HOSPITALITY & TRAVEL

Adare Manor is a very special place where its setting — on almost 850 acres of green parkland by the River Maigue and in the pasturelands of the Golden Vale, on the doorstep of the Wild Atlantic Way — is reflected in what is on your plate and in your glass. The same exquisite attention to detail is to be enjoyed across all aspects of the culinary offering, from the carefully created menus in Michelin-starred The Oak Room to the finest cheese and wine selected and elegantly served, from collaborating on Adare Manor’s own single cask with iconic Irish whiskey Midleton Very Rare to the impeccable elements of afternoon tea in The Gallery. Whether it’s sophisticated picnics on the grounds, award-winning cocktails in The Tack Room or relaxed family celebrations in The Carriage House, the philosophy is simply to find the best ingredients possible and allow them to shine. Before doors reopened to the public after the significant restoration in 2017, Head of Culinary Loughlin Druhan took Head Chef Michael Tweedie and the key kitchen team on a 3,000 km road trip all around Ireland to meet the people who farm, fish and produce some of the best ingredients the country has to offer. The team revisited the experience in 2019, checking in with old friends and with another impressive roll call of artisan producers to visit to further deepen connections with the people behind the produce. Food here celebrates that family of suppliers, and honey from Adare’s own bees, foraged plants and herbs from the grounds bring an immediate taste of the estate and the surrounding landscape to diners.

Toss your phone in the air with auto-shoot on in any direction at Ballynahinch Castle Hotel and you’re guaranteed to capture the most Instagrammable shots imaginable. It’s nearly impossible not to land the screensaver of your dreams in this Connemara jewel. The hotel fits beautifully into the landscape — it’s not ostentatious and every corner of it feels pristine yet cosy, polished but relaxed. In a picturesque setting on a pretty bend in its own, famous for fishing, stretch of river, surrounded by hundreds of acres of woodlands, walks and gardens that supply the menus with their own homegrown fruit, herbs and vegetables, it’s a nature lover’s dream. Take a complimentary guided walk from the hotel’s front door led by one of the experienced Ballynahinch guides, or explore the trails and walks at your own pace. After an afternoon of rambling, have a seat by one of the toasty open fires in the walled garden to simply sit and take it all in while you enjoy s’mores and a perfectly-made Irish coffee. Or just admire all that outdoors from inside at your table in the handsome Owenmore Restaurant, a room with a view and a half, and a collection of some extraordinary and important Irish art on the walls, or pay tribute to the hotel’s history and setting with some wild Atlantic salmon and Killary mussels, or chowder and a pint by the fire in the beloved Fisherman’s Pub or the Ranji Room — bliss.

One of Ireland’s most historic country houses, Carton House was built as the home of the influential and aristocratic FitzGerald family, and is now in the proud ownership of the American-Irish Mullen family. Fresh from an extensive two-year renovation and multi-million euro refurbishment project, Carton House is now celebrating its first summer as a luxurious Fairmont managed property, joining the more than 80 Fairmont hotels around the globe as the oldest property in a collection famed for its grande dame hotels and iconic properties including the Savoy in London and Plaza in New York City. For more than 250 years, this has been the finest Georgian estate in Ireland. Now it’s one of the finest hotels in the country, ready for hospitality on a grand scale, just as this imposing estate was originally intended. On 1,100 private acres of sweeping parkland, ancient woodlands, lakes and the meandering River Rye with everything needed for a luxurious getaway just 25 minutes from Dublin, from a round of golf on one of the two world-class 18-hole championship golf courses, time spent in the brand new Carton House Spa & Wellness, perched on a stool in the cosy setting of The Whiskey Library with its encyclopaedic selection of the world’s finest spirits or over dinner in The Morrison Room, a breathtaking space, one of the country’s grandest dining rooms, Carton House has it all.

