Renowned as one of the finest fisheries in Ireland, the Ballynahinch Catchment is a diverse system of interconnected loughs and rivers, offering the very best of fly fishing in Ireland. Guided fishing and beginners tutorials are available through the Castle.
While we try to stay within the beauty of Western Ireland, if your plans do include time in Dublin, a 'can’t miss' brewery experience on Ireland's most famous beer that covers seven floors, surrounding a glass atrium shaped in the form of a pint of Guinness.
Connemara National Park covers some 2,000 hectares of scenic mountains, expanses of bogs, heaths, grasslands and woodlands in County Galway. Great hiking and scenic views!
If you're flying into Shannon, one of our absolute favorite Irish villages is Adare. It's incredibly charming, famous for its thatch-roofed cottages along its main-street. It's also home to Adare Manor - a 19th century non-Gothic manor house which is now a luxury golf course resort (and home to the 2027 Ryder Cup!).
Just 7 miles East of Ballynahinch Castle, Clifden is known as "the Capital of Connemara". It's a bustling and authentic Irish town with cozy pubs and restaurants, historic sites such as Clifden Castle and an overall quaint town atmosphere with colorful shops, cafes and markets.
Galway is known for its vibrant arts scene its traditional Irish music, with many pubs and venues offering live performances and its scenic beauty. Galway is a key point on the Wild Atlantic Way - the iconic coastal route, offering stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean and rugged landscapes. Being just an hour from the Castle and on the way up from Shannon Airport, I would definitely carve out time for at least a pub/live music visit with a stroll through the vibrant town center.
The Castle is situated on 700-acres encompassing native woodlands, lakes, rivers and spectacular views of the Twelve Bens and Maumturks to the North as well as picturesque views of the grounds and the castle itself. There is approximately 16 kilometres of trails throughout the estate bringing you through some native woodlands, along lakeshores and riverside walks suitable for all. A favorite of ours to unwind and take in the beauty of Connemara.