Christmas in an Irish Castle
Ireland
9 days | Dec 23 - 31, 2026 | $3650
Trip Overview
Christmas in an Irish Castle is a 9-day / 8-night luxury small-group tour running December 23–31, 2026, designed for travelers who want to spend the festive season in the grandeur of authentic Irish castle hotels. The tour moves through three properties across Ireland — beginning with four nights at the five-star Lough Eske Castle in County Donegal, where guests celebrate Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in style, followed by a night at Fitzpatrick's Castle in Killiney, South Dublin, with its panoramic views over Dublin Bay. The group is capped at 16 people, keeping the experience intimate and relaxed throughout.
The heart of the trip is the Christmas package at Lough Eske Castle, which includes a three-course Christmas Eve dinner, mulled wine and live music in the grand foyer, a full Irish breakfast and champagne welcome on Christmas morning, a Christmas Day buffet lunch in the Castle Ballroom, and a festive evening supper — all with live entertainment. Between castle stays, the itinerary takes guests along the Wild Atlantic coast to the breathtaking sea cliffs of Sliabh Liag, through the Sligo countryside to W.B. Yeats' grave at Drumcliff, and later to Dublin for the Guinness Storehouse, Temple Bar, and the ancient monastic site of Glendalough. Spa facilities — including pools, saunas, and treatment rooms — are available at the castle properties for guests who prefer to relax.
Included in the price are airport transfers, 7 breakfasts, 3 evening meals (including Christmas Day dinner), all venue entry fees on the itinerary, a luxury motor coach with expert driver, a dedicated Secret Ireland Tours guide, local musician entertainment, and all accommodation and transport taxes. Lunches, most evening meals, international flights, travel insurance, and tips are not covered. Guests should not book flights until given the go-ahead by the operator. Full balance is due 30 days before departure, and installment plans are available on request. All packages are currently waitlisted.
Trip Details
Location: Ireland, covering County Donegal (Lough Eske Castle, Sliabh Liag), County Sligo (Mullaghmore Coast, Drumcliff, Benbulben, Sligo Town), County Roscommon (Lough Key Forest Park), and Dublin (Fitzpatrick's Castle Killiney, Dublin city center, Glendalough).
Duration: 9 days / 8 nights, December 23–31, 2026.
Activity Type: This is a luxury sightseeing and cultural tour with a relaxed pace. Daily excursions involve scenic drives, coastal walks, and visits to historic sites, with activity levels ranging from light (castle grounds, town exploration) to moderate (Sliabh Liag cliff walk, Glendalough monastic site). Comfortable, waterproof walking shoes and windproof outerwear are recommended. Spa, pool, sauna, and gym facilities are available at the castle hotels for guests who prefer to stay in. Some excursion days are optional — guests may choose to remain at the castle instead.
Accommodation: All rooms are en-suite. The tour uses three castle hotel properties.
- Lough Eske Castle, County Donegal — 4 nights (Dec 23–27), 5-star
- Fitzpatrick's Castle, Killiney, South Dublin — nights (Dec 27 onward), 4-star (note: source references two castles but lists three properties; nights at Fitzpatrick's are not explicitly broken down in the source)
- Double Occupancy (couple sharing, one double bed) — $3,650 per person | Deposit: $400 | Deadline passed — join waitlist
- Twin Occupancy (two people sharing, separate beds) — $3,650 per person | Deposit: $400 | Deadline passed — join waitlist
- Single Occupancy (private room, en-suite) — $3,950 per person | Deposit: $400 | Deadline passed — join waitlist
All packages are currently waitlisted. A $400 deposit is required upon booking. Full balance is due 30 days before departure. Installment plans are available on request.
Itinerary
Day 1 — Arrival & Lough Eske Castle, Donegal
Guests are collected from Dublin Airport and travel northwest to Lough Eske Castle in County Donegal, arriving in time to settle in and enjoy the castle's facilities. This is the complimentary arrival night included in the four-night Christmas Festive Package.
Day 2 — Christmas Eve at Lough Eske Castle
Christmas Eve is celebrated in the castle with a three-course dinner in Cedars Restaurant or the Gallery Bar, followed by mulled wine, mince pies, and live music in the grand foyer. Guests are welcome to enjoy the spa, pool, or sauna during the day.
