Maybe it’s just me and my taste for all things royal and luxurious, but when I think about Ireland, one of the first things I imagine is an old, beautiful castle.  Of course, that beautiful castle is surrounded by all of that green that Ireland is famous for – but mostly I’m fantasizing about the castle.

For a girl like me, no trip to Ireland would be complete without a night spent in an authentic castle.  Fortunately, there are plenty of castle hotels in the area to choose from!

4 Castle Hotels In Ireland

1.  Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Resort - Limerick

Adare Manor Castle Hotel in Limerick

Voted the Number One European Resort by Conde Nast Traveller in 2002, this 5-star deluxe hotel was once the family seat of the Earls of Dunraven.  I imagine I would spend my entire stay saying “the Earls of Dunraven” over and over again in what I lovingly refer to as “my royal accent”.  Aside from the it’s a castle feature, Adare Manor also offers a golf course (hence the “& Golf Resort” part), indoor heated swimming pool, saunas, fitness room with state of the art equipment and a range of massage therapies.

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If you want to spend St Patrick’s Day in a city where they know how to put up a decent Parade, where buildings and rivers turn green, and your hotel is part of the festivities, then check out these hotels and specials.

The Muse Hotel, New York

The Muse Hotel, New York, NY – Book the ‘You’re in Luck’ package and they’ll hand you a Guinness Beer when you check-in and a map of the best Irish pubs in New York City.

If you exit a pub and notice the world’s gone green, its not just the Guinness talking. The Empire State Building will be turning green in honour of St Patrick’s Day, along with other attractions around the world like the Sydney Opera House and the London Eye.

Temple Bar Hotel, Dublin, Ireland – Can’t get any closer to the action than this. Two nights St Patrick’s Day B&B package valid only for the 16th and 17th March 2010. Book this package and you could end up winning two VIP Grandstand Parade tickets.

The Lenox Hotel, Boston, MA – Historic Back Bay hotel located at the corner of Boylston and Exeter streets in Copley Square. But what makes it a good place to celebrate St Patrick’s Day in the Catholic bastion that is Boston? That would be Sólás. Sólás means “comfort” in Gaelic, and you’ll find plenty of that in this authentic Boston Irish pub located on-site at the Lenox.

Chicago River Dyed Green for St Patrick's Day

Intercontinental Chicago, Chicago, IL - The ‘Dublin it up in Chicago Package’ includes overnight accommodations for two people, two orders of the special Corned Beef and Cabbage Sliders and two Pot o’ Gold cocktails (made with Jameson Irish Whiskey, Tonic and edible gold flakes) at The Bar inside the hotel. Package is valid March 17-20, 2010.

Clarion Grand Boutique Hotel, New Orleans, LA – This 44 junior-suite hotel is located in the Irish Channel in the Garden District, just a hop away from Parasol’s Bar - which is ground-zero for St Patrick’s Day in New Orleans. It’s the closest you can be to the action in NOLA, and that is a big deal.

Marshall House, Savannah, GA – Innkeeper’s St. Pat’s Special at this hotel available only for March 16-18, 2010. The Marshall House is located just 1/2 block from the parade route. Savannah takes pride in putting up one of the best St. Patrick’s Day Parades in the US.

Muse photo courtesy Kimpton Hotels; Chicago River photo - public domain (source)