Ireland Vacation Rentals With a Story: Historic Places to Stay That Help Save Them

Picture your first morning in Ireland. You climb 109 stone steps to the kitchen at the top of a lighthouse, put the kettle on, and watch the sun come up over the Irish Sea while seals bob in the water below. No lobby, no room service, no other guests. Just you, the tower, and more than 240 years of history.

That is the difference between ordinary Ireland vacation rentals and a stay with Irish Landmark Trust. We are a not-for-profit charity that has been rescuing historic buildings at risk since 1992: lighthouses, miniature castles, Georgian follies, a 17th-century fort and thatched cottages. We restore them with care and open them to guests as self-catering holiday homes (in Ireland, “self-catering” simply means a vacation rental, with the whole building to yourself). And the best part? The money from your stay goes straight back into looking after the building, so your vacation helps keep a piece of Irish heritage standing.

Wicklow Head Lighthouse glowing at sunrise above the Irish Sea
Sunrise at Wicklow Head Lighthouse, guarding the coast since 1781. Photo: Liam Blake

Quick Facts:

Historic Ireland Vacation Rentals at a Glance

Why Choose Historic Ireland Vacation Rentals?

If you have stayed with our sister organisations, the Landmark Trust in Britain or Landmark Trust USA in Vermont, you already know the magic. We are an independent Irish charity, but we share the same belief: the best way to save a historic building is to give it a use, and the best use is to let people live in it.

Most historic homes can only be seen from behind a velvet rope. Ours you can move into, even if only for a long weekend. Light the fire, pour a glass of wine, pull a book from the shelf and let the building tell you its story. Each property is looked after by a local House Manager, who welcomes you and is on hand throughout your stay, and every one comes with a Green Book full of local tips, from the best pub for a pint to the walk the locals love.

There is one more thing that makes our guests fall in love: our properties are WiFi and television free. It might sound daunting, but it is the quickest way to properly switch off. As we explain in How We Work, we raise funds to rescue each building, and then your rental income keeps it going from year to year.

Can You Stay in a Castle in Ireland?

You can, and you do not need to share it with a hotel full of strangers. Ireland’s grand castle hotels are famous, but for a truly private, storybook stay, a smaller castle you can have all to yourself is hard to beat.

Annes Grove Miniature Castle, Co. Cork

Turrets, battlements and a Gothic arch: Annes Grove is a medieval castle in miniature, designed by Benjamin Woodward of the celebrated architects Deane and Woodward. He designed only two gatelodges like it, which makes it a small architectural treasure. It had stood empty since the 1940s until we restored it. Now it is one of the most romantic hideaways in Ireland, with timber ceilings, stone arches, a wood-burning stove and a narrow winding stone stair up to the bedroom.

The turreted Gothic gateway of Annes Grove Miniature Castle among beech trees
Annes Grove Miniature Castle, Co. Cork: a fairytale castle for two

Perfect for: couples. Sleeps two.

The Barbican Gatelodge, Glenarm, Co. Antrim

Built in 1825 as the gateway to the Glenarm Castle estate, the Barbican is a miniature fortress on the Antrim coast, complete with a rooftop terrace where you can eat dinner looking out over the river. Its story is pure romance: in 1817 the Countess of Antrim, Anne Catherine, fell in love with Edmund Phelps and married him within a month of meeting him. Inside, there is a roll-top bath, a fireside for rainy evenings, and the tearooms and walled garden of Glenarm Castle just a stroll away.

The stone towers and battlements of the Barbican Gatelodge at Glenarm
The Barbican Gatelodge, gateway to the Glenarm Castle estate since 1825

Perfect for: couples exploring the Causeway Coast. Sleeps two.

Elizabeth Fort, Cork City

Want to sleep inside the walls of a real fortress? Elizabeth Fort is a star-shaped fort first built after the Battle of Kinsale in 1601 and rebuilt in stone in the 1620s. Over four centuries it has been a military barracks, a prison and a Garda (police) station. Today, two restored houses sit inside its walls. Guests love the stillness and silence the fortress walls bring, with the restaurants of Cork City and the spires of St Fin Barre’s Cathedral on your doorstep.

