HI - Foulksrath Castle - County Kilkenny Hostel

Three of us stayed at this castle in November 2003 -- my daughter, her boyfriend, and myself. We were driving throughout Ireland on our own, no tour guides, so we found this fabulous place through the booklets we had picked up. We loved it so much we stayed longer than one night. We enjoyed the caretakers (it had to be Jack!), his wife, and his granddaughter. The granddaughter was charming, loved her. Faulksrath Castle was truly one of the most unforgettable and rewarding times of our three-week stay in Ireland. I can't wait to come back.

I loved staying there. Getting there is a bit of a pain, if you don't have a car and don't know what to look for, but well worth it. If you are taking the bus from Kilkenny, see below. Once I arrived I had to open and go through the red door, walk up the spiral staircase some, and ring the bell before the host came out. The reception room is filled with the host's, Jack, artwork. The men's dorm was at the top and had a window that opened out to a fire escape which you can step out onto and look around at the surrounding hills. The kitchen is very big and well stocked with a jumble of pots and utensils. The dining room was very warm and large. The narrow windows in the dining room have been widened and they look out to a small country road. There is a girl's dorm and two other small dorms for families. A medium sized family or group can also stay in the chapel outside. I met many people from around the world and we hung out and talked till 2 a.m. If you ask Jack will tell you the history of the castle and a few ghost stories. He has honed his story telling and knows how to get the girls to scream. The bathrooms are the kind you would find at a campsite -- plastic and prefabricated. Overall I think that if you can rough it for one night you really need to stay there. There is a lot of history and it is a neat experience sleeping in a castle and thinking of all the things that may have gone on there. You have to ask the bus drivers parked near the castle to find the right one. If you are standing in front of the Kilkenny castle you will see the buses across the road and down the hill to the right near the town cross roads. They are unmarked except for the name of the company and a small piece of paper taped to the window. I missed the bus due to rain and the unmarked buses. It was about 20 Euro by taxi.

Was hard to give a rating on this one. Stayed in April 04 and it was cold so the outside and cold showers weren't appreciated by my husband. It was pretty cold inside too. Ladies' ablutions are inside and obviously an old castle is hard on plumbing. The place could have used a roaring good fire to cheer it up a bit. Is good and cheap to stay in a castle and we slept well. Other Australian travellers there and we managed to sort out enough in the kitchen to make a feed. Overall an experience but probably better kept for warmer summer stays.

I am from new zealand and just recently stayed at foulksrath castle. It was excellent to be able to stay in a place with so much history for so cheap.The price is fairly cheap given how much you would normally pay to stay in a castle. Jack the owner is really cool and is really helpful. He will tell you most of the ghost stories attached to the castle. well worth the stay would recommened it to anyone.

Best hostel I've stayed at. Ever. The surroundings are fantastic, you are staying in a REAL castle, dating back from 1320. The caretaker, Jack, is awesome, and willing to retell the stories of the castle. The rooms are big and warm — the toilets and showers are clean. It's better if you're a girl, the bathrooms are just next to the main bedroom. However, the guy's room is upstairs, so it's a trek down the stairs if you want to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. The only possible drawback is actually getting to the place — the last bus leaves town at 5:30 p.m., otherwise it's an expensive taxi fare. Even with this in mind it's definitely worth the effort.

Just north of Kilkenny lies the Foulksrath Castle, a hostel that placed its beds in the rooms of a 13th century building. Dormitory style beds are located in 4 rooms that run off a spiral staircase in the middle of the tower. Bathrooms and showers are located in a small metal building connected to the tower, but can't be seen from the road. Bunkbeds are adequate but not luxury and rooms can get cold at night. Sheets are an additional €2 per night. There is a spacious kitchen to cook your own meals and a common room that makes you feel like it's still the 13th century. Farm land surround the castle and there are horses, geese and dogs on grounds.

This place is definitely unique; while most hostels are situated in boring old concrete buildings, this one is an actual castle! I stayed here in June 2004 and despite the fact the place is a little tricky to get to, it was well worth the effort. The castle is located about 5 km or so out of beautiful Kilkenny. There's a bus that leaves from Kilkenny twice a day: once just before lunch and once in the afternoon. Don't try to walk it, because it is pretty far! The bus is quite cheap at 3 euros. Once you arrive at the hostel and get over the awe of being in a castle, you'll find it a very nice place indeed. There are green fields all around, and the dining room is set out in period style, giving the place great atmosphere. The kitchen is quite good, too. The dorms are all the way up the spiral staircase, and there are some great views out of the windows (which are a little dirty). The dorm is quite clean, and pretty spacious. There are heaters in the room, and believe me, you need them! Try and get as close to the heaters as you can, because this place is freezing at night! The biggest drawback of the place is the men's toilet/bathroom. While the toilets and showers themselves are okay (and the power shower is nice and hot!), you actually have to go outside, across the small gravel courtyard to get there. And with Ireland's fickle climate, this isn't always nice, especially late at night! If nature calls, make sure you grab your boots! It isn't so bad for the girls though, as their bathroom is in the dorm. They get all the luck! There isn't any breakfast, and the castle is pretty far from any shops, so make sure you stock up before leaving Kilkenny! The price is good and the location and atmosphere are superb. It's definitely worth the effort for the novelty!