I just got back from a stay in Dromoland. It's nice enough, but is very poor value for the close on $500/night they charge.

For a start, there is no A/C in the rooms. It's rare enough that you'd need A/C in Ireland, but modern hotels charging 1/5th of the price have it, so I think it's reasonable to expect it. The front desk said they would send a fan to the room, but on my return to the room it had not been delivered. Not the kind of service you'd expect at this level.

I had ordered a double bed (ie - queen or king) and received two single (ie - twin) beds pushed together. Again, unacceptable at the price.

The room itself was nothing special and not in the castle. In fact, I don't know how many of the rooms are actually in the castle as opposed to some form of annex as mine was. The view was onto a small nondescript courtyard.

The feeling coming away from Dromoland was that I'd been ripped off. But this is really no different than anything else in Ireland from the last five years.