The view from the door of Parade House across to the stone walls of Elizabeth Fort
Step out of Parade House and straight onto the parade ground of Elizabeth Fort
A fireside sitting room with a blue armchair and rug inside Parade House
The fireside at Parade House, inside the fort walls

Perfect for: a city break with a difference. Parade House and Garrison House each sleep three.

Related Reading

Annes Grove Miniature Castle Itinerary: a week of gardens, rivers and castles in North Cork.

Seven Days Stay at a Gatelodge in Northern Ireland: the Causeway Coast and Glens from the Barbican.

Seven Night Stay in a 17th-Century Fortress: Cork City from inside Elizabeth Fort.

Stay in a Lighthouse on the Edge of Ireland

If there is one bucket-list stay in Ireland, this is it.

Wicklow Head Lighthouse has kept watch over the Wicklow coast since 1781, about an hour’s drive south of Dublin. It sleeps four, and the kitchen is right at the top, 109 steps up, so every meal comes with a view. Sit in the deep stone windowsills and look down the coastline, watch for seals, or stay up for the stars. It is one of our most popular properties: 2026 is fully booked, and 2027 dates are already on sale.

Down on the south coast of Co. Cork, the lightkeepers’ houses at Galley Head sit on cliffs about 130 feet above the sea, less than half an hour from the lively market town of Clonakilty. The station was built in 1875, and its keepers would have witnessed the sinking of the Lusitania in 1915. Local legend says the lighthouse was given its unusual landward beam so the Sultan of Turkey could see it from nearby Castle Freke. By day there is whale and dolphin watching and surfing at Inchydoney; by night, an open fire and the sweep of the light across the sky.

Galley Head Lighthouse and its keepers' houses on a clifftop at night, the beam lit above the waves
Galley Head by night: the lightkeepers’ houses sit right beside the working light. Photo: Dara Campbell
A cosy reading nook with a tartan armchair and a full bookcase at Galley Head
A reading nook at Galley Head, made for stormy afternoons

Perfect for: families and friends. Galley Head Lightkeeper’s House 1 sleeps four.

Related Reading

7 Nights in Galley Head Lighthouse: a Wild Atlantic Way week in West Cork.

Best Lighthouses to Stay In: every Irish Landmark lighthouse, from Donegal to Antrim.

Georgian Estates and Gothic Follies

The great country estates of Ireland are famous for their houses, but some of their smaller buildings are even more enchanting. Batty Langley Lodge sits on the Castletown estate in Co. Kildare, home to one of Ireland’s great Palladian country houses and less than an hour from Dublin Airport. The lodge was designed to be admired from the River Walk created by Lady Louisa Lennox, and its Gothic façade, crowned with seven stone pinnacles, was added in 1785 using a design from Batty Langley’s 1747 book Gothic Architecture. Walk through the parkland to the pubs and restaurants of Celbridge, then come home to a library, a stove and, after dark, the bat-watching equipment we provide for the six species that live in the surrounding woods.

The pinnacled Gothic façade of Batty Langley Lodge under a dramatic sky
Batty Langley Lodge on the Castletown estate. Photo: Alan Phillips, an Irish Landmark guest

Perfect for: a romantic first or last night of your trip. Sleeps two.

A Cottage With an American Connection

So many Irish-American families have a story of a small house left behind. Goggin Cottage in Co. Limerick is one of them. This early nineteenth-century thatched cottage was home to the Goggin family for generations, a place of open doors, music and neighbours dropping in for news. Around 1948, Christine, a daughter of the house, left for Philadelphia, where she felt she could better provide for her young daughter. Today, the cottage’s owner lives in America.

We restored Goggin Cottage with its open hearth, limewashed walls and a loft bedroom under the thatch, and it is now open to guests. If you want to rent a cottage in Ireland that has lived through the same history as so many emigrant families, this is it. It sleeps up to four, and it is only a short drive from Adare, known as one of Ireland’s most beautiful villages.

The whitewashed thatched Goggin Cottage in Co. Limerick
Goggin Cottage, Co. Limerick: home to the Goggin family for generations

Related Reading

The History of Goggin Cottage: the census records, the family and the neighbours who remember them.

