Location This four-star country house and 13th-century castle is easily accessible, just 25km from Dublin and 10 minutes from the M50 motorway. Visitors veer off a busy thoroughfare, yet the moment they enter the driveway, it’s like entering another world. The castle turret beckons, the manicured hedges obscure the busy world beyond.
Its easy accessibility to Dublin airport explains its popularity with Americans, 30% of the weddings at the castle are stateside bridal parties. There’s an urban ease, yet sitting on 20 acres, views stretch across to the Wicklow mountains from the castle heights. It’s also close to Kildare Village, Newbridge Silverware, and the National Stud with its stunning Japanese gardens.
9/10 Style This is Barberstown’s USP. One of Ireland’s oldest standing castles, it was built in the 13th century. Even the inhouse dressing gowns pay tribute to its vintage, with ‘1288’ embossed on the front.
Breakfast is served within its historic walls, and if you’re lucky enough, visitors can access the turret steps, leading to the revamped exquisite presidential suite. Connected to the castle is a 300-year-old extension, another dating back 100 years and a more recent add on, just a few decades old. Eight centuries of history sees it blend its Victorian and Elizabethan extensions with the original medieval castle.
Barberstown has operated as a hotel for around 50 years, but before that had about 60 owners. Nicholas Barber, who the castle is named after, .