Shankill Castle is such a gem. It is without a doubt the most special place where my family has stayed on vacation. I encourage anyone considering a stay here to google Shankill Castle and read a bit about the history. The owner Elizabeth is a well-regarded artist in Ireland and in addition to offering a scenic, authentic, private retreat – the home feels like a private museum filled with original artwork. We were a family of 9 and Elizabeth greeted us all with tea, scones, and guided tour of the lush grounds. We had planned to use Shankill Castle as a base to explore Kilkenney but we ended up just staying on the grounds and exploring. Between the secret gardens, a baby donkey, trees that looked like they were out of the pages of fairy tales, and a genuine art studio, the 3 children in our group were thoroughly entertained and didn’t want to leave! Elizabeth gave us wonderful restaurant recommendations and even prepared a delicious breakfast for us in the morning. My only regret is that we didn’t stay longer! Thank you to Sybil and family for taking such good care of us. :-)