Located in Lisquillibeen in County Tipperary, the Black Castle is a small castle which dates back to the 16th century. The name comes from the dark ivy which used to grow all over the exterior of the building. If you are looking for solitude, this is the place to find it. There are amazing views, no very close neighbours and the castle itself only sleeps 2, so you will have the place to yourself.

Castle Facilities

There is just one bedroom, one bed, a kitchen and a bathroom. The Great Hall is designed to show you a taste of life in the 16th century, so the room itself is very simple. There is no electricity in this room, no plumbing and no wi-fi, so make sure you access Unibet in advance to place your bets. For lighting in the Great Hall, there are candles and guests are provided with wood for the fire. It is not all basic though – the bed linen is Egyptian cotton and has a real luxurious feel to it.

The fireplace in the Great Hall is huge, and there is an impressive stone-vaulted ceiling. It is not hard to imagine the banquets that might have taken place in this room. There is electricity in the kitchen, though, so you can prepare drinks and meals as needed. Guests are given a welcome hamper with a variety of treats in it and appliances include a luxury coffee machine.

The Black Castle history

The castle is currently owned by Sonja and Kevin, who purchased it in 2007. The couple had won awards for the restoration of their thatched farmhouse and set to work on the castle, painstakingly restoring it to its former glory. It is thought that the castle was built around 1550 by the local Kennedy clan. Still, they were only in possession of the castle until 1640 when Oliver Cromwell forced them to leave.

The castle sits in the middle of a 13-acre estate, and visitors can explore the forests, woodlands and fields during their stay. From the top two floors of the castle, you can see the ruins of other castles and more than one local mountain range.