps 17From £13,306 a week
Plunkett House Ireland10 bedrooms · sleeps 20From £13,230 a week
Park Manor | 7-Bedroom Manor in Killarney7 bedrooms · sleeps 14From £12,893 a week
Kerry Manor House United Kingdom13 bedrooms · sleeps 26From £12,038 a week
House Martello Greencastle: Luxury 4-Bedroom House with Hot Tub & Seaview – County Donegal4 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £10,276 a week
Shorecliffe House United Kingdom14 bedrooms · sleeps 28From £9,806 a week
Beaufort Manor | 6-Bedroom Manor in Killarney Churchtown Park6 bedrooms · sleeps 12From £9,544 a weekWhy book your house in Ireland with Excellence Luxury Villas
The right house, not the nearest one
Ireland's great houses are scattered down long lanes from Donegal to West Cork, and we know which are a short drive from a good pub, a links course or the sea. With 43 properties in Ireland, we can usually find the house that suits you rather than the one that happens to be free. Search by size, pool, location and price, or tell us what you have in mind and we will put together a shortlist.
Book direct
You book with us directly, with no booking fees. Questions about access, parking, pool heating or how far it really is to the nearest beach go to people who can find out the answer.
A concierge who knows the territory
Private chefs, tee times at the Old Head of Kinsale and the Kerry links, fishing ghillies, race days at the Curragh, boat trips to Skellig Michael, car hire and transfers from Dublin, Cork and Shannon. Our concierge team arranges all of it, leaving you free to decide which terrace to sit on.
A house for every kind of party
Couples, families with small children, three generations together or a crowd of friends celebrating a birthday: we match the house to the group, down to the number of bathrooms and whether the pool is fenced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best place to stay in Ireland?
Cork and Kinsale suit food lovers and sailors, Kerry and the Dingle Peninsula suit walkers and anyone after wild coast, and Kilkenny and Kildare suit those who want history, racing and golf within easy reach of Dublin.
When is the best time to visit Ireland?
May to September is warmest, with very long evenings around midsummer. Spring and autumn are quieter on the roads and still green. Rain is possible in any month, so a house with a good fire is never wasted.
Do you drive on the left in Ireland?
Yes, as in the UK. In the Republic, distances and speed limits are in kilometres, and country lanes in the west can be very narrow, so allow more time than the map suggests.
Can you arrange a private chef at a house in Ireland?
Yes. Our concierge can arrange a private chef for a single dinner or your whole stay, along with cookery lessons, guided visits, transfers and restaurant reservations.
How much does a luxury propertie in Ireland cost?
Across our 43 properties in Ireland, weekly rates typically range from £2,900 to £13,500, with the most affordable from around £1,600 a week and the largest estates well above. Prices depend on the size of the property, its location and the season, with July and August the most expensive. These are guide prices based on current listings; each property page shows its own rates for your dates.
How do I get to Ireland from the UK?
Flights from London to Dublin take a little over an hour, and Cork, Shannon and Kerry airports are closer to the south and west. Ferries also sail from Holyhead to Dublin and from Fishguard and Pembroke to Rosslare, which suits anyone bringing a car.
Are there houses in Ireland for large groups?
Yes. Our Ireland collection includes properties with up to 22 bedrooms. Tell us the size of your party and the occasion, and we will send a shortlist that suits it.
Explore More Destinations
Find your house in Ireland
Choose from 43 castles and country houses across Ireland, with our concierge to plan the rest