Leap Castle, Ireland — Attraction in The Municipal District of Birr

I dont usually post reviews. Actually this is my first, and probably my last. But I am quite surprised reading all these positive comments, as my experience with this character Sean was very different and I felt compelled to share my own experience. The castle is a private property and as such, supposely, not open to the public. At the entrance, there is no sign whatsoever indicating the opposite. As a photographer, intending some day to publish a book about irish castles, I wanted to take a few shots of the exterior. As the building is not visible from the road, I entered the property and asked him permission to take a few photos of the facade, explaining the intended purpose of the images. He absolutly refused to allow me to take photos, then he asked me money and told me to make him an offer. I offered 10 eur (he charge 5 eur for a visit to the interior), and he replied in a rude manner that my offer was a joke. Even more, as I told them that eventually I would post the images in my website, his wife argued that they did not want people posting pictures of the castle in internet, as then, other people would come to bother them wishing "to see the ghost" ! Considering that they are profiting from people who come "to see the ghosts" and hundred of images of the castle are already published in internet, I found their refusals reasons and manners very rude and unpolite, to say the least. Fortunately, there is not a lack of...

We were very excited to visit this castle after having seen it featured on so many TV shows. Happy we went. Turn right after you drive through the main entrance and park in front of the castle then knock on the door. Sean showed us the view from the back windows and told us a very detailed history of the ownership of the castle and the surrounding lands. Then he told us how he's been renovating over the years. When he was done, he handed us a flashlight, gave us directions upstairs, told us what to do and what to look for. We didn't have a time limit. The small spiral staircase is sketchy and very dark in places, so USE the flashlight. The first main room we reached has been renovated a good bit and furnished to look like a dining or meeting room. Up another level was the Bloody Chapel. The view from there was spectacular. When we felt we had enough, we carefully went back downstairs. Sean asked for 6 euros per person - we gave him 10 pp and bought one of his CD's. It was a delightful encounter, not...

Leap Castle is a private residence. Open Monday-Saturday, 10am - 5pm. I emailed the owner- Mr. Sean Ryan, as a courtesy before arriving. Mr. Ryan was very welcoming and relaxed. He gave us the freedom to wander about the great hall, conservatory, and upper floors - including the Bloody Chapel at the top of the tower. Mr. Ryan is a person very much interested in the history of his Castle, but he is also politely inquisitive of his guests. He asked me questions about my visit to Ireland, and my ancestry. It was a pleasant chat. It was my understanding, prior to our visitation, that Leap Castle has a reputation of being haunted. My husband and I were not particularly seeking an experience, but we did in fact have one. This is certainly a singular residence. I cannot compare it to anything I have seen before. If you enjoy the strange, dark, or mysterious on a subtle scale, then I believe Leap Castle should be on your...