Waterford Castle Hotel, Self-catering Lodges & Golf Resort

Where do I begin?! From the very instant we drove onto the ferry, we knew we had found our wedding venue. What we didn't know, was how incredibly helpful, professional and outstandingly organised Gillian and the team are at Waterford Castle. Nothing online does the place justice. We had our wedding here on Jan 2nd of this year and Gillian couldn't have done enough for us as wedding coordinator leading up to the day. The day itself, including the rehearsal dinner the night before, couldn't have gone better and it's all down to what a fantastic venue Waterford Castle is, and how outrageously hospitable the staff are there. The whole day felt like a fairytale and it's 100% down to how smoothly everything ran. If there were any issues, we didn't know about them as I'm certain Gillian ensured that she dealt with everything without causing us any stress. I don't have enough words for how highly I recommend Waterford Castle - every guest was raving about how incredible the food was and just how beautiful the venue itself is. We will hold a special place in our hearts for Waterford Castle and its staff forevermore. Photographs by the amazing Wilma Towell Photography - had to include some to show the venue off!

I wish I had read the reviews before booking. I mirror a lot of what other reviews about the lodges have said and similarly, have had no further contact with the hotel management.||In short, the Lodges are a waste of money. There are far better experiences to be had with Castle hotel counterparts. Essentially, you are renting a 3 bed house. You are excluded from the hotel and have to enter and leave through a side door. We were told that we could enter the hotel at 12pm… but with check out at 11am were we to stand in the rain for an hour?||We were notified that the hotel was booked out for a private event before we arrived and that we could dine in the golf clubhouse and to “book early to avoid disappointment”. We were the only hotel lodge guests dining there that night. The bar closed and we were out the door at 9pm. Our only option was to get a taxi to come by ferry to bring up to town if we wanted to have a drink together.||I echo what all other negative reviews have said in that, if there is a wedding on, don’t book the lodges. This was even more amplified by the fact that the Santa experience was also on so by 9pm, we were just in the way.||€430 to be sent to our rooms with nowhere to go on an island on a dark winters night. ||Maybe they’d be worth it if you were booking them for golf purposes, or if you were part of the wedding party. But for a few adults booking them with the intention of having a relaxing time, a nice meal, some Xmas ambience and a few quiet drinks, it was a waste of time.|Zero thought is put into the experience of those not in the wedding party.

There are not enough words to express how perfect our experience was with Waterford Castle, but we’ll try! ||From the very moment we boarded the ferry to the moment we left as wives, every step of the way was pure magic. ||Gillian helped us to plan our day down to the minute, making sure the day flowed smoothly and gave us time to breathe amongst the busy-ness of the day. She thought of every minute detail and made sure we didn’t have to think of a thing on the day so that we could enjoy every moment with our family and friends. ||The food was delicious - something our guests continue to tell us since the wedding day! From our tasting menu to serving 100 people no detail or flavour was lost and they accommodated a number of dietary requirements with delicious alternatives that ensured every guest had a meal to remember. ||The team at Waterford Castle is remarkable. You can feel their pride in being part of the castle experience and each and every one of them works hard to ensure the comfort and happiness of every guest. ||We could not have chosen a better venue, and we will certainly be back in the years to come to relive the best day of our lives in one of Ireland most beautiful castles.

The dream wedding venue that we could have only wished for. This was unlike any venue we’d seen before (and we’ve been to a lot!). The pictures speak for themselves, but what deserves a callout is the amazing hospitality and welcome faces that greeted every one of our guests throughout the stay. The privacy and closeness afforded by the island, the lodges and the clubhouse were unrivalled. It truly felt like we had our own space to celebrate with the people who mattered most to us. Gillian, the castle’s wedding coordinator, made sure that everything ran as smoothly as possible. Her expertise were evident from day 1 as she made sure every base was covered, putting us at complete ease so all we had to do was focus on ourselves on the day. Antonio who managed the service was also fantastic and willing to help at every opportunity (extending even outside of his remit). We couldn’t have asked for a better team to work with. A surefire consideration for couples looking to add something completely unique and inherently Irish to their special day. Not a bad word to say. I wish we could do it all again! Aaron & Antonia

Just came back from The Santa experience. I hadn’t seen much online so wanted to give an honest review so others could see it. When we arrived we were confused as we weren’t in the castle at all but in the back where the golf course is, in the bar/restaurant for there. We were met by a lovely girl dressed as an elf and asked to wait inside where we were offered coffee and tea. Me and my husband got a tea and were waiting maybe 10 minutes after our time as there was a little hold up, no big deal. We then were escorted by another girl dressed as an elf to a shed, she was lovely and had a little chat before being brought to another shed to meet Santa. Santa was so nice and made my daughter feel welcomed as well as another girl dressed as an elf. We got two presents and had some pictures taken with our phones. I did expect a more professional set up with the pictures but whatever. Afterwards we went back to the golf club bar/restaurant and was seated for dinner. We had a lovely dinner, even got a baby bowl for my daughter which was mash, gravy and some carrots. Food was a solid 4/5. My takeaway from the day was that it was very expensive €50 a head, my daughter went free as she’s under 18 months so that’s something. When I booked I did expect it to be in the castle in a lovely room not a garden shed out the back. It wasn’t exactly Santa at the castle vibes they project in promos and website. I don’t think I would go again but the Santa was great and all the staff were so kind and accommodating. If it wasn’t for the staff it would had been terrible. I suggest having a room in the castle for next year as that’s what I was expecting and I’m sure others would too, I wouldn’t mind the dinner in the golf restaurant afterwards then with no issues. It felt thrown together and I didn’t see much different other then the dinner to go to town and see the Santa there, much cheaper too. Thank you to the staff and the Santa you were a credit to the place.

