The Journey to CastleHacket House

CastleHacket House originally built by John Kirwan, Lord Mayor of Galway, in 1703.


It was partially destroyed in 1923 during the Civil war and rebuilt in 1929 by ‘The General” Sir Denis Bernard-Kirwan. The Kirwan family occupied the house for almost 300 years.


Joyce was chasing a dream when she bought CastleHacket House off the Internet while living in Cairns Australia. Teaching Yoga for the Knoff Yoga School, or you may remember her from Powerscourt Springs Health Farm where she she was employed as a Fitness instructor, detox facilitator and on other days cooking meals for the guests. Her passion for cooking and health came from her background, trained in French Culinary art and Macrbiotic cookery. Joyce went on to be a Chef at Renvyle House Hotel and the The Park Hotel Kenmare before setting off over seas.


After a catering company and two restaurants a career change came and Joyce studied to be a Fitness Instructor, got a diploma in Diet and nutrition and spent 7 years learning and teaching the Knoff Yoga System.


The Dream was to incorporate a little of every thing under one roof.


Not surprising that her eldest daughter Niamh Mc Donagh is a renowned Pastry Chef and Business Woman and that Ciara Mc Donagh, their younger daughter has a Degree in Architecture and Interior Design helping to up style the business.

The Mc Donagh family moved back to Ireland in 2015. Together with many wonderful volunteers from all over the world, they have lovingly preserved CastleHacket House.

You are never given a dream without also being given the power to make it true.

The Vision

Our Vision was to find a place where people could come and stay, get inspired, eat wholesome food, take a yoga class, soak in a hot tub, relax in the Sauna, stroll through the Woods, hike the hills, relax by the log fire and rest their body mind and spirit at the end of the day sliding into Egyptian cotton sheets in a comfortable and tastefully decorated room in a place surrounded by Nature

We have managed to tick lots of the boxes and hope 2021 will see the opening of our Sauna and Hot tub.

The drop excavates the stone not with force but by falling often.