Adare Manor

The Adare Manor Hotel and Golf Resort is housed in an opulent Neo-Gothic stone manor house surrounded by 840 acres of beautiful parkland with gorgeous gardens and a championship golf course. The 18th-century castle-like structure is situated on the banks of the River Maigue and was once the home of the second earl of Dunraven. The interiors evoke another era, and are filled with antique pieces and original features, including beautiful fireplaces, stained-glass windows, and intricately carved wood detailing. Guests are greeted in a high-ceilinged lobby, which includes massive stone pillars, a glass chandelier, grand piano, and burgundy rugs on wooden floors. Gilded mirrors and oil paintings hang on the walls along with taxidermied animal heads. The common areas include a lovely library with plush seating and a cozy fireplace. The atmospheric candlelit Oakroom Restaurant features gorgeous stone walls and high-vaulted ceilings, with huge windows overlooking the grounds. The Drawing Room is cloaked in shades of pink and maroon; oil paintings in gilded frames line the walls, and there are glass chandeliers, intricate decorative molding on the ceiling, plush couches, and elegant armchairs.

Set on 840 acres of lush parkland, the Adare Manor is a peaceful countryside retreat and a short walk to the picturesque village of Adare, with its quaint thatched cottages, restaurants, and pubs. There’s also a bus stop in town (a five-minute walk from the hotel) with buses going to Limerick and Killarney. Adare offers a good base for exploring the southwest and Wild Atlantic Way. Limerick, where travelers can visit King John’s Castle and other sights, is about a 20-minute drive from the hotel. Other area attractions include the Limerick Racecourse (an eight-minute drive) and the Carrigogunnell Castle (a 15-minute drive). Shannon International Airport is  within a 30-minute drive.

There are a variety of rooms and suites available at the Adare Manor, as well as self-catering villas and townhouses. Decor varies, as all rooms are individually decorated, but is traditional and elegant, with dark wooden furniture and antique-style pieces complemented by jewel-toned accents such as damask patterned bedspreads and velvet armchairs in rich burgundy or turquoise hues. Classic Rooms can be small, and some of the decor, such as the carpets and bedspreads, looks a bit dated. Deluxe Rooms and Staterooms offer more space, and feature four-poster beds, original stone fireplaces, and claw-foot bathtubs. All rooms have flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, clock radios, work desks, bottled water, and free Wi-Fi, but lack minibars, mini-fridges, and coffee and tea-making facilities. The modern bathrooms have shower/tub combos or walk-in rainfall showers (or both), heated towel racks, and fluffy robes and slippers.

Independent villas and townhouses are also available and suit extended stays and large groups or families seeking more space and privacy. Three-bedroom modern villas have full kitchens, and living rooms, and are within 15-minute walk of the main building. Town houses have either two or four bedrooms as well as kitchens, and are near the Clubhouse, which is a three-minute walk from the main building.

The hotel grounds include an 18-hole championship golf course, beautiful gardens, immaculately maintained lawns, and lush parkland. There is an extensive list of outdoor activities, including archery, falconry, fishing, clay pigeon shooting, and golf, and the hotel is happy to organize other activities. There’s also a heated indoor pool that overlooks the river, and a steam room, as well as a spa, and the Lavender Cottage, with lavender-hued treatment rooms and treatments performed by Elemis-trained therapists. The small fitness center has a handful of modern weight and cardio machines.

Dining choices include the atmospheric fine-dining Oak Room Restaurant, where a fusion of classic and contemporary Irish cuisine, complemented by a choice of more than 300 wines from the Adare Manor's cellar, is served in a candlelit setting overlooking the river, and the more relaxed Carriage Restaurant, which serves a bistro-style menu. Daily afternoon tea is served in the beautiful maroon and pink-hued Drawing Room. There is also a late-night cellar bar, the Tack Room, which offers live piano music.

There are several meeting rooms, conference facilities, and event space in the hotel, including the Minstrels’ Gallery, a 132-foot long room (reportedly the second-longest banqueting hall in Ireland) with immense fireplaces, beautiful carved wainscoting, and 17th-century Flemish choir stalls. Wi-Fi is free throughout the main building, and villa and townhouse guests can activate it with a one-time fee.