Carton House, manor house in Kildare, Ireland
Carton House is a country house hotel in Maynooth, County Kildare, set within a Georgian mansion dating to the 18th century that has been converted for hotel use. The property covers a large estate with guest rooms spread across the original house and newer wings, along with restaurants, a spa, and two golf courses.
The mansion was built in the early 18th century for the FitzGerald family, the Earls of Kildare, who held the estate for over two centuries. In the 20th century the property changed hands several times before being converted into a hotel.
The name Carton House is linked to the FitzGerald family, who shaped the estate and the surrounding area for generations. Guests walking through the grounds can still follow the old garden design, with long tree-lined avenues and open lawns laid out in the Georgian style.
The property sits just off the main road between Maynooth and Leixlip and is easy to reach by car, with parking available on site. Because the grounds cover a large area, it is worth asking at reception for directions to the different parts of the estate when you arrive.
The house was designed by Richard Cassels, the same architect who designed Leinster House in Dublin, which is now home to the Irish parliament. This connection gives the building a place in a wider story of 18th-century Irish architecture that most guests never think about during their stay.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
