King of the castle in Offaly

IN THE last number of years, I’ve made the midlands a destination for several weekend breaks.

I’ve ticked Athlone and Tullamore off the list and so relished the opportunity to visit Kinnitty Castle in Co Offaly, given its location in the foothills of the Slieve Bloom mountain range.

The castle is a 19th century structure in the gothic revival style on 650 acres of parkland. The website for the venue states it “offers the perfect setting for a romantic castle break in Ireland” — just what my wife and I needed in the middle of January.