Ireland’s most eagerly-anticipated hotel renovation debuts today following a nearly two year full renovation. Adare Manor, near Limerick, features 104 rooms, a La Mer Spa, Tom Fazio designed golf course, and 842 scenic acres surrounded by medieval ruins, walled gardens, and more.
Commissioned by the 2nd Earl of Dunraven in the 1830s as a personal project, Adare Manor took nearly 30 years to complete. It remained in the Dunraven family until the early 1980s, when it was sold and transformed into a five-star hotel. Over the next 25 years, it would go through multiple restorations and expansions, but always retains its original character of a beloved family home.
Today, it looks like guests are living life straight out of a historic romance novel, albeit with all the bells and whistles of a modern luxury hotel, when they plan a visit to this Neo-Gothic masterpiece.
Here are some of the highlights of the renovation:
The Rooms
Still reminiscent of a country chateau, the building is a rare example of a ‘Calendar House’ and is adorned with 365 leaded windows, 52 ornate chimneys, 7 stone pillars and 4 towers to mark the annual tally of days, weeks and seasons. These features have been lovingly restored, and a new wing with 42 additional bedrooms has been added.
Now featuring almost double the number of guest rooms, each of the 104 bedrooms is individually designed with its own personal touches. Expect historically inspired original art, marble en-suite bathrooms, and decor that calls to mind your favorite episode of Downton Abbey.
The Food & Beverage
Afternoon Tea is a must in Ireland, and Adare’s won’t disappoint. Served in the hotel’s Gallery or Drawing Room, both spaces designed to evoke grand European palaces of yore, tea is a grand affair of treats, sandwiches, miniature pastries and daily-made lemon curd, plus a worldly array of teas and the hotel’s own signature blend, dubbed 1832, the year the manor first opened.
The Cocktail Bar is the perfect place to sip an afternoon or evening whiskey or craft cocktail before moving on to The Oak Room for dinner, an intimate space that overlooks the River Maigue on the grounds. The restaurant specializes in seafood, as well as Irish meats and game.
For a more casual ambiance, select The Tack Room, which was originally part of the servant’s hall, where you can indulge in small-batch craft beer or casual fare.
The Spa
One of only 11 spas in the world, and the only in Ireland and the UK, featuring legendary skin care brand, La Mer, the spa promises a bespoke treatment menu inspired by the sea to rejuvenate the mind, body and skin. The spa is intimate, just five treatment rooms, but also includes a nail salon, fully equipped fitness center and a plunge pool, open daily.
The Activities
A standout feature of the resort, the 18-hole, par 72 golf course, has been reimagined by legendary golf course architect Tom Fazio, and will debut in the spring. Promised to be one of the best golf courses in all of Europe, the championship course is set amid magnificent mature trees and aquatic features including a 14-acre lake and the River Maigue, and has been completely restructured to include a new arrival experience, driving range, caddy program and clubhouse.
The hotel’s more than 800 acres include walled gardens, walking trails and pristine parklands, where over 1,000 additional trees have been planted. Enjoy a wide array of activities onsite activities including falconry, archery, Irish gundog experience, cycling, fishing on the River Maigue, woodland walks and historical tours, movie screenings, and more.
The hotel is now open for guests. We can’t wait to visit for ourselves and share further details!
