Keys to the Castle

"WE'VE rented a castle", has to be one of the grandest, most romantic answers to the "where will you be staying on your holidays" question. It's an option that's becoming increasingly popular and possible, as more Irish castle owners discover the potential of clearing out of their turrets, banqueting halls and four poster beds for a few months and making their very expensive homes pay from themselves.

Michael McGinn, who owns Mallow Castle in Co Cork, quickly dispels any stereotypical image of a castle renter as a polyester clad, ghost obsessed American.

"Most of the people who can afford this sort of thing live like this at home," says Michael, who has been renting out his castle for 13 years. "They're not ghost hunters who are fascinated with helmets and armour, that's just the sort of thing that travel writers get carried away with."

The McGinns are American and came to Ireland to buy a small holiday home some years ago, when Michael was working in Congress in Washington. They ended up buying a castle and now live there. From a rental point of view it has, according to Michael, "the standard castle features - a billiard room, - musical room with a Bechstein, morning room, a study, the usual stuff". On arrival, he gives his visitors a quick, history filled tour of the castle and then leaves them to their own devices.

His visitors book features some illustrious Americans, including Tip O'Neill and Jean Kennedy Smith, and Oasis are booked in to stay next week.

Michael spends a little time vetting prospective guests. "At the first inquiry I try to get a sense of their expectations," he says, "and if their notions seem based on too many 1940s movies featuring Wilfrid Hyde White and they think they're getting Jeeves, then I put them off. Renting this castle is just like renting a big, interesting home, we don't have liveried butlers who materialise at the snap of a finger."

As for the security aspect of giving total strangers the complete run of your antique filled home, the only thefts the McGinns have experienced in 13 years is the disappearance of a couple of wooden coathangers.

Barbara and George Crowley from North Carolina have been to Ireland several times before, but this time decided to rent a castle to try something different and to accommodate several house guests. Springfield Castle in Limerick sleeps 12 people in five double bedrooms and two singles, and during their three week stay there the Crowleys have had two separate shifts of relatives including three daughters, two sons in law, and a granddaughter and her husband who were all visiting Ireland for the first time.

George, a retired electrical engineer, is researching his roots and they chose the Limerick castle mainly for its location. "It's very relaxing having a base like this, we do our own cooking and eat in the baronial hall every night," says Barbara. "It's all very casual and comfortable."

A local caterer was brought in when Barbara had a birthday party. "We had such a great party and that's the wonderful thing about having a place like this all to yourself - it gives you great flexiblity." An added bonus was that Betty Sykes, who runs the castle, was never far way and acted as an unofficial guided to Ireland for the group.

Renting a piece of history doesn't come cheap. Prices range from £28,000 for renting Luttrelstown Castle in Co Dublin for a week to £600 per week for Rossturk Castle in Co Mayo.

"It might sound expensive but . . . it can work out on par with staying in an up market hotel," says Sine ad Grace from Elegant Ireland, a tour operator which specialises in holiday packages featuring up market homes.

Prices vary so radically because of the different services on offer and varying levels of luxury involved. Some castles are entirely self catering, others are fully staffed. About 80 per cent of Elegant Ireland's castle hunt ing clients are American family groups booking for the holiday of a lifetime, and frequently they're here to celebrate a special occasion, such as a significant birthday or a 25th wedding anniversary. Possibly because 50 many groups are families, there is a growing demand for castles that are entirely self catering. Glin Castle's rental price includes staff, and food is charged at cost, while the prices for Lismore Castle in Waterford include breakfast, dinner and afternoon tea.

Miriam Healy, who rents out Rossturk Castle, explains its comparatively low cost by pointing out that it is a no frills sort of place. As there is no central heating, winter or even early autumn rentals are only for the very hardy. In even the grandest castles the usual, very down to earth rental extras apply, such as telephones and in most cases electricity.