IRISH BOUTIQUE HOTELS FOR EXCLUSIVE USE

Sheen Falls Lodge in County Kerry is luxurious and beautifully situated beside its waterfalls. It provides a secluded country house, with great facilities and some of County Kerry’s most splendid landscapes. Suites and superior rooms overlook the waterfalls, while other rooms look over the Kenmare River. There is formal and relaxed dining, and the wine cellar is the largest in Ireland. For rainy days there is the Spa and indoor swimming pool. Kenmare, the local town, is really fun with so many different pubs to sample and other restaurants and lots of galleries.

Ballynahinch Castle in County Galway is another goodie and is a manor house on the edge of a salmon rich river. Surrounded by mature woodlands and with glimpses of the grey Twelve Bens mountain range beyond, the ocean is just a few miles away. Ballynahinch offers an unfussy combination of comfort, luxury, and warm service. The foyer and bar have fires and flagged floors; the drawing rooms are quiet, with newspapers and not a television in sight. The dining room offers long windows overlooking the river and the walls sport watercolors and photographs detailing two centuries of colorful Ballynahinch history. Ashford Castle in County Mayo is a grand, castellated stone castle overlooking Loch Corrib, within a 350-acre estate once owned by the Guinness family and featured in the film ‘The Quiet Man’. The dramatic interiors, which include a billiards room and smart red velvet cinema, overlook formal gardens and a Victorian style greenhouse, housing a pool and spa. Activities include fishing with a local ghillie, horse riding and falconry.

Lough Eske in County Donegal has been much praised and this five-star hotel offers marvellous service and hospitality. The hotel lies on the shores of beautiful Lough Eske, surrounded by some of Donegal’s most rugged landscapes. The original castle dates back to the fourteenth century and the ancient castle’s history shows in the baronial furnishings, grand sandstone staircases and acres of polished wood. For a very grand experience try a few days at the Dromoland Castle Hotel, built in the family palace of the O’Briens, Kings of Thomond with lineage tied back thousands of years to Brian Boru, the only High King of Ireland. Dromoland Castle is steeped in Irish tradition, culture and class. The restored castle has sparkling chandeliers, mysterious castle corridors and lavishly decorated common areas. There is a beautiful lake and a breathtaking walled garden. Enjoy an afternoon golfing on the the hotels private golf course or chill in the spa. This is a great place to stay. Another luxury resort in Adare Village in County Limerick is Adare Manor, which is also steeped in history and surrounded by medieval ruins. Set in an 840-acre estate, the estate is home to a championship golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones Senior and has superb trout fishing on the River Maigue.

The Kildare Hotel at The K Club is located in the heart of the Irish countryside on the banks of the River Liffey in Straffan, Co.Kildare, which is only 30 minutes from Dublin. Built in 1832, the original house was modeled on a French Château and still retains many of its original architectural features, art work and antiques. It opened as a luxury hotel in 1991. The mature estate covers 550 acres, features a stunning Victorian walled garden and fishing on the River Liffey. The ghillies offer fly fishing on the river, horse riding and clay pigeon shooting are also available along with a range of different country pursuits. The K Club is home to two championship Golf Courses, The Palmer Ryder Cup Course and the Palmer designed Smurfit Course. Regarded among the world’s finest golf resorts, The K Club was the venue for the 2006 Ryder Cup and hosted the European Open from 1995 to 2007. These are just a few of the Irish country house hotels, which LTR has used over the years and which our guests have enjoyed. The Cliff House Hotel in Ardmore, Co Waterford is the only 5 star seaside hotel in Ireland and is another property risen from a period of neglect to bounce back better than ever. We hear the food is exceptional and the spa looks pretty majestic too. Wherever you go in Ireland, a very warm welcome awaits.

If you are looking for Scottish boutique hotels or English boutique hotels we have some delightful ones to suggest. Please have a look at our blog to find out the best time to visit Ireland and get in touch with us if you would like to find out more.