Waterford Castle Hotel & Golf Resort

Prior to Christmas we visited the magical Castle. We dined for lunch and the ambiance was delightful. They clearly put a lot of effort into their decorations and every staff member we encountered couldn’t have been more helpful and attentive. It was warm and inviting and we definitely plan to return.

Firstly, let me start with the positives. We were there over Christmas 2024 and it was beautiful. Castle was clean, decorations & Christmas tree all stunning. Thats where it ends. We were there for a family meal and it was very disappointing. I found the venison burger very dry and in truth, tastless. On numerous occasions we had to order the same drink up to 4 times. Other members of our party found the same issue. Some orders came out wrong. Our party was large (15 adults) so mistakes can happen & this js very understandable. It was very irrating to continiously order the same drink repeatedly. Service was ok (aside from the drinks order). Food was poor. When one of our Party complained about all of the above over email the response was exceptionally rude & very dismissive. They took none of the complaints on board & were very defensive. We will absolutely not be returning. I would advise to stay well clear of this hotel. I never leave reviews but the experience of this place makes it a necessity.

To say that our experience at Waterford Castle was magical would be an understatement! Every detail of our daughter’s wedding and stay was flawless, lovely and memorable. Gillian orchestrated the perfect experiences with the amazing staff at the castle. The ceremony, dinner, high tea, golf and skeet shooting and Welcome Party were so stress free, fun and were just perfection. We will never forget our time there and look forward to returning to the castle and its staff that feel like family!!! Don’t forget to find the wallaby!! So cute!!

Waterford Castle is really the most perfect experience. Our wedding, from the planning stages to the day, was such a pleasure. Special thanks to Gillian who made everything possible and seamless. The staff were all so invested in the day, everyone knew us personally and partook in the fun. The suites are stunning, the attention to detail is really noticeable. The food is really noteworthy. Somehow they managed to cook over a hundred steaks to order, all perfectly cooked ( everyone kept talking about it!). Our vegan friends mentioned it was the best food they’ve had. The menu was eclectic and had really interesting choices. Also if you have the chance, try the ‘Apple’ dessert. It was a show stopper during our intimate candle lit dinner the night before our wedding in the conservatory. Our family and friends enjoyed the golf and the grounds. My concern was that getting married in a castle would be too formal but it was the most relaxed experience and the perfect balance. We really can’t say enough about our experience.

From the moment we viewed Waterford Castle as a potential wedding venue in April 2023, Gillian was an absolute dream to work with. Before we had even gotten the ferry back across the water after our tour of the castle and grounds, we pretty much knew it ticked all of the important boxes for us, for what we envisioned and hoped for, for our special day. Ideally we both wanted to be able to have our ceremony (outdoors, with a backup indoor option if needed!) and rest-of-day celebrations at the one place, to reduce logistics/stress for our guests and to maximize our time with everyone, vs travelling from A to B; as massive foodies, we really wanted to look forward to our meal; there was enough onsite accommodation between the castle and modern lodges for all of our guests who may wish to stay onsite (95%+ did!); a day 2 option was available to continue the celebrations in the clubhouse, to allow us make a weekend of it; and it had beautiful grounds and character for photos and for us and our guests to enjoy - including the gorgeous deer and wallabies. From initial planning with Gillian; tasting and deciding our food menu; to the detailed walkthrough and handover the afternoon prior, Gillian and the team were absolutely outstanding. We knew we didn't have to worry about a single thing for the whole weekend, with the staff being in complete control of everything so seamlessly - we really were just able to relax, let go, and enjoy it all. We had the best few days celebrating with our nearest & dearest and we only wish we could do it all again. We look forward to returning to Waterford Castle for many years to come to soak up and enjoy the amazing memories made there. Huge thanks to Gillian and her incredible team for all of their work in pulling off the best wedding weekend we could have imagined, With appreciation, Meadhbh & Mossy.