On the doorstep of Dublin’s glorious Phoenix Park, Castleknock Hotel is a super base for anyone who wants to explore the city from a lush countryside setting. Award-winning bars and restaurants, acres of space and a luxurious spa make it ideal for a getaway with friends or family. From golf on the Jonathan Gaunt-designed course to outdoor dining on The Patio, the relaxed sunny plaza with views over the rolling green fields and golf course, Tonic Health Club’s excellent facilities to the luxury urban retreat of The Spa at Castleknock, 15 meeting rooms including the innovative Thinking Factory to the seamless polish of wedding ceremonies and celebrations, Castleknock Hotel is all about service and exceptional comfort, the perfect fit for every occasion.

Dublin’s only theatre private members’ club, the Circle Club is designed for those looking for an elevated theatre experience. Creating magical occasions to share with family and friends, the Circle Club offers a tiered membership structure with each membership option named with a nod to theatre life — Producers Circle, Patron Plus Circle and Patron Circle. The three memberships are designed to enhance the incredible theatre experiences taking place in the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, bringing a new dimension to an evening at the theatre. Each membership tier has distinct advantages and benefits, for private individuals and families — from member evenings at the theatre, dedicated ticket booking experiences to the personal touches brought to members by the dedicated Circle Club team.

Cliste Hospitality specialise in hospitality management and consultancy. Founded by Paul Fitzgerald and Sean O’Driscoll, Cliste Hospitality has a team that is second to none, with all the resources and experience required to navigate the business recovery cycle that lies ahead for Irish hotels, resorts, restaurants, bars and tourist destinations.

Dunmore House is a lovely, family-run, old-school Irish seaside hotel. Owner Carol and her son Peter, the fourth generation to work at the hotel, are exactly what we love most about Irish hospitality, as going to Dunmore feels like going home. The location is second to none, looking out over the sweep of Clonakilty Bay, and the food is definitely one of the best reasons to stay. There are ten beaches within ten minutes of the front door of Dunmore but, to be honest, find a spot on the terrace or on one of the couches and just soak in the view. Oh, and it’s dog friendly too.

Faithlegg is a brilliant base for exploring Waterford, in a picture-postcard location close to the Greenway and beside two of the coastal county’s prettiest seaside villages, Tramore and Dunmore East. A warm and welcoming country house hotel, with accommodation in gracious old world rooms and suites in the original 18th century manor house and in the comfortable contemporary wing, there’s plenty on offer from relaxation in the Faithlegg Treatment Suites to a round of golf on their much-loved golf course overlooking the Suir estuary. Definitely make time though for a taste of Waterford’s finest ingredients in the Roseville Rooms from award-winning head chef Jenny Flynn and her team. At Faithlegg there’s something lovely to enjoy around every corner however you choose to spend your stay.

At Fota Island Resort you can book a break that caters for everyone in the family, with a five-star hotel, a selection of fantastic self-catering lodges, a spacious indoor pool and acres of resort grounds with a playground and Fota Island Adventure to explore. As three-time host to the Irish Open, the resort is home to three golf courses maintained to the very highest standard with one of the country’s most sophisticated golf facilities at Fota Island Golf Academy just a few minutes walk from the popular Clubhouse. After a great round of golf or a busy day sightseeing, Fota Island Spa is a world-class destination spa with award-winning therapists, a magnificent pool, thermal suite and hydrotherapy suite and a tempting menu of indulgent treatments. From family-friendly suppers to fine dining, from the Amber Lounge to the Clubhouse, Fota Restaurant to private dining or to Cove, with its sophisticated tasting menus, the executive chef and his team bring the same care, ethos and attention to detail to every dish. A hub for activities onsite, there’s lots to see and do nearby too, including fascinating neighbours on the very same small island, Fota House & Gardens and Fota Wildlife Park.

The Ice House is a gorgeous North Mayo boutique hotel, home to the award-winning Chill Spa where guests enjoy world-class spa treatments and a uniquely spectacular outdoor thermal area overlooking the River Moy. The hotel also has a restaurant with wonderful views in the Riverview Restaurant and the atmospheric Ice House Bar & Lounge with an impressive cocktail list and gin menu. From peaceful woodland walks in Belleek Woods to paddle-boarding adventures on the Moy river, the Ice House is where to go to get some fresh air and enjoy outdoor activities like cycling, hiking and swimming in a chic and stylish destination on the edge of the attractive town of Ballina, in one of the country’s most beautiful settings.

