Ballyfin
EST. PRIOR TO 1930
, Ballyfin, Laois, Ireland

Send messages & view rates of your favorite venues in one spot.
"Feels like a house party out of Downton Abbey" - Veranda Magazine.
A five-star luxury country house in the heart of Ireland - you just may leave yours right here at this pastoral paradise. With over 600 acres of ancient forests, gardens & magnificent mountains throw the gathering of your dreams. There are 15 rooms to takeover with your nearest for holiday parties, gatherings and more.
The Lowdown
Type
Estate / House / Mansion / Villa
Views
ForestGardenHistorical MonumentLakeMeadow/Field
Style
Classic
Country
Elegant
Fanciful
Ornate
Days Venue is closed
January and February
Best type of Celebrations

Venue Setting

Considered one of the most lavish Georgian homes in Ireland, Ballyfin has just 15 rooms and is set on 600 wooded and meadow acres. The hotel was family-owned for 100 years and included a stint as an all-boys’ school, before undergoing a massive eight-year renovation and opening as a five-star luxury hotel in 2011.

Capacity

Seated
50
Buffet
N/A
Standing
50
Fees
(Prices listed here are estimates only & are subject to change)
Price range

Does this include catering fees?

Yes

Insurance

Additional Insurance Is Not Required To Host An Event Here

Connect
Call Venue
Event Logistics and Amenities
(Essential event logistics and amenities to ensure a seamless and memorable experience for you gathering)
Celebrations hosted here since
Prior to 1930
Curfew
No Curfew
Venue spaces
Indoor & Outdoor Venue Spaces Available
Catering
Client Must Use The Catering Provided By The Venue
Music
Indoors & Outdoors
Smoking
Non-smoking Venue
Inside Scoop

Upon arrival, staff lines up to greet you as if you were the owners returning from travels. Concierge Glenn attended school at Ballyfin and is happy to share stories from the hotel’s era as an all-boys’ school. And be sure to unwind, inroom, with a real Irish seaweed bath. Candlelit, of course.

Venue Features
The scene:
After being greeted by the uniform-starched house staff, and checking into your period-antiques-filled room, a butler stands ready to unpack (and launder if desired) your clothes, as you move to explore the grounds which comes with its own grotto, tower, Edwardian garden and picnic hut. Or sit by one of the many wood-burning fireplaces with a cup of tea (or spirits perhaps).
Design:
Ballyfin is a living work of art. The Italian mosaic in the entrance hall is more than 2000 years old; Antlers of an Italian elk - extinct for more than 10,000 years - hang above a doorway; and the chandelier in the Gold Drawing Room came from Queen Caroline of Naples.
Standout venue features:
Guests can fully immerse into Ballyfin’s history and Downton Abbey effect by dressing in period costumes, purchased from the Lyric Opera of Chicago, and, with a splash of top-shelf whiskey in hand, making way into the dining room for a traditional dinner of Texel lamb and black pudding. You will find a versatile combination of magnificence and intimacy throughout the house. The State Rooms make for a glorious backdrop to a stay in the house and are perfect for every type of event. From small family dinners to spectacular parties to exceptional corporate gatherings and with all of the public rooms opening into each other it is ideal for a larger cocktail party. Up to 50 guests may be seated comfortable for dinner in the State Dining room or for larger parties the Ballroom is a wonderful venue.
Extra perks:
There are lots of activities available from the active outdoors to wine tasting in the cellar. Memorable food arrangements are all part of the catering at Ballyfin, from picnics in the grotto, barbeques in the courtyard, and lunches in the sunny conservatory and gala dinners in the State dining room - each mealtime will be an experience. You can add period drama to the event by selecting costumes from our costume department.
Awards & Notables
Awards, recognitions, or noteworthy achievements associated with the venue.
Ballyfin has topped Conde Nast traveler’s Hotlist; been named ‘Best New Resort’ by Robb Report and appeared in a number of leading magazines including Billionaire Magazine, Forbes, Elite Traveler, Andrew Harper, Virtuoso Life, among others
Venue matched with reports
Weddings
It's True: These Are the Dreamiest Wedding Venues Across Europe
We get it. You want a wedding that wows. And bold statements call for even bolder moves, like taking your big day abroad for a dream destination wedding. On our list of must-haves? Historic castles, Italian villas, elegant estates, ancient ruins—places that can bring your fairytale wedding to life with history, style and unbeatable views. For that order, we turn to Europe. Filled with ancient hideaways and coastal retreats, the EU is full of hidden gems ideal for saying “I do,” and we’ve found the creme de la creme of wedding venues all across Europe. Reporter: Erica Nichols
Read roundup
Travel
25 Lush Secret Gardens, Glasshouses & Greenhouses
We’re on a nonstop tour of all venues lush, green, ivy-draped, glass-housed and garden party ready. From historic estates in the English countryside to Jamaican sugar mills to the rolling hills of the Great Smoky Mountains, come along as we explore the best greenhouses, gardens and more. Be sure to keep the secret gardens on the DL though -- we wouldn't to spoil the fun. Reporter: Alyssa Brown | Venue: Ballyfin
Read roundup
Weddings
Top 40 Greenhouse, Glasshouse, & Conservatory Venues Across The Globe!
Going green can mean a multitude of things when it comes to talking about your wedding, a birthday, or maybe something as simple as an afternoon lunch with your girls. Maybe your wedding dress is made of natural materials, your birthday cake is made with 100% organic ingredients, and you had GMO-free spinach for lunch. Yes, going green can mean all of those things, but the green we’re referring to when talking about these magical days is the location. That’s right, you caught us! Greenhouse and glasshouse venues are full of all sorts of botanicals that you probably didn’t even know existed! Set yourself up to wed, party, or relax all while surrounded by a variety of plants, flowers, trees, gardens, cobblestone pathways, and ocean views! You know that scene in ‘The Sound Of Music’ where Julie Andrews sings, “The Hills Are Alive” and she’s spinning in front of the mountains with her arms wide open because everything is just so wonderful? Check out these 40 incredible greenhouse, glasshouse and conservatory event spaces, we have a feeling you may soon be spinning in joy too.  Written By Jordan Willner
Read roundup