Kilronan Castle Estate and Spa

Perched on the banks of Lough Meelagh in County Roscommon, this castle hotel offers the full Irish country-house fantasy without the drafts. The spa, parkland walks, boating, and golf give you plenty of reasons to stay busy, or to feel virtuous about not doing any of it. Suites in the original house carry a bit more atmospheric weight; those in the newer wing keep the same grand register. The restaurant is named for Ireland's first president, which sets the tone.