Kilconnell
Ballinderry Park
A Georgian house of about 1740 in east Galway, one wedding at a time, sleeping up to 50 across the estate.
Ireland
Cloghan Castle wedding venue, Loughrea, Co. Galway
A restored 13th century castle near Loughrea with a four storey tower, banquet room and seven bedrooms.
- Up to 120 guests
- From €90 per guest
- 35m from Galway
- 1h from Shannon Airport
A closer look
A place with character.
Cloghan is an actual castle you sleep in, not a hotel with castellations. The tower runs to four storeys, there is a banquet room for dinner and a drawing room for the part of the night when people slow down, with woodland and country views all around.
Exclusive use is the only way it works, with seven bedrooms in the castle itself and a banquet room seating up to 120. It sits in south Galway near Loughrea, handy for the M6.
Before you book
Worth asking.
- How many nights does the hire cover, and what does it include?
Planning facts
Getting there, the light, and how we checked.
Try your date and guest list
Getting there
For guests travelling in. Driving times are by road without traffic, from Cloghan Castle, so allow more at busy times.
- Airports
-
- Shannon Airport 1h 73 km
- Ireland West Airport Knock 1h 25m 106 km
- Dublin Airport 2h 5m 187 km
- Ferry ports
-
- Dublin Port ferry terminal 2h 25m 199 km
- Cork ferry terminal, Ringaskiddy 2h 50m 204 km
- Railway stations
-
- Craughwell 10m 12 km
- Athenry 20m 22 km
Railway stations are those on the Irish Rail network, and the nearest by road is not always the best connection. Check the timetable before you plan a guest's day around a train.
Where guests can stay
OpenStreetMap lists 6 places to stay within 10 km of Loughrea, and 14 within 20 km. Distances are in a straight line, not drive times.
- Loughrea Lodge Guest house or B&B 0.2 km
- Brodericks Hotel 0.3 km
- Lough Rea Hotel & Spa Hotel 1.2 km
- Meadow Court Hotel Hotel 4.6 km
- Bookeen Hall Guest house or B&B 7.6 km
- Slieve Aughty Centre Guest house or B&B 9.6 km
OpenStreetMap is mapped by volunteers and is thinner in rural areas, so treat these counts as a minimum and check booking sites for your dates. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, updated October 2026.
Light through the year
Worked out for Cloghan Castle's location on the 15th of each month, in Irish clock time. Golden hour is the last stretch before sunset when the sun is low and warm, a good window for portraits after the ceremony.
| Month | Sunrise | Golden hour from | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 08:41 | 15:42 | 16:44 | 8h 03m |
| February | 07:54 | 16:52 | 17:42 | 9h 49m |
| March | 06:51 | 17:50 | 18:36 | 11h 45m |
| April | 06:37 | 19:45 | 20:31 | 13h 55m |
| May | 05:36 | 20:32 | 21:24 | 15h 48m |
| June | 05:06 | 21:04 | 22:02 | 16h 56m |
| July | 05:24 | 21:00 | 21:55 | 16h 31m |
| August | 06:13 | 20:16 | 21:04 | 14h 52m |
| September | 07:06 | 19:07 | 19:53 | 12h 47m |
| October | 07:58 | 17:53 | 18:41 | 10h 42m |
| November | 07:57 | 15:44 | 16:40 | 8h 43m |
| December | 08:41 | 15:10 | 16:16 | 7h 35m |
How it compares nearby
The three venues most like Cloghan Castle within reach, side by side. Distances are in a straight line.
| Venue | Away | Guests | Rooms on site | Exclusive use | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cloghan Castle | This venue | Up to 120 | Yes | Yes | From €90 per guest |
| Lough Cutra Castle | 25 km | Ask | Yes | Yes | Ask for prices |
| Ross Castle | 26 km | Up to 150 | Yes | Yes | Ask for prices |
| Ballinderry Park | 19 km | Ask | Yes | Yes | From €3,200 |
How we checked this
- Guests. Up to 120, from the venue's own wording: up to 120 seating capacity. Read from the venue's own website, last checked September 2026.
- Price. From €90 per guest. Published by the venue at its own page. Checked September 2026.
- Rooms, exclusive use and catering. Not yet re-checked against the venue's own website. Confirm them when you enquire.
- Journey times and light. Calculated from the venue's location on OpenStreetMap roads, with sun times from standard solar equations. They are guides, not promises.
Questions about Cloghan Castle
- How many guests can Cloghan Castle hold?
- Up to 120 guests. Up to 120 seating capacity. Confirm the layout for your plans.
- Does Cloghan Castle have accommodation?
- Yes, there is accommodation on site.
- Can you have exclusive use of Cloghan Castle?
- Yes, it is listed as exclusive use. Check which buildings, grounds and hours your booking includes.
- How much does a wedding at Cloghan Castle cost?
- From €90 per guest. Approximate package price per guest. Prices change, so confirm what's included.
- Where is Cloghan Castle?
- Cloghan Castle is in Loughrea, Co. Galway, Ireland. By road, without traffic, it's about 2h 15m from Dublin, about 2h 30m from Cork, about 35m from Galway.
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