7 Nights in Goggin Cottage: a week around Adare, Limerick and the Shannon Estuary.

Planning Your Stay: Tips for American Travellers

  • Book early. Every building is one of a kind, and the most popular, like Wicklow Head Lighthouse, can sell out a year ahead.
  • Rent a car. Many properties are in the countryside, and a car is the easiest way to reach them and explore at your own pace.
  • Check the currency. Properties in the Republic of Ireland are priced in euro. Those in Northern Ireland, such as the Barbican, are priced in pounds sterling.
  • Expect character. These are historic buildings, so you may find low doorways, worn steps and spiral stairs. Each property page lists what to know before you book.
  • Pack for the weather. Especially at the lighthouses, you may see sunshine, rain and a storm in the same afternoon. That is part of the fun.

Travel That Gives Something Back

Every Irish Landmark booking supports the conservation of Irish heritage, but many of our guests want to do more. If a stay has meant something to you, a donation helps us rescue the next building at risk. And if you would like to share the experience, an Irish Landmark gift card makes an unforgettable present for anyone who loves history, architecture or simply a quiet evening by the fire.

Plan Your Irish Landmark Stay

Whether you dream of a lighthouse, a castle or a thatched cottage, there is a historic building waiting for you. Browse our historic places to stay to find yours, and know that your stay helps keep it standing for the next generation.

Further Reading

Landmark Trusts Abroad: Great Britain and USA: our sister organisations in Britain and Vermont.

How We Work: how Irish Landmark saves, shares and sustains historic buildings.

Frequently Asked Questions About Historic Ireland Vacation Rentals

Can you stay in a castle in Ireland?

Yes. Alongside Ireland’s castle hotels, Irish Landmark Trust offers smaller castle-style buildings you can have entirely to yourself, including Annes Grove Miniature Castle in Co. Cork, the Barbican Gatelodge at Glenarm in Co. Antrim, and two houses inside Elizabeth Fort in Cork City.

Is Irish Landmark Trust the same as the Landmark Trust?

No. Irish Landmark Trust is an independent Irish charity. We share a similar mission with the Landmark Trust in Britain and Landmark Trust USA, and we think of them as sister organisations, but each is separate.

Do Irish Landmark properties have WiFi?

No. Our properties are WiFi and television free so that guests can enjoy the buildings, the landscape and each other’s company. Each has a radio, books and games.

How far in advance should I book?

As early as you can. Some properties, such as Wicklow Head Lighthouse, are booked out for a whole year, and dates for the following year go on sale well in advance.

Do I need a car?

For most properties, yes. Many are in rural locations or on country lanes, so a car is the most practical way to arrive and explore. City properties such as Elizabeth Fort are the exception.

Featured Property

Salterbridge Gatelodge

Salterbridge Gatelodge, located in the glorious Blackwater valley, dates from the mid 19th Century.

View Property

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Booking Conditions

HOW TO BOOK AN IRISH LANDMARK HOLIDAY : 

It is possible to reserve dates online at www.irishlandmark.com but bookings are not confirmed until a confirmation email is received from the bookings desk.     

BOOKING:  

Your booking must be for holiday purposes only.  Irish Landmark reserve the right to refuse hire for purposes other than holiday accommodation. When you make a booking, you accept full responsibility for all persons who will use or visit the property during the period booked.  When you book, you agree to indemnify us against all loss and damage arising directly or indirectly to the property and its contents from any deliberate or negligent act or omission by yourself, or any person accompanying you. 

CONTRACT OF HIRE:  

The hiring contract shall be between the Hirer and Irish Landmark and made subject to these Booking Conditions . The Contract of Hire is not effective until Irish Landmark dispatches to the Hirer written confirmation of a booking. 

PRICE OF YOUR HOLIDAY:   

Irish Landmark reserves the right to increase or decrease the price of unsold holidays at any time. However, such amendments to price will not be applied to holidays already confirmed.   

V.A.T.:  

All prices quoted are based on current prices and rates of V.A.T. at the time of going to press. Irish Landmark is unable to absorb increases in Value Added Tax or any new forms of taxation which may be introduced. Any such increases will be charged as notified and will be payable. 

