From the first moment I saw the castle from the driveway I was impressed. The stairway leading to reception was lit by candles and was very welcoming. The castle still retains its old world feel and hasn't been spoiled by mod cons. The bedrooms are located along corridors at different levels and my first impression was that I might need a Sat. Nav. to find my way back to reception but this wasn't the case. The bedrooms are well maintained in old style furniture but it is completely in keeping with the atmosphere of the castle. The food provided was excellent both in the restaurant and the Library Bar. The Dungeon Bar was very enjoyable although a little colder than the rest of the Castle. The staff were all very friendly and helpful. Breakfast on Sunday was a bit hectic as most people seemed to arrive at the same time, but the staff took it in their stride and fed everyone as quickly as they could. They also apologised several times for the delay, which helped to appease any impatience that we might have been experiencing. I would also recommend the Kinnity Forest walk to work off the effect of the great food. All in all a great experience.

Stayed here on Saturday night,had a great time. The castle is steeped in history and has a real charm to it. Set in lovely woodlands that we unfortunately never got to explore due to the brutal Irish weather. Our room was like something out of the medieval ages but in a good way. Very clean,comfortable and warm. Had a few drinks on the library bar then onto the restaurant for a top class 4 course meal. Staff here are great,very friendly and genuine and the manager is on top of everything,very good for a young guy.
As for some of the negative reviews,this is an old castle that has a few bumps and creaks here and there but it all adds to it. If you want the bog standard and boring usuals like aircon, satellite TV and all the other souless features then go and stay in a Radisson or Carlton
that are the exact same whether you are in Cork or Cairo. Some people just love to moan.
We had a great time and will be back.

Reading other reviews, I don't understand why people would complain about the lack of TV in the rooms. Really?? You are in Ireland staying at a castle, why on earth would you want to stay in your room watching TV?

My boyfriend and I were taking a castle tour of Ireland and stayed here for two nights. The only down side was that we were there during the middle of the week and couldn't get to enjoy the Dungeon bar. This place is awesome. We hung out at the Library bar had a few pints and read by the fire. We stayed in the Bernard room. Yes the furniture was a bit grungy and the bed wasn't all that comforable but we could care less. It was December and we pretty much had the place to ourselves. We would have loved to have been surrounded by more people but it was nice this way too. We got to wander around the castle and property taking pictures galore.

One of the nights we went to the local pub and heard some musicians playing and hung out with the locals. They were the sweetest people around and were really friendly. Thank you so much Jim and Brendan for making that night so memorable! However, being New Yorkers, we found it hysterical that after a few hours the Garda showed up everyone cleared out so quickly but that was ok cause we had an awesome time.

I would love to go back and stay the weekend just to be able to hang out in the Dungeon bar to see what that is like.

I definitely recommend anyone to come stay here a few days. You never know, you just might run in to that ghost that supposedly hangs around there.

Had called in briefly to Kinnity while walking the year previously and couldnt wait to stay there! The place is so atmospheric ....in a stunning setting.From the moment you enter the sweeping heavily wooded drive to emerge at a magnificent old fortified mansion house.
Into the entrance hall, all is olde worlde charm with a roaring fire ,furniture,suits of armour , swords, olde stuff galore!! furnishings and artefacts from an age gone by and so welcoming staff.Its great that the place hasnt been done up and left in an original faded elegance that has so much charm and character.creaking sloping floorboards as standard, heavy drapes and brooding presence and nooks and crannies, ghost stories and folklore galore.

Dont go there expecting sanitized draught proof all mod cons ..and thankfully this place has resisted and allowed the warts, draughts and all to remain while still keeping up with the huge task of upkeep both inside and outside.Well, that is all an essential part of a castle visit and an absolute delight.
Here, all is slow motion and so easy to unwind relax in the Library bar full of towerring old bookshelves in front of yet another roaring fire which is like a set out of Cluedo!Or to sit in the grand drawing room sipping tea to the faint rustle of your paper in serene surroundings!It is hard to supress ones enthusiasm for this place,
The bedrooms are huge and individually named suites.Ours faced out to the magnificent views at the front of the castle, had a huge eight feet wide ever so comfy four poster bed you could get lost in and needed a hop step and jump to get up into..more delightful quirky charm.
Windows have subtle rattling draughts and pipes clatter and hiss merrily throughout the night adding to the atmosphere(or is it one of many rumoured ghosts?).The room was furnished in old dark carved antique furniture with huge chairs and table overlooking the drive and cool heavy and faded tapestries hung on the brick and faded plaster walls..just how it should be.Like the Gormenghast books!!
Bathroom has large old fashioned singing pipes yet endless hot water to lie in a deep four legged bath .Regency wash basin and big taps, soft towels and slippers..excellent after a day on the wet hills
.One noisy US couple was having none of it though and complained whiningly to those daft enough to listen .. about there being no telephone, TV, air con , rattling pipes and draughts etc...should have gone to Travelodge!!!..,for this sort of setting is a vanishing rarity. Breakfast was great, individually and freshly cooked but maybe several hot options could be available other than the full irish(eg like Castletroy, limerick?) .Kitchen and dining room staff were great lingering,chatty and up for the craic..no polite insipid silences here.The dining room is atmospheric and food good..a really enjoyable experience.Staff on the reception are so helpful and full of information, giving you trips around the castle, bycycles or printing maps for stunning walks that pass through the castle grounds and out onto the hills and Slieve Blooms.
Sadly only able to stay two nights as had to be in Port Laois..what a contrast beteween Kinnity and the Killleshin 4*. Atmosphere, faded elegance ,charm, setting, and class versus insipid and sterile , safe venneered and souless modern squeaky clean, hot and air conned rooms on a busy main road. No contest!!
Will be back for a longer stay without a doubt.