First the castle, it's 4-5 stories tall, making it bigger than the nearby Dunguaire Castle that we had paid to tour earlier in our trip. It's got a twisting spiral of a staircase that goes all the way up to the ramparts, which you can walk around on. The walls are stone and you have to duck going through some passage ways. There's even a provided stone + chisel to write your name in. Everything you would hope for when staying in a castle.

And then some. There's also a kitchen that's well-stocked with snacks/cereals/teas and utensils and a stove if you want to cook—and a massive DVD library, a bathtub, a telescope, a sort of hanging rocking chair and other side conveniences that make it feel more homelike than you would expect from a towering stone fort.

Contributing to cozy atmosphere was Peter, who treated us more like old friends than tenants. He would share stories about the castle, encourage us explore the surrounding countryside, and even gave us some longbow lessons in a nearby field.

I would definitely recommending spending a full day at the castle (as opposed to taking tourist trips elsewhere), either exploring or reading or just soaking in the atmosphere.

Note: While wireless internet is available, you need to be physically OUTSIDE the castle to access it. This works fine if you just need to check your email on occasion, but if you absolutely NEED internet you may find yourself at the weather's mercy.