Following the recent Silver Award received by The Ritz-Carlton, Powerscourt from the Green Hospitality Awards, the hotel has partnered with The Old Milking Parlour at Ballymurrin, a lovingly restored 17th century Quaker meeting house and member of Sustainable Tourism Ireland. The owners restored the outhouses into the Old Milking Parlour and turned it into wonderful self catering accommodation which, bar the cows, has kept its old world feel with a stylish fusion of old and new architecture. Guests are offered preferable rates when booking a holiday which includes a stay in both properties, ensuring guests will see two wonderful sides to The Garden of Ireland or Co. Wicklow.
The Milking Parlour, located 30 minutes from the hotel, has white washed stone walls throughout, contains two double bedrooms, a wonderful open plan sitting room with stove and glazed doors from all living areas open onto a lavender edged, private garden with BBQ area. This property is a model of eco-friendly self catering, where all materials were chosen for their sustainability, creating a high standard of accommodation which incorporates a unique learning tool of environment-conscious design, meeting the needs of the discerning traveller. Under-floor geothermal heating combined with a roaring designer stove, ensure warmth permeates the Old Milking Parlour in winter and in summer the solar panels generate energy, providing the vast majority of hot water and heating.
The Ritz-Carlton, Powerscourt, received the Silver Award by introducing an Environmental Action Plan focusing on energy, waste & water management and developing it across all aspects of the business. This award is recognised as one of the most successful programmes in Europe and is voluntary to all hotels to enter, demonstrating leadership in environmental management within the hospitality sector.
Architect and owner of The Old Milking Parlour, Delphine Geoghegan comments, “Wicklow is known as the Garden of Ireland. In the Old Milking Parlour we aim to keep it that way, by promoting sustainable tourism with the highest standards of design and comfort. We set out to provide something different and more special, something stylish and energy efficient within a heritage setting; being eco-conscious can also mean luxurious. We call it rural chic, and are delighted to partner with The Ritz-Carlton receiver of a prestigious silver award in the Green Hospitality Awards. Sustainability is not always about calico and spinach; it can be ‘guilt-free luxury’ – come and experience the pleasure. ‘’