Springfield Castle — Attraction in County Limerick

The first thing I felt when I visited Springfield Castle was a feeling of authenticity. The castle was the ancestral home of Lord and Lady Muskerey and is reputed to date back as far as 1280. The place is steeped in history and is heavily associated with the Fitzgerald clan, who amongst other things were well known patrons of Irish poets and music and also key players in the fight against the British monarchy. As a result, the lands were confiscated in 1691 and Sir John Fitzgerald was forced to flee to France and continue fighting the British from abroad. The current owners and catetakers have a direct family line to the Fitzmaurice family (cousins of the Fitzgeralds); the Fitzmaurice family purchased the lands from the Fitzgerald family and have been responsible for the restoration of the castle, which suffered extensive damage after being burned in the war of independence in 1921. The castle is situated on a wooded 200 acre estate.

The castle can be rented to private parties such as for a wedding or a conference. I didn't get to see the rooms but I overheard some of the guests complaining that their rooms didn't have shower facilities and only a bath. So I guess if you're going to stay there you need to understand that the buildings are old and may not have all the mod cons of a 5-star hotel.

If you're visiting, beware that google maps is taking people to the wrong entrance and there are signs up to alert...

I cannot say enough about this place. I rented the full castle for my destination wedding (I am from Canada) and I was not disappointed. First off, huge shout out to Betty and Jonathan. They are the owners, they are absolutely amazing people and made our stay so comfortable. Second, the castle itself, I don't even have words. It was huge and very comfortable for 26 people to be living together for 7 days. There is a ton of activities to do on the grounds, for people of all ages. there was such a relaxing atmosphere and we spent so much time just hanging out in the sitting rooms savoring every moment of being there. All of my guests said that it was the best wedding they had ever been to!

For a wedding, I cannot think of a more perfect venue. The pictures are out of this world, there are fantastic options to have an indoor or outdoor ceremony. Due to weather, we had to make a last minute change and move indoors. Betty and Jonathan handled all the arrangements with ease and I didn't have to worry about a single thing.

If you are looking for a family/friends getaway or if you are planning a destination wedding, I highly recommend Springfield Castle. No words can do justice to this place and it's incredible owners. Thank you again Betty and Jonathan, for giving me the most perfect wedding and one that my friends and family will...

Dear Jonathan and Betty, We are back home on our little island & we still keep talking about our wonderful “gathering” at Springfield Castle. The castle is lovely, full of warmth & charm & beautiful furniture & family treasures. The grounds were delightful places to walk, play, explore, and the vegetable garden was such a nice surprise. But what really made this so wonderful for us, was the hospitality that you & your family showed to us and our guests. Dan & Ali were exceptional. Every meal was delicious and they worked so hard to make the dinners special for us. The history & tower tours, the music & dancing , the bonfire, Hudson the horse, the flowers, the garden vegetables…all the little things that were unexpected and enjoyed so much. Every single one of our family & friends have said that the highlight of their Irish vacation was Springfield Castle.

Thank you both for making it so special for us. Miles...