Ballyseede Castle Hotel Tralee

My wife and I and another couple stayed 3 nights at the end of June 2006 in the Ballyseede Castle Hotel. All in all, a good stay...

Good parts:

- It is a beautiful old mansion with lots of history.

- Very quiet and peaceful.

- The bar is warm and cozy.

- The staff works hard and aims to please.

- Marnie Corscadden (manager) is very friendly and helpful.

Not-so-good parts:

- Although I booked two rooms via Orbitz, only one room was ready when we arrived. The staff didn't realize I had booked two rooms but we were accomodated immediately.

- Some of the bedrooms could use some freshening up with new paint and maintenance.

- On the last day of our stay, one of our two bedrooms had no power and the staff was unable to fix it.

There are some very nice, large bedrooms available and some smaller bedrooms available. I recommend you try to get into the larger bedrooms which are situated above the dining room and living room in the mansion.

Oh my, oh my... I'm still getting over the wonderful time my husband and I had at Ballyseede. It was so beautiful, and the staff was very helpful. It was like stepping into a fairy tale. The room was enormous and we had our own four poster bed. Breakfast was great, and the grounds were spectacular. We will go back the next time we are in country, that is certain!!

I stayed here with three friends in May. We wanted to stay one night in a castle, but couldn't afford some of the more famous ones. Balleyseede fit the bill perfectly. It's located right outside of Tralee, and has a real castle feel. The rooms are elegantly appointed. We spent our evening in the bar, having drinks and a light dinner which was very good, and passing the time with the very nice bartender, Gavin. The full five-course dinner sounded wonderful also. We took a walk in the evening in the lovely surrounding area, accompanied by the castle dog, Charlie. Breakfast was fairly standard - there may have been choices but we were given the basic full Irish fry. The wait staff in the morning were not particularly friendly but the rest of the staff was very helpful and friendly.

Attended a wedding in Ballyseede Castle in December 05 and I couldn't say enough about it. The experience was wonderful. Log fires, Candles holly and ivy etc. a true Castle experience and what one would expect for the time of year.

The food was fabulous and the service second to none.

Marnie and her staff made us all feel so relaxed it was as if we were at home.

It was so good it was hard to leave. I will certainly go back and bring my friends.

We were trying to locate an ideal setting for our wedding at Christmas and travelled to Ballyseede (as well as many other hotels) with a view to getting married there. We booked in for one night and had the most amazing stay. Soon after we arrived, we drank champagne on the lawn while admiring the long and winding drive covered with flowers and blooming trees, then we refreshed in our HUGE bedroom with extensive views over the estate, had pre-dinner drinks in the coziest of typical Irish bars, gorgeous dinner in the restaurant, following by coffee and more drink!! in their grand drawing room. This is not your typical castle hotel, it is an intimate palatial house. Hence we have chosen it for our own wedding. And the most welcoming Marnie has assured me that my big day will be the best yet!!

Highly recommended, a hidden gem.

I just wanted to write to you to tell you how much we enjoyed our short but beautiful stay at Balleyseede Castle on June 1st, 2005. It was wonderful experience which was made all the more enjoyable by the omnipresent Bernadette , who attended to all of our needs while we were there.

The ambience was simply breathtaking and we wished that we could have spent more time there. But it was the outstanding job which Bernadette accomplished that made our stay so special . From her greeting at the entrance, to her efficient check-in, to her attendance in the dining room and her knowledgeable information regarding the history of the castle, she certainly fullfilled all of our expectations and beyond!



We can wait to stay there next time we visit Tralee,





H. McCabe and J. Paez

We had stayed in several B&B's around Ireland, but the highlight of the trip was Ballyseede Castle. The drive throiugh the gates is through dense and beautiful landscape when suddenly the castle appears! We were warmly greeted in the parking lot by a friendly Australian Shepherd and at the door by friendly and warm staff.

The castle is decorated with wonderful array of items which add special charm to the castle. The castle was small enough that we felt it was our own private place, yet large enought that meeting others was easy.

The food - oh my gosh the food was great! We did not intend to eat dinner in the same location twice, but the first nights dinner was so yummy that we made our plans the next day to include dinner back at the castle.

Ballyseede Castle is a great location for touring numerous locations in Ireland such as Dingle and the Ring of Kerry. Cork is about 90 minutes away.

Marnie and everyone at Ballyseede really make the experience fantastic and are ALL the best of hosts to their guests!

Was made feel very welcome on arrival. The food was wonderful and quite reasonable compared to other places we stayed in. I loved the decor, cosy but full of grandeur . Its a quiet and peaceful location with lovely grounds to stroll around.

I was shocked to read some of the previous reveiws after returning from a wonderful break in Ballyseede Castle Hotel. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful, the rooms fabulously decorated and the food excellent. We experienced no smell of "dampness and mildew" and no bathroom "full of bugs." However, I learned that the hotel was recently taken over by new management, and they seem to have done a magnificent job in turning the hotel around. The location is fantastic and only 15 a minute drive from Kerry's regional airport. The grounds are extensive and beautifully maintained, and the castle is steeped in history. Overall, a perfect choice, and I highly recommend it!

The two nights that we spent at Ballyseede Castle were a highlight of our trip to Ireland. The room was large and nicely decorated. The Castle has recently been renovated with a new heating system and newly decorated rooms. The bar is a nice spot for a drink even when you are not eating in the dining room. Breakfast was very good and the dining room is nicely decorated. The staff is friendly and does an excellent job.

When I left my credit card behind, Marni called our tour guide and arranged to send the card to our next hotel. That is excellent service.