DEPOSIT AND BALANCE PAYMENTS:   

All bookings can be paid for in full at time of booking. All bookings made within 12 weeks of stay must be paid in full at time of booking. Bookings made more than 12 weeks in advance of stay require a 30% non-refundable deposit with the balance due 12 weeks before arrival.  Irish Landmark shall be entitled to treat any failure to pay by the due date as a cancellation of the booking and will notify the Hirer by email.  The maximum number of payments for a booking will be limited to two – the deposit and balance payment.   A separate payment may be due where an amendment has been made to the original booking.  

PAYMENT TYPES: 

Payments can be made by credit/debit card (Visa or Mastercard ONLY).    

Payments for properties in the Republic of Ireland are taken in Euros, payments for properties in Northern Ireland are taken in Great British Pounds. 

VOUCHERS:  

Please note that only one voucher can be used per booking.  Vouchers have a strict expiry date. 

CONFIRMATION OF BOOKING:    

Upon receipt of payment by our bookings office, you will receive a confirmation of your reservation.  All charges for the booking will be confirmed in this notification.  Once confirmation has been issued, the Hirer is responsible for the total advertised price of the property and any extras notified.   

AMENDMENTS TO BOOKINGS (excluding cancellations):    

Irish Landmark does not offer a transfer of dates option. A complete change of dates is treated as a cancellation 

CANCELLATION POLICY: We hope that you will not have to cancel your stay, or part of your reservation.  If for any reason this is unavoidable, cancellations must be notified by email to bookings@irishlandmark.com. In the event of cancellation (this includes a reduction in number of nights) your deposit is non-refundable and the following cancellation charges will apply:  

Date of Cancellation 

Cancellation Charge 

More than 12 weeks before start date 

The deposit of 30% 

84 – 28 days before start date 

50% of total rental 

Fewer than 28 days 

100% of total rental 

Irish Landmark does not operate a cancellation insurance scheme for any reason, including Covid-19, and strongly recommends that all guests take out full holiday insurance cover.    

PARTY SIZE AND COMPOSITION:  In no circumstances may more than the number of persons listed on the booking form occupy the property overnight.   Irish Landmark reserves the right to refuse admission if this condition is not observed. Bookings can only be made by adults and cannot be accepted from anyone under the age of 21.  Irish Landmark only allows guest stays where the lead guest is aged 21 years or over.   

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE:  

Upon receipt of final payment, you will receive Access Details and Important Information via email about your rental. This includes the contact information of the Local House Manager, directions to the property, arrival and departure time, etc. However, the specific arrival time must be agreed with the relevant local House Manager at least four days prior to holiday start date.  It is the responsibility of the Hirer to arrive at the property at the time agreed with the House Manager. Irish Landmark reserves the right to levy an additional charge if the property is not vacated in accordance with these terms on the day of departure.  

DAY VISITORS:  

The number of day visitors will be limited to the capacity of the property – i.e., a 2-person property may have 2 day visitors, etc.   Prior written consent must be obtained from Irish Landmark Trust for additional numbers of day visitors. 

PERSONAL BELONGINGS: Baggage and personal belongings are always at the Hirers risk. No responsibility can be accepted for loss or damage to any car or its contents. 

POLICY REGARDING DOGS:   

Only certain Irish Landmark Trust properties accept a dog.  ALWAYS check this before you book.  Hirers who have made a reservation and are taking a dog will be required to read and agree to special terms, which details the conditions of bringing a dog to one of these properties.  Failure to comply with these conditions could result in the guest being asked to leave a property.  The rental cost is non-refundable in such cases.   

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: 

Irish Landmark respectfully request that you charge your electric vehicle at the nearest charging point and not at the property.  

HIRER’S RESPONSIBILITY:   

The Hirer is responsible for the property and is expected to take all reasonable care of it. Our House Managers work hard to maintain and clean the buildings and aim to ensure that the property is in a satisfactory condition for your enjoyment.  We ask that you leave the property in a clean and tidy condition upon departure, including all equipment, utensils etc. If the property is left in an unsatisfactory condition and additional cleaning costs are incurred, Irish Landmark reserves the right to recover these costs from the Hirer.   All breakages and damage must be reported to the House Manager immediately so that they can be rectified. All breakages and damage are the legal responsibility of the Hirer and the cost of repair or replacement must be paid to Irish Landmark upon demand.   If there are problems relating to the functioning of the building, please let the House Manager know immediately. Please note that candles are NOT permitted at any Irish Landmark property. Smoking is not allowed inside any Irish Landmark property. 