We couldn’t have asked for more then what the wonderful team at Waterford castle delivered for us and our guests on our wedding day. From the moment we arrived, everything surpassed our expectations. The castle itself is stunning with gorgeous gardens and beautiful woodlands where you’ll randomly find deer and wallabies roaming freely. Being on this little island is truly magical. A special mention needs to go to Gillian, who is truly outstanding and meticulously. Antonio, Carl and Sally couldn’t have been more accommodating. They done everything they could to help and accommodate us during our stay. All we wanted was for everyone to eat well and enjoy themselves. Everyone has commented on how amazing the food and atmosphere was, and how the team there had such great attention to detail. On the whole, our wedding at Waterford Castle was nothing short of enchanting. The memories we made will last a lifetime, and it was everything we hoped for and more. We truly can’t recommend Waterford Castle and the team there highly enough to anyone dreaming of a wedding that feels elegant, intimate and filled with genuine warmth and joy.

Beautiful setting and the lodge itself was spacious, but the overall experience fell short. Interactions with the reception staff were consistently unhelpful, and it was difficult to get clear answers or any flexibility with simple requests. There was also a surprising amount of construction happening, which took away from the peaceful atmosphere we expected. We had no hot water for showers in the mornings, only at night. There were basic maintenance issues like towel racks coming off the wall and missing blind slats. The beds were small, held a lot of heat, and were uncomfortable to sleep in. There was also trash left on the balcony. For the price and the way it is marketed, I wouldn’t consider this a resort. Food options had very limited hours, and outside of golf and clay shooting there wasn’t much to do. A pretty island, but the service and overall guest experience did not match the price or the setting. I wouldn’t recommend it based on our stay.

This Castle is beyond amazing! We visited in July and had the honor of staying a few nights. The hotel is straight out of a fairy tale. Plus its on its own private island with Wallabies!! Wonderful memories and hopes to come back one day!

Beautiful setting and the lodge itself was spacious, but the overall experience fell short. Interactions with the reception staff were consistently unhelpful, and it was difficult to get clear answers or any flexibility with simple requests. There was also a surprising amount of construction happening, which took away from the peaceful atmosphere we expected. We had no hot water for showers in the mornings. There were basic maintenance issues like towel racks coming off the wall and missing blind slats. The beds were small, held a lot of heat, and were uncomfortable to sleep in. There was also trash left on the balcony. For the price and the way it is marketed, I wouldn't consider this a resort. Food options had very limited hours, and outside of golf and clay shooting there wasn't much else to do. A pretty island, but the service and overall guest experience did not match the price or the setting. I wouldn't recommend it based on our stay.

Recently, I stayed at Waterford Castle on a trip to Ireland and I can't recommended it enough! The building itself is beautiful, the service and staff were super friendly and accommodating. They offer full Irish breakfast in the morning as well as a pre fixed dinner option. The rooms are historic but with modern features. The property is much larger than just the hotel - it also features a golf course, clay shooting, animals and more. It's located on its own island and you access it by ferry. Truly an amazing experience!

Come for breakfast and try the local Irish breakfast. A beautiful place to sit and look at this gorgeous golf course.

The castle experience on the little island at Waterford is a real find! What a gorgeous property. From the moment you take the ferry over to the island which takes just minutes, you drive off to a lovely tree lined road to enter the castle courtyard. This is pure magic. A family of deer wander the lawn and the back meadows. There are trails and alcoves and wonders around every corner. For less than we spent at a chain hotel, we experienced luxury here! An affordable and lovely place to stay and immerse yourself in the magic. Excellent hospitality all around. The executive suite is like a well appointed apartment. So many thoughtful details here. it's really breathtaking to walk the property.

My husband and I found this course on the internet. We were planning a cruise and wished to play golf in Ireland. Val replied to our email within an hour and had us booked for a tee time. Val handled all of our transportation needs and we were in touch with a local driver, Brian, who arrived in a timely manner to escort us from the ship to the course. We were treated to tidbits of information along our drive about the locations we traveled thru. The course itself is absolutely beautiful, abounding in natural scenery and wildlife which gives one a feeling of playing in a very natural setting. It's a parkland course, narrow and fairly long fairways. The holes are challenging.....but not frustrating. Quality rental clubs are available if needed. The staff at Waterford is professional and welcoming. You can get a cart if you make a reservation for one. We felt wonderfully welcomed and enjoyed some fish and chips and had a pint after our round.