THE FIRST OPTION

Staying at Markree Castle

For the couple and the people closest to them, staying inside Markree Castle gives the most complete experience. You finish the wedding without needing to organise transport elsewhere, wake up in the castle the following morning and remain part of the atmosphere of the venue for the entire stay.

Markree Castle currently lists 30 bedrooms in the castle plus a one-bedroom luxury apartment, accommodating around 62 to 70 people overnight. For a larger wedding, that naturally means some guests will need to stay elsewhere.

The rooms are allocated through the wedding couple, so guests should not assume they can simply book any remaining room independently. I would decide early who you most want staying at the castle and then build the rest of the accommodation plan around that group.

You can check the current accommodation information directly with Markree Castle.

IMPORTANT ON THE WEDDING DAY

Check-In Time and Access to the Castle

This is one detail I would not leave until the morning of the wedding. Markree Castle currently states that wedding guests have access to the castle from 2pm and that bedroom check-in is from 3pm. Rooms are not guaranteed to be ready before then.

That does not necessarily describe every arrangement made specifically for the couple or wedding party. From my experience photographing weddings here, the changeover between weddings often happens around early afternoon and I regularly begin photographing preparations around that period.

Because arrangements can differ from wedding to wedding, I would confirm directly with the Markree Castle wedding team exactly when your preparation space, bedrooms and other areas will be available rather than relying on the standard guest check-in time.

For the wider timeline around ceremony, preparations and portraits, see my Markree Castle Wedding Planning Guide.

FROM A PHOTOGRAPHER’S EXPERIENCE

Getting Ready at Markree Courtyard Before a Markree Castle Wedding

I have photographed weddings where the celebration itself was taking place at Markree Castle but the morning preparations happened at Markree Courtyard. In practice, that arrangement can work extremely well.

The morning can begin in its own space without depending on immediate access to the castle. Hair, makeup, dresses and the normal movement of the wedding party can happen there, while Markree Castle remains only a very short distance away when it is time to move across.

For couples who want a calmer and more predictable start to the day, especially when access to the castle itself is limited in the morning, this is one of the most practical setups I have seen.

FOR THE WEDDING PARTY

Where Should You Get Ready?

If you have confirmed morning access to Markree Castle and want the preparations to feel completely connected to the venue, getting ready inside the castle is a beautiful option. The Butler’s Kitchen, Bridal Suite and surrounding rooms each create a very different atmosphere in photographs.

If early access is uncertain, or you simply want the morning to happen in a separate space before moving to the venue, Markree Courtyard can be the more practical choice.

Neither option is automatically better. What matters is knowing your access time, how many people will be getting ready with you, how much space you need and how you want the morning to feel.

For a visual look at different parts of the day, see my Getting Ready at Markree Castle guide.

FOR LARGER GROUPS

Hotels in Sligo for Additional Wedding Guests

Once the rooms at Markree Castle and Markree Courtyard are allocated, a hotel in or around Sligo can make more sense for the remaining guests, particularly if you have a larger destination wedding or a group staying for several nights.

Sligo Park Hotel

A useful option for guests who prefer a larger hotel rather than smaller local accommodation. For a sizeable group, having many guests based in the same hotel can also make organised transport much easier.

Visit Sligo Park Hotel

The Glasshouse Hotel

The Glasshouse is in Sligo town centre and currently has more than 100 bedrooms. It can be useful when many guests are travelling together and also want easy access to restaurants, shops and the town before or after the wedding.

Visit The Glasshouse Hotel

Riverside Hotel Sligo

Another central Sligo option, particularly useful for guests who would like to stay close to the town centre and transport connections. Riverside currently offers 66 en-suite bedrooms.

Visit Riverside Hotel Sligo

KEEP THE LOGISTICS SIMPLE

Do All of Your Guests Need to Stay in the Same Place?

No. In fact, for many Markree weddings a simple tiered plan works better than trying to find one property for everybody.

• Couple and closest family or wedding party at Markree Castle.
• Additional family or wedding party at Markree Courtyard, subject to availability.
• A larger block of guests based together in one Sligo hotel.

The biggest mistake is often not the choice of hotel but spreading guests across too many different properties. If forty people are staying in six different places, transport becomes more complicated than it needs to be.

TRANSPORT

Plan the Journey Back Before the Wedding Day

For guests staying in Markree Courtyard, transport is much less of an issue because the two properties are so close. Guests staying in Sligo should have a clear plan before the wedding begins.

For a larger group, an organised bus or shuttle is often much easier than expecting every guest to arrange an individual taxi late at night. This becomes even more important for destination weddings where many guests may not have their own car.

QUESTIONS COUPLES OFTEN ASK

Accommodation Near Markree Castle FAQ