WEBSITE / LITERATURE:   

While every effort has been made to ensure that the representations stated on our website, or any printed literature, are made in good faith, neither they nor any oral representations made by employees or representatives of Irish Landmark Trust will create liability on the part of Irish Landmark. 

GENERAL:   

There shall be no liability for any claim arising from the act, omission or neglect or default of Irish Landmark Trust, its employees or representatives unless proved to be done with intent to cause damage or recklessly and with knowledge that loss or danger would probably result. Irish Landmark’s agents, servants and employees or other representatives have no authority to waive or modify these Conditions other than in writing. 

RIGHT OF ENTRY:   

On rare occasions Irish Landmark may need access to the property for essential maintenance work, should it be necessary, Irish Landmark will give you as much notice as is possible.   There is no need for you to stay in the property since our House Manager can accompany any such visits. 

COMPLAINTS:  

If you have any complaint during your holiday, please contact the House Manager.  If the matter is not dealt with to your satisfaction, please email bookings@irishlandmark.com outlining details of your complaint.   

IRISH LANDMARK’S RIGHTS:   

Irish Landmark reserves the right to refuse any booking and cancel any booking already made, if in its absolute discretion it considers this to be necessary. Where a booking is cancelled by Irish Landmark, every effort will be made to offer an alternative holiday at no increase in cost.  If the Hirer does not accept the alternative holiday offered, Irish Landmark will return to the Hirer the deposit paid and any other sum paid to Irish Landmark by the Hirer.  Liability for all consequential loss, damage and disappointments is accordingly limited to such return. 

SPECIAL CONDITIONS FOR SPECIFIC DOG – FRIENDLY PROPERTIES 

It is the hirer’s responsibility to ensure they book a specific dog-friendly property if they are bringing a dog.  There are specific terms and conditions that to which the hirer must adhere: 

We allow a dog, but only when they have been booked in and paid for. The “Taking a Dog” option must be selected at time of booking.  A charge will apply.  

Our policy is strictly ONE DOG. If you arrive at the property with more than one dog the House Manger is entitled to deny you access to the property.  If it becomes known during/after your stay that more than one dog is/was with you, you may be asked to vacate the property and a charge of €100/£100 per dog will apply. 

You must bring your own crate/bed in which your dog can sleep.  Please also bring bowls, towels, and waste bags for your dog. 

Your dog must be house-trained and kept under proper control.  Dogs are STRICTLY not permitted on beds, sofas, or any furniture.  There is no exception to this rule.  

Before departure, please thoroughly clean the property, paying particular attention to removing pet hair from rugs and soft furnishings.  A vacuum cleaner is available to you.   

If there is evidence that you have not cleaned up adequately after your stay, you will be charged a flat rate of €100/£100.   

You must double-check that the outside area around the property is free of any foul. Dog fouling inside the property is completely unacceptable.  Guests will be asked to vacate the premises immediately if this is discovered.  

Your dog must not be left unsupervised in the property.  We ask that you take your dog with you when you go out.  Please be mindful of any livestock nearby. 

 

By accepting a confirmation of a reservation from Irish Landmark the lead guest agrees: 

 

I have read and agree to be bound by the Booking Conditions. 

I agree to be held responsible for the balance of hire for the property due and payable in accordance with these terms. 

I understand that most Irish Landmark properties have no television or internet access; that some have no washing machines or dishwashers; and that many have limited mobile phone coverage. 

I understand that as the Lead Person, I am responsible, before their arrival, for informing all guests of Irish Landmark’s booking conditions, and for their observance of same. 

If I am bringing a pet or having day visitors, I have particularly noted the special conditions that apply in these situations 

 

Hirers making a reservation over the telephone are deemed to have read all Booking Conditions and agree to be bound by them.   

 

Availability Calendar

Check availability for all of our properties at a glance here.

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Important Notes

1-night stays are not permitted.

Bank Holidays & Special Dates have a set minimum number of nights.

Terms and Conditions apply to all bookings.

Special Offers and Discounts are not valid against existing bookings.

There are restrictions on arrival and departure dates over the Christmas and New Year periods.
Strictly no arrivals or departures on 24th, 25th and 31st of December, or 1st of January.