Lough Eske Castle

We got married at Lough Eske on 1st January 2026, and we would do it all again in a heartbeat.

We hadn’t been able to get an appointment to view Lough Eske, but one day, when we were passing, we decided to chance our luck and called in to see if we could have a look at the ballroom. That’s when we met Simon, the Assistant Director of Sales and Marketing. After chatting with him, we immediately knew we had found our venue. From the very beginning, Simon made everything feel easy, stress-free and straightforward, which was exactly the atmosphere we wanted for our wedding day.

We returned for the wedding showcase and confirmed our date there. We would highly recommend attending the showcase, as it gives you a fantastic insight into the suppliers who regularly work with Lough Eske and know the venue and its set-up inside out. It was through the showcase that we booked Paul from Ghorm Photography and Declan from Simply Divine Décor, and we couldn’t have been happier with both.

We ended up dealing with a few different wedding coordinators as roles changed in the lead-up to our wedding, but whether we were working with Niall or Lauren, we always felt we were in safe hands. Everyone was completely on the same page, had the same relaxed approach as Simon and made the whole planning process feel incredibly straightforward.

The wedding day itself was where all of that hard work really came to fruition. Simon was incredibly attentive throughout the day, and so many of our family members commented afterwards on everything he was doing behind the scenes - things we wouldn’t even have noticed ourselves as we were busy getting ready and enjoying the day.

That same professionalism extended to all of our suppliers. The Lough Eske team were incredibly welcoming and accommodating to everyone working on the day, from our hair and makeup artists to our photographers, videographers, décor team and other suppliers. Everyone was made to feel welcome, and the team ensured that our suppliers had everything they needed and knew where they needed to be. It made a huge difference knowing that everyone involved in our day was being looked after so well.

The food was incredible, and the service was exceptionally swift and efficient. From the initial planning right through to the wedding day itself, the whole experience was enjoyable and completely exceeded our expectations.

We couldn’t recommend Lough Eske or the team highly enough. We’re so grateful that, despite not having an appointment, we took a chance and called in that day - because it led us to the perfect venue for our wedding.

We only wish we could do it all over again!

A huge thank you to the entire Lough Eske team, and particularly to Simon, for making us, our families and all of our suppliers feel so welcome and for helping make our day so special.

e got married at Lough Eske Castle on 20th December 2025 and it was everything we dreamed of and more. From the moment we first visited the castle, we knew it was the one — it has that special something that you just can't replicate.
The castle itself is absolutely stunning, especially for a winter wedding. The setting in Donegal is magical and our guests could not stop talking about how beautiful it was. The guest rooms were incredible — even the standard rooms are a really generous size and so well appointed. We had so many guests go out of their way to comment on how amazing the rooms were, which really made us feel like we'd chosen the right place. Our bridal suite was gorgeous too, and it had an adjoining room that was essentially a cosy conference-style room which was an absolute lifesaver on the morning of. It meant all my bridesmaids and family could be together getting ready without feeling cramped, and it made the whole morning relaxed and fun.
The food was outstanding across the board — from the canapés during the drinks reception right through to the evening buffet. Our guests raved about the meal and everything was cooked and presented beautifully. The wedding cake was cut and served perfectly too. We really couldn't fault it.
In terms of the planning process, we will say there was quite a bit of change in wedding coordinators over the two years we were planning, which at times felt a little unsettling as you'd build a relationship with one person and then have to start again. However, despite the changes, every coordinator we worked with was professional and helpful, and ultimately on the day itself everything came together perfectly. Lauren and the events team on the day were brilliant and made sure everything ran like clockwork.
The real standout for us though was the staff. The Donegal charm was in full force from the moment our guests arrived. Every single member of staff — the waiters, the bellhops, the bar staff, reception — were so warm, so friendly, and so genuinely invested in making our day special. You could tell they really care about what they do and it made such a difference to the whole atmosphere. Our guests felt so welcome and looked after, and that's something money can't buy.
We did have a slight bump on the Day 2 with some noise challenges around our band, but the hotel staff were really helpful in trying to resolve it and make it work for everyone. These things happen and ultimately it all worked out and didn't take away from what was a brilliant weekend.
Overall, Lough Eske Castle gave us the most magical wedding day. The combination of the stunning venue, incredible food, beautiful rooms, and above all the warmth and hospitality of the staff made it an unforgettable experience for us and all our guests. We would wholeheartedly recommend it to any couple considering it — you won't be disappointed.