Day 3 — Christmas Day at Lough Eske Castle
A full Irish breakfast and a welcome glass of sparkling wine kick off Christmas morning, followed by a Christmas Buffet Lunch in the Castle Ballroom from noon to 3:30pm. The evening brings a festive buffet supper and live music in the Gallery Bar — a full day of celebration without leaving the castle.
Day 4 — Sliabh Liag & the Sligo Coast (St. Stephen's Day)
Guests have the choice to join a scenic drive to the towering sea cliffs of Sliabh Liag — the highest sea-facing cliffs in Europe — with a stop in a small fishing village along the way (weather permitting), or to stay and enjoy the castle's facilities. St. Stephen's Day dinner is served at the castle in the evening with live music.
Day 5 — Mullaghmore, Drumcliff, Benbulben & Sligo Town
A full scenic day takes guests along the Wild Atlantic coast at Mullaghmore, to the grave of poet W.B. Yeats at Drumcliff, and on a drive through the dramatic Horseshoe Route at the back of Benbulben mountain. The afternoon is spent exploring Sligo Town before returning to the castle.
Day 6 — Lough Key Forest Park & Fitzpatrick's Castle, Dublin
Departing Donegal, the group stops at Lough Key Forest Park in County Roscommon — home to an 11th-century island castle ruin and scenic walking trails — before continuing to Fitzpatrick's Castle in Killiney, South Dublin. Guests can settle in or head into Dublin city for a few hours of exploration.
Day 7 — Dublin City: Guinness Storehouse, Temple Bar & Bus Tour
A guided bus tour of Dublin's highlights is followed by a visit to the Guinness Storehouse and free time to explore the famous Temple Bar district. The group returns to the castle to relax by the fire in the evening.
Day 8 — Glendalough & Farewell Dinner
The group visits the 5th-century monastic site of Glendalough in County Wicklow, walking the ancient grounds around St. Kevin's round tower. The evening brings a shared farewell dinner at the castle to reflect on the journey.
Day 9 — Departure from Dublin Airport
Guests are transferred to Dublin Airport for return flights. Return flights should be booked to depart with sufficient time to clear both Irish and US customs, which can be time-consuming.
What’s Included
- Airport transfers
We will be there to pick you up from the airport and will bring you back in time for your flight home
- Accommodation
You stay in two Castle hotels, 1 is a 5 star and one is 4 star.
- Luxury coach
We work with a very dedicated bus company who supply a great service to our clients
- Expert Driver
We work with a handful of drivers with the bus company, We have build up a great relationship with our drivers and they look after our client very well.
- Meals
7 breakfasts, three evening meals, (one being Christmas day) Bunch.
- Entry fees
Entry fees into any venue's on itinerary.
- Taxes and Charges
All taxes and Charges associated with accommodation and bus.
- Music
We bring in some local musicians for your entertainment.
- Guide
We have an expert Secret Ireland Tours guide to look after you while you are in Ireland.
What's Not Included
- Airfare
We do not cover airfare. We ask you not to book flights until we give you the go ahead.
- Entry fees
We do not cover entry fees into venues NOT on our itinerary
- Tips
We would appreciate if you would consider tipping the driver and tour guide
- Insurance
We have a link on our website for insurance if you wish to buy. We suggest that you do so to protect your travel investment.
Photo Gallery
Client Reviews
Real Stories From Our Travel Community
Nothing speaks louder than the people who’ve experienced it.
