On the topic of property ambitions, it is of course always a good idea to “aim high”. So with this mindset, in Part 1 of “Your Home is Your Castle” the Team at YOLO Travel invited you to sample some of the finest real estate this planet has to offer – starting with two envy inducing castles of Ireland.

To conclude, we reveal the ultimate fairy tale Irish Castle…

Adare Manor, Limerick

Further south again from Ballynahinch in Connemara, is the picturesque village of Adare, in County Limerick.

And this is home to our third recommended castle stay – the deservingly celebrated Adare Manor.

Adare Manor is adorned with 365 windows, 52 ornate chimneys and 4 towers, corresponding to the number of days, weeks, and seasons in a year…

While the estate dates back to the 1100’s, the castle itself was only built between 1830 and 1860, when the Earl of Dunraven, suffering a painful and debilitating case of gout, was convinced by his wife that designing a new manor house would be a good distraction from his ailments.

The result was one of the most beautiful homes in all of Europe, with architectural stylings borrowed from palaces and castles all over the continent.

An example of a ‘Calendar House’, Adare Manor is adorned with 365 windows, 52 ornate chimneys and 4 towers, corresponding to the number of days, weeks, and seasons in a year, and is a masterpiece of romantic and whimsical design.

Adare Manor features an award winning cocktail bar in its cellar run by Ariel Sanecki, one of the most talented Mixologists in the world.

The manor home was first converted into a hotel in 1987, but in 2015, the hotel was closed by its new owner, JP McManus, for a painstaking, no-expenses spared, 22 month restoration.

The result is one of the most stunning castle hotels in all of Europe.

The 840 acre estate that surrounds the Manor House consists of sweeping parklands, cultivated grounds, formal French gardens, magnificent mature trees, and the Maigue, one of Ireland’s best trout filled rivers.

Oh, and of course it features its own picturesque cricket ground, and an award winning golf course (which has just been chosen to host the Ryder Cup in 2026).

P.S. If you are thinking to yourself, you could never attain ownership of such an awe inspiring piece of history, just know that its current owner, JP McManus, started in modest circumstances at his family’s construction plant hire firm before moving into bookmaking!

The quote that comes to mind… “What one ‘can’ be, one ‘must’ be!” – Maslow.

You can revisit Part 1 below –

Visit YOLO Travel at youonlyliveoncetravel.com.au for more adventures for the discerning traveller!

Breakfast is taken in the Great Hall (the 2nd longest room in Ireland)!