Kinnitty Castle, Kinnitty, Birr, Co. Offaly

History
The original Kinnitty Castle dates back to the early 1200’s, destroyed in 1209, the Castle was later rebuilt by the Normans in 1213. In 1630 a new castle was built by the then owner William O’Carroll later to be confiscated by the English during their plantation of Offaly, and granted in 1644 to a Col. Thomas Winter whose descendants sold to the Bernard Family in 1764.

In 1811 Lady Catherine Hutchinson, wife of Thomas Bernard, extended the Castle to what it is today, built in the Neo-Gothic style.

Kinnitty Castle was rebuilt in 1928, by the then occupants the Bernard Family who in 1946 sold to Lord Decies who in turn disposed the property to the State in 1951.
The present owners, the Ryan Family, acquired the Castle and Estate in 1994 and transformed it into what is now, a popular luxury Hotel, renowned for weddings, functions, receptions etc. The Hotel offers a range of leisure activities including horse riding, fishing, tennis, game and clay pigeon shooting as well as a falconry school, and also a popular Spa & Leisure Centre located separately within the grounds.

Kinnitty Castle Hotel is a Neo-Gothic castellated mansion nestling on a large estate on the foothills of the Slieve Bloom Mountains, overlooking appprox. 61 acres (24.68ha.) of landscaped gardens and front grassland flanked by forestation of pine and deciduous trees. The eastern boundary has a wood ravine with a babbling river, access to which, alongside the Hotel is by way of stone steps to the riverbank below.

Kinnitty Castle is a unique blend of Old World elegance with an excellent standard of luxury and comfort. There are thirty seven individually styled en-suite bedrooms within Kinnitty Castle, each retaining the original dimensions in keeping with the period of the Castle. The castle also contains two restaurants, two bars and a magnificent panelled banqueting hall that provides a magnificent setting for all occasions. Space and high ceilings throughout the property are matched with rich fabrics and period furniture in keeping with the Castle’s heritage.

GUEST ACCOMMODATION- Main Hotel Building
FIRST FLOOR Eight stateroom & suite bedrooms, all ensuite.
SECOND FLOOR Seven ensuite bedrooms.
THIRD FLOOR Three ensuite bedrooms.
BASEMENT LEVELDungeon Bar: (separate entrance from side)
Vaulted ceiling, flagstone flooring, dungeon style décor, recessed wine vaults. Part brick finish. Fully fitted and equipped bar, ladies and gentlemen’s toilets.

GROUND FLOOR Entrance hall, Reception Foyer, Offices off reception, Inner hall, (Staircase to Upper Floor), Drawing room, Round room, Restaurant, passage way to bar, Library Bar.

GROUND FLOOR RETURN Passage way to restrooms, partitioned office, ladies and gentlemen’s washrooms, meeting room, private office, lobby off kitchen, wash-up area, kitchen, lobby (access to back stairs) 2 store rooms.

COURTYARD WING

GROUND FLOOR- GUEST ACCOMMODATION
Eight ensuite bedrooms- Abbey Rooms

FIRST FLOOR
Eleven ensuite bedrooms-Abbey Rooms

BASEMENT
Store (with coldroom), store, male staff toilet, female staff toilet, staff hall, chef’s office, dry goods store.

GREAT HALL OF O’CARROLLS FUNCTION ROOM
To far extremity of Courtyard- with separate access
This lofted stone built building with vaulted ceiling under slated roof, comprises:
Entrance lobby, toilet suites: ladies toilet, gentlemen’s toilet, invalid toilet, main function room, bar area, stairs to upper gallery, office, kitchen, staff toilet.

GATE LODGE SPA- adjacent to main entrance gate
Two storeys consisting of reception and lobby, treatment rooms, conservatory extension, sauna, changing rooms and toilets.

Viewing by appointment only

County Offaly, with its castles, abbeys, and heritage centres, forests and hidden valleys lies near the centre of Ireland. The picturesque village of Kinnitty nestles at the foot of Knocknamann on the western slopes of the Slieve Bloom Mountains. Kinnitty Castle lies approximately one hour 30 minutes from both Dublin and Shannon airports and one hour forty nine minutes to Galway. Kinnitty Castle is situated on the south side of the R421, on the Mountmellick to Birr Road, 18 miles from Clonaslee, between the village of Cademstown and Kinnitty on the western slopes of The Slieve Bloom Mountains, on the borders of Counties Laois and Offaly.

Harriet Grant – Knight Frank Ganly Walters & Paddy Pritchard-Gordon - Knight Frank London