Click the button below to read all our reviews on WeTravel
I cannot put into words how wonderful the trip to Ireland we just returned from was, and I highly recommend Secret Ireland Tours.<br><br>Mai was great to work with in the time leading up to our trip; she was sure to provide us all the important information that we would need to prepare for our trip, without wasting our time with useless information or too many Zoom calls that feel unhelpful or confusing, as we had experienced with another tour company in the past. I will always recommend events and trips with our ambassador, Aaron Sagers; when you travel with Aaron, you are always in for a great time. And I can't say enough about our Irish tour guide, Adrian; not only does he know so much about Ireland's folklore and history that he wants to share, but he is also just a wonderful person with whom we all had a genuine connection and now feels like a family member. Thank you, Ado, we appreciate you so much. Our tour bus driver, Ronan, was just lovely; he kept us safe, got us where we needed to go, and shared lots of laughs with us as well. We experienced a truly unforgettable 9 days in Ireland thanks to Mai, Adrian, Aaron, and Ronan.<br><br>Everything seemed to operate quite smoothly (which I am sure Adrian was a big part of), and after taking another spooky tour overseas in the past that did not go as well, it was much appreciated how seamless this tour was. We never had to worry about a lack of communication, itinerary changes, or that anyone would be left behind. The structure of the tour allowed us some later morning starts as well as time every day to experience the location that we were staying in; to explore the town, and to see and do what the locals do. This was a big selling point of this tour for us, to not feel rushed every day and to have time to soak it all in. We also stayed at great hotels, which were at the least nice (as well as clean), but we even had a surprise stay in the most gorgeous castle rooms one night of our tour!<br><br>We appreciated the smaller size of our tour group (18 folks, not counting Adrian, Aaron, and Ronan), which allowed for a more personal connection with our guides, as well as with each other. By the end of the tour, we all felt like family, and it was quite an emotional goodbye, which, in part, I think was likely due to the smaller group size, which allowed us to get to know each other. It also didn't feel like you were just a number, as it can feel with a larger tour group. Every single person on the tour felt important, included, and a part of the group.<br><br>The itinerary was clear from day one when we signed up for this tour, and we were fortunate that there were no changes to our itinerary (likely due to thoughtful and good planning on Mai and Adrian's part), and instead, any changes to our itinerary were just enhancements or bonus surprises. It is good to know that you are going to get what you pay for with one of these types of tours. Adrian brought us not only to some well-known tourist locations but also to some off-the-beaten-path locations, making our tour feel more personalized and special.<br><br>I am so grateful that I was finally able to experience the beauty of Ireland and its people, and I already can not wait to return. I am grateful that we went on this tour with Aaron and Secret Ireland Tours, and we would love to attend another in the future. I will never forget this trip and the special connections that we made with so many while experiencing this beautiful country.
I had a great time on this trip. Ado, our guide, was full of stories and legends about the areas we were visiting. He was so organized and dedicated to be sure that we were all having a wonderful experience. Aaron added to the stories of folklore and hauntings that were a perfect complement to Ado’s. Too many highlights to choose from, but walking an alpaca will always be memorable, as will the trip to Inishmore. Such a fun group of people to travel with!
I hate when people say this in a review, but this time, it’s true: there are no words. Mai and her team curated a wonderful 10-day trip to Ireland, hosted by the amazing Aaron Sagers. The thoughtful details and care were evident during the entire trip. I have been on tours with other paranormal companies, and they don’t come close to Secret Ireland tours. I was never afraid that our itinerary was going to be suddenly changed, that anyone in our group would be left behind, or there would be a lack of communication. <br><br> Each stop was like stepping back in time; our guide, Adrien, was a seasoned storyteller who brought the stories of old Ireland to life. Each hotel had a special meaning that was woven into the tour. I will 100% be taking another tour with this company. Thank you, Mai, Adrien, and Aaron!
The trip was amazing. Mai Hernon is exactly the kind of person you want for your tour guide; communicative, consistent, compassionate, reliable, and someone who loves their job. She made sure everyone knew what to expect the next day, when to show up at the bus, and she made me feel taken care of when I fell ill. I'll always be grateful to her for her help, and for making this trip possible for me. Secret Ireland Tours LLC is the ideal company for the competent traveler.
We would like to thank Secret Ireland Tours LLC for a wonderful trip that we had. It was so magical. The Ambassador's Michelle and Brittany were wonderful. Our tour guide Andrian was so wonderful too. The knowledge that he knew about the places that we went to was amazing. Our bus driver Eddie was a wonderful person too. He got us safely to each location that we went to. We had such a wonderful time in Ireland. We loved every minute of it. I would recommend Secrect Ireland Tours to my friends and family. Thank you so much for the wonderful time we had.
