Bellingham Castle served as one of the ancestral homes for the Bellingham family from the 17th Century until the 1950’s. The original castle was built around 1660 by Sir Henry Bellingham, who was a cornet in the Army during the Civil War. It is said that King William’s armies camped the night before the Battle of the Boyne in the grounds of the castle. The castle was purchased by Dermot Meehan in 1958 who converted it into a hotel. The Meehan family then sold the hotel and 17 acres in 1967 to John Keenan and under the Keenan family stewardship, the castle prospered over the following four decades. It wasn’t until December 2012 that the current owners, The Corscadden Family, a renowned Irish hotelier family, acquired the castle to add to their Romantic Castles of Ireland collection.
Romantic Castles of Ireland has a castle in each province of Ireland. Its sister castles include Ballyseede Castle in County Kerry, Cabra Castle in County Cavan and Markree Castle in County Sligo, each with its own distinct personality and charm.
Nestled in the medieval village of Castlebellingham in County Louth along Ireland’s Ancient East, Bellingham Castle is perfectly located less than an hour from both Dublin and Belfast via the close by M1 motorway. Set at the gateway to the Cooley mountains and on the banks of the glistening River Glyde, Bellingham Castle is the centrepiece of a 17-acre estate that includes a weir and man-made river island. The Castle opens for overnight stays on very select dates throughout the year, but is predominantly an exclusive hire venue for spectacular weddings, conferences and events.
The opulent 17th Century Irish castle is bursting with rich history, splendour and old-world luxury. Fully refurbished, yet retaining all of its character and charm, Bellingham Castle prides itself on elegance and sophistication, intimacy and cosiness, luxury and exclusivity.
Bellingham Castle’s aim is to create something different, an exquisite combination of a welcoming atmosphere and a luxury castle experience. From dreamy and palatial bedrooms, to magnificent reception rooms and meticulously manicured gardens, we ensure each guest enjoys high-quality, bespoke service in an idyllic and inspirational location.
Our elegant period drawing rooms and library are the perfect locations for relaxation or for gathering with family or friends enjoying beverages from our bars, before dining in the grand ‘Bute Suite’. Outside, mature gardens and the stunning riverside setting with footbridges, provide the perfect backdrop for those perfect family photographs you have always dreamed of. Sweeping lawns wrap around the castle and have been landscaped with herbaceous borders, cherry blossom trees and stud railing. Bellingham Castle offers 19 luxury en-suite castle bedrooms which are the epitome of luxury, to ensure you end your day in decadent comfort and style. Our bedrooms have been finished to the highest standards in luxury hotel accommodation, boasting all the modern amenities of a quality hotel but in a stunning 17th Century authentic Irish Castle. Depending on which room you stay in, you will have picturesque views of the River Glyde, our formal gardens, the fountain, or the nearby church steeples.
The award-winning Bellingham Castle is a family-owned and operated property. Patrick Corscadden and Ciara Carolan, along with their dedicated team, have made Bellingham Castle the leading exclusive hire venue in the north-east of Ireland since 2013.
At Bellingham Castle, the welcome is warm, the facilities luxurious and the memories, eternal. From the moment you enter the castle estate via a spectacular stone tower and glide down our private tree-flanked driveway, you are instantly transported back in time. Come discover all that Bellingham Castle has to offer for a truly blissful experience.