As Ireland’s largest regional hotel group, iNUA Collection includes a range of hotels across the country. The Irish-owned collection stretches from Cork to Sligo, Killarney to Monaghan, Athlone, Kilkenny, Limerick, Dundalk, and Tullamore. You might choose to experience 5-star moments at Muckross Park Killarney, kick back in Kilkenny’s chic Hibernian Hotel, spend some downtime in Dundalk’s Fairways, taste the magic in the 4-star Tullamore Court Hotel and Hillgrove Monaghan or any of the Radisson Blu Hotels in Athlone, Cork, Limerick and Sligo.

Located less than an hour from Barcelona, 20 minutes from the beaches of the Costa Brava and just 15 minutes from the historic town of Girona, Camiral Golf & Wellness incorporates two championship golf courses, a luxury 5-star hotel, Hotel Camiral, Kids Club facilities and a number of restaurants and bars. Camiral Golf & Wellness offers a myriad of outdoor activities designed to encourage guests to enjoy the picturesque surroundings including cycling, trekking and horse-riding trails through the nearby forests and mountains.

The Twelve could have been named The First. Driven by the indefatigable Fergus O’Halloran, Ireland’s first sommelier GM, this hotel has always been an innovator and a trendsetter in a practical, matter of fact, non-showy way. Ireland’s first wine-led hotel, dog-friendly since opening, developing their own beer, retail ice cream, a standalone pizza shop and bakery, food markets, outside catering, always punching above their weight with one of the smartest wine lists on the island and you can still get a perfect martini when it’s three deep at the bar. Upstairs is West, a standalone destination restaurant headed by the local chef from central casting. Barna-born and bred, Martin O’Donnell knows every edible inch of the landscape that surrounds and informs him and the menu at West, from the days he was picking seaweed as a kid with his grandmother long before he dreamed of being in head chef’s whites. Martin has been part of The Twelve since day one. He’s not alone in that claim and it’s The Twelve’s people that set it apart. Drop in for lunch in The Pins five or ten years after your first visit and more smiling faces will be familiar than not. It is that atmosphere and the training that goes with it that meant in a year when they were up against multiple properties that had thirty or forty million euro refurbishments, team Twelve won AA Hotel of The Year in 2018. The ex-Four Seasons couple of Fergus and his wife Manon brought their international experience and local knowledge to open a ground-breaking hotel on a quiet crossroads in Barna 13 years ago. That crossroads is more a destination now, a beacon of good food, drinks and treats and all backed by some of the finest people and service in Irish hospitality.

Just under an hour from Dublin but a whole world away, leave the stress of the city behind at The Heritage, which is all about elegance and impeccable hospitality in the Laois countryside. With a grand and comfortable hotel, an award-winning spa, Blake’s restaurant with its plush booths and velvet seating, The Galleria serving afternoon tea and Seven, the bar named after the original seven clans or septs of Laois, The Heritage also has tennis courts, walking trails, a cosy and lush red velvet-upholstered cinema and, for younger guests, a state of the art outdoor playground. The ideal destination for an escape, take a chauffeur-driven shopping trip to Kildare Village, chat your way through afternoon tea, let the therapists unknot your shoulders in the spa, or get out and about with a mountain hike or a jog around the wooded trails. There’s plenty of wide open spaces, interesting sites to see and activities to enjoy nearby too.

A comfortable, luxurious hotel on the banks of the River Lee in Cork, The Kingsley has all the perks of city life with the pampering oasis of an award-winning spa and full size swimming pool. A leisurely walk into town to indulge in some retail therapy is an option, but so is staying put and enjoying an excellent facial, body treatment or relaxing swim after a thorough workout in the impressive spa. Enjoy a little you-time in the thermal suite or take a dip under the sky in the heated outdoor hydrotherapy pool, with its great views overlooking the river. For an extra special occasion, upgrade to one of the three junior suites in the hotel, or make the most of your own personal space in the super comfortable and stylish self-catering apartments in The Residence, the separate fully-serviced property right next door. Menus showcase the local area’s abundance of wonderful ingredients, from leisurely afternoon tea to a cosy pint and a toastie to meetings over dinner with clients, or simply a takeaway coffee and sweet treats from Bean & River, the outdoor takeout spot right on the banks of the Lee.

