We stayed at the Ballinalacken Castle Country House Hotel for one night during a short break in Ireland in late October. It was the hotel's last week of the season and as such the hotel was very quiet. The same couldn't be said for the weather - high winds and driving rain! Our arrival at the hotel was a welcome relief. The room (No 7 if we recall correctly) was luxurious with a 4 poster bed and views of the Cliffs of Moher in the distance (through the low cloud!). There was an ensuite shower room which was very clean (no sign of the mildew reported in an earlier review). However we did lose water pressure mid-shower on one occasion. Overall though, we loved the room and the hotel.
We opted for a package which included 3-course dinner in our room rate of €99pp, and had a wonderful meal in the hotel's restaurant. We began with with an aperitif by the open peat fire in the drawing room whilst we made our menu selections. We then moved through to the restaurant and ate a beautiful meal which included a crab starter and lobster main course. We then retreated back to the fire for (Irish!) coffees whilst a gale raged outside. A wonderful evening.
We highly recommend the hotel as a special treat - it's not cheap, but the gourmet meal and 4 poster bed with sea view one side and castle the other was well worth it. The staff were also very welcoming and attentive.
PS - we, as per more recent reviews, were told that the castle itself was closed as the surrounds were too muddy and dangerous.