PHOTOS - Hold your wedding at one of these seven heritage sites in Ireland

Ireland’s Office of Public Works (OPW) has confirmed that seven of Ireland’s heritage sites can be used as wedding venues for civil ceremonies.

The seven sites are: The Casino at Marino, Dublin; Castletown House, Co. Kildare; Barryscourt Castle, Carrigtwohill, Co. Cork; Desmond Hall, Newcastlewest, Co. Limerick; Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny; Blasket Island Visitor Centre, Dunquin, Co. Kerry; and the Ceide Fields Visitor Centre, Co. Mayo.

Minister of State for Public Service Reform and the Office of Public Works, Brian Hayes, also announced that several other historic locations are also being examined for this use.

Hayes said, “These are wonderful and iconic sites that are familiar to many of us and are a key part of our cultural heritage. There are many places in our portfolio apart from the obvious ones – unique venues which would certainly add to the occasion for couples on their special day. We are very interested in opening up these sites to more visitors and a greater variety of uses and while this is the initial list, I would welcome suggestions from members of the public”.

The other venues being examined are:

- Dublin Castle, Dublin
- Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin
- Dungarvan Castle, Waterford
- Charlesfort, Kinsale, Co. Cork
- The Mainguard in Clonmel, Co. Tipperary
- Ormonde Castle, Carrick on Suir, Co. Tipperary
- The Swiss Cottage, Cahir, Co. Tipperary
- The Corlea Centre, Kenagh, Longford
-  Emo Court, Ballinakill, Co. Laois

PHOTOS - Hold your wedding at one of these seven heritage sites in Ireland

Here’s a rundown of the approved idyllic historic sites:

The Casino at Marino, Dublin.


The Casino at Marino, located in Marino, just outside the center of Dublin was designed by Scottish architect Sir William Chambers for James Caulfeild, the 1st Earl of Charlemont.

It is a small and perfect example of Neo-Classical architecture, situated in the gardens of Marino House.

Castletown House, Co. Kildare.


Castletown House is a Palladian country house built in 1722 for William Conolly, the Speaker of the Irish House of Commons.  It formed the centerpiece of a 544-acre (220 ha) estate.

Barryscourt Castle, Carrigtwohill, Co. Cork.


Barryscourt Castle is a 15th century castle located in eastern County Cork in southern Ireland, close to the town of Carrigtwohill.

Desmond Hall, Newcastlewest, Co. Limerick.

Desmond Hall is one of Ireland's many surviving spacious medieval halls. The Desmond Banqueting Hall is an imposing two-story structure and was used by the Earls of Desmond for banqueting and entertainment.

Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny.


Kilkenny Castle was built in 1195 by William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke to control a fording-point of the River Nore. It was a symbol of Norman occupation.

The property was transferred to the people of Kilkenny in 1967 for £50 and the castle and grounds are now open to the public.

Blasket Island Visitor Centre, Dunquin, Co. Kerry.


The Blasket Centre, located in Dún Chaoin on the tip of the Dingle Peninsula, honors the unique community who lived on the remote Blasket Islands until their evacuation in 1953.

The Ceide Fields Visitor Centre, Co. Mayo.

Beneath the wild boglands of North Mayo lies the Céide Fields, the most extensive Stone Age monument in the world, consisting of field systems, dwelling areas and megalithic tombs. The stone walled fields, extending over thousands of acres are almost 6,000 years old, the oldest known in the world.

PHOTOS - Hold your wedding at one of these seven heritage sites in Ireland