The River Lee is a real gem in the heart of Cork, set on a picturesque bend in the river. Part of the Doyle Collection, this hotel makes for a stylish Cork getaway where you can soak up the city’s lively atmosphere and cultural highlights. With a great outdoor heated terrace for light bites and cocktails, afternoon tea with (of course) the house tea, Cork’s finest Barry’s Gold Blend, larger plates in The River Club, or for something a little more special, a delicious dinner in The Grill Room, it’s the perfect place to eat, drink and be social. There’s also an in-house health and fitness club with a 20-metre swimming pool, and you’re only around the corner from Nano Nagle Place, a stroll into town to the Crawford Art Gallery or a wander in the opposite direction to explore the UCC campus.

Looking after guests from around the world for almost 200 years, you know you’ll always be beautifully minded by this grande dame in her pride of place on St. Stephen’s Green. Treat yourself to oysters in No. 27 The Shelbourne Bar, the social capital of the capital and the beating heart of the hotel, slip in for a perfect pint or well-made cocktail to the Horseshoe Bar, hosting the city’s most fascinating characters since 1957, or take time over afternoon tea in the elegant Lord Mayor’s Lounge. One of the hotel’s hidden gems is the delightful pool, ideal for a few lengths before a blissful hour or two in the Spa or Salon. Have a drink with a view of the sky on The Terrace or in the luxe and intimate setting of 1824 Bar with its vast hand-picked top-shelf list, before chef Garry Hughes and his team serve up their sophisticated and classic dishes in The Saddle Room, with award-winning sommelier Nisea Doddy advising on the perfect wine. Gorgeous in summertime, everyone’s favourite at Christmas, and with private dining and bespoke celebrations in the most beautiful and historically significant rooms in the country, including the Constitution Suite where the first Irish Constitution was signed in 1922, The Shelbourne operates at the highest level, with all the style, care and service that has been part of this hotel’s DNA for almost two centuries.

Opened first as a guesthouse in 1983 by Chris and Thelma Slattery, developing organically over the years from its original purpose in 1862 as the station house for the train line to counties Meath and Westmeath, the turntable that served as a turn point for trains returning to Dublin, where the last passenger train left from in 1947, is still there in the pretty woods at The Station House Hotel. Now a magical outdoor venue for weddings and celebrations, it has been preserved by the Slattery family over the years along with many of the other original fixtures of the former station. Recently stylishly renovated, the handsome bones of the original station buildings house 20 bedrooms including the unique two-room Signal Suite in the former signal box, the award-winning Signal Restaurant and Platform Bar, and the original engine room and workshop, converted into the Carriage Suite. With inspiration from travels across time and across the globe, marrying Irish country house chic with eclectic influences from the Middle East, India and beyond, the layered, cosy and comfortable blend of local Irish-made furniture and hand-made details and accessories from international artisans, alongside the history as a busy railway junction, work together to give the hotel its unique, well-travelled, slightly bohemian, utterly charming feel.

Stay in the heart of the Irish capital at the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, Dublin. This stylish hotel is home to Velvære Spa, as well as the impressive new €20m state of the art Dublin Royal Convention Centre the city’s newest meeting and events venue, located at the historical Le Pole Square development. In addition to the Dublin Royal Convention Centre, the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel and Velvære Spa, Le Pole Square is surrounded by The Old Town Café, a bar, and a gallery space, each ideal for public visitors and private hire. The Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, Dublin has been transformed from a standalone destination hotel to what is essentially a district in the heart of the city — with office and retail spaces, an exceptional hotel, a variety of dining options and a superb spa, along with the fact that you cannot be more central, on the doorstep and within steps of everything the city has to offer.