Dromoland Castle Celebrates its Baronial Heritage with Special 2014 Packages

NEWMARKET-ON-FERGUS, Ireland - Jan. 27, 2014 - PRLog -- Dromoland Castle is celebrating a millennium of royal history in 2014 with a group of packages marking this very special occasion.

The ancestral home of the O’Briens, Barons of Inchiquin, the castle and demesne once were home to one of the few native Gaelic Irish families of royal blood. The O’Briens were direct descendants of Brian Boroimhe (Boru), the high king of Ireland in the tenth century who died in the Battle of Clontarf in 1014.

In recognition of this illustrious history, Dromoland will offer several castle experiences to all O’Briens visiting Ireland in 2014. This opportunity results from the castle’s association with the Hon. Grania O’Brien, daughter of the sixteenth Baron Inchiquin.

Ms. O’Brien, who was the last family member to reside in the Dromoland Castle when it remained in private hands, has many childhood memories to share of the time when the castle was home to the last in-residence Baron Inchiquin. Indeed, she is an important personage herself, having served as secretary to a member of Parliament in London before being posted as Social Secretary to diplomatic missions in Spain, Japan, Britain, and Peru.

She has also conducted considerable research of clan records, such as those held by the National Library of Ireland, Trinity College, Dublin; the Clare Champion; and the Northern Ireland and London Public Record Offices, in addition to primary sources. Ms. O’Brien still lives in County Clare, where she is recognized as the authority on Dromoland and her family. She is also co-owner with her husband of Ballinakella Press, which publishes books on Irish topography, history, etc. She has been and is involved in many other activities such as the Irish Georgian Society and is a Church of Ireland Lay Reader.

Dromoland will offer the following packages to celebrate this heritage.

The Lunch with The Hon. Grania O’Brien Package will stimulate guests as Ms. O’Brien recalls various childhood memories over lunch, with guest parties being presented with parchments and signed copies of Ms. O’Brien’s book These My Friends and Forebears and then provided with a map to guide a tour of the estate by foot. The package is available on April 15, April 22, and April 29 at a cost of €80.00 per person.

The Overnight at the Castle Package welcomes guests to stay the night in their ancestral home. The package includes accommodations, a full Irish breakfast fit for a king or queen, and access to the lovely and historic 450 acre estate. In addition, guest parties will join Ms. O’Brien in the drawing room for morning coffee, where she will recount the many facets of life at the castle, followed by lunch as well as a presentation of parchments and signed copies of These My Friends and Forebears. The package is available from March 1 to May 31, 2014 at a cost of €195.00 per person sharing. The charge for an extra person sharing the room is €95.00.

The 2014 O’Brien Clan Package includes accommodation in the Brian Boroimhe Suite with its royal view over the Dromoland estate (a 50% discount on the rate for the Presidential Suite) and a full Irish breakfast. Guests will be presented with a memorabilia scroll and a signed copy of Ms. O’Brien’s book. The package is available throughout 2014 at rates ranging from €1300.00 to €1750.00 per night.

The 2014 O’Brien Experience Package brings Killaloe to life again as the capital of Ireland during Brian Boru’s rule (1002-1014). The package includes accommodation with a full Irish breakfast, travel to Killaloe for a five hour cruise on Lough Derg, and visits to Castlebawn Castle, Brian Boru Fort, and Holy Island followed by lunch in Castlebawn Castle. The package is available throughout 2014 at rates starting at €655.00 per person (based on a minimum of five people).

Dromoland Castle:  A Millenium of Royal History

About Dromoland Castle:

Dromoland Castle, located in Newmarket-on-Fergus, County Clare, was built in the 16th century.  Majestically set on the shores of Lough Dromoland, it is surrounded by over 450 acres of breathtaking scenery, including a championship parkland golf course.  Lavish interiors, fine food and superb wines complement the deluxe accommodations of the Castle’s 99 guest rooms, while Dromoland Castle Golf and Country Club, an intimate spa and traditional outdoor recreational opportunities ensure a unique guest experience.

Dromoland Castle is located at Newmarket-on-Fergus, Co. Clare, Ireland. The hotel can be contacted at 011 353 61 368144 or 1-800-346-7007; website www.dromoland.ie.  Reservations can be made through the hotel (sales@dromoland.ie); or through Preferred Hotels & Resorts at 1.800.323.7500 or www.preferredhotels.com.