WHEN IT comes to luxury, the island of Ireland has no shortage of options.
From castles and country manors to spa resorts and sleek city hotels, here are six properties travellers can consider on their next holiday to the Emerald Isle.
LUTTRELLSTOWN CASTLE RESORT
The venue where David and Victoria Beckham held their fairy tale wedding in 1999, Luttrellstown Castle in Castleknock, Dublin, is pure opulence.
Nestled in the heart of a sprawling 229-hectare private estate and part of the Original Irish Hotels portfolio, this 15th-century castle features 20 stylishly appointed bedrooms, library, 18-hole golf course, elegant ballrooms and manicured gardens.
Offered for hire on an exclusive basis, Luttrellstown Castle has welcomed many other notable celebrities and members of the royal family.
Guests have included the Grand Duke of Luxembourg, Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco, Fred Astaire, Douglas Fairbanks, Queen Magrethe II of Denmark, Paul Newman and Ronald Reagan.
MONART DESTINATION SPA
Killeavy Castle Estate
MONART DESTINATION SPA
One of three hotels owned and run by the boutique Griffin Group, the five-star Monart Destination Spa is in Enniscorthy, County Wexford, in Ireland’s Ancient East.
Listed in both Conde Nast Traveller and Forbe’s top 10 properties worldwide, this adults-only spa resort features 68 deluxe rooms, two suites in the 18th century Georgian Monart house and a spa with 15 treatment rooms.
The fine dining Monart Restaurant is Michelin recommended, while the more casual Garden Lounge promises a relaxed yet vibrant atmosphere.
CULLODEN ESTATE AND SPA
The most prestigious hotel in Northern Ireland, the five-star Culloden Estate & Spa is one of six properties in the Hasting Hotels portfolio.
Located on the Hollywood Hills in Belfast, the Culloden was once a majestic Gothic mansion steeped in history.
Originally built as an official palace for the Bishops of Down, this secluded estate sprawls across five hectares of manicured gardens and woodland.
The property has seven types of rooms to choose from, all distinctly furnished and looking out at the gardens, Belfast Lough or the County Antrim coastline.
Culloden is popular not only for holidaymakers, but also for private occasions and corporate events.
KILLEAVY ESTATE
Nestled within 140 hectares of farm, forest and gardens, the Killeavy Castle Estate is in Northern Ireland’s County Armagh (an hour from Belfast and Dublin).
The property offers different stay experiences, from its self-catering Gatelodge to a four-star boutique hotel and the fairy tale-like 19th century castle.
Their farm-to-table dining experience is as fresh and colourful as it gets, and with five different venues to choose from including a secret cellar, guests can be assured they will receive the utmost attention and privacy.
PARK HOTEL KENMARE
The privately owned historic Park Hotel Kenmare has been long regarded as one of the world’s most inspirational luxury hotels.
It is located in the heart of the heritage town of Kenmare yet secluded in waterfront gardens on the shores of the Wild Atlantic Way.
Guests have the choice of enjoying the hotel’s complementary daily lifestyle program, featuring yoga, garden tours, nature hikes, sport facilities, meditation and fitness classes, or they may opt to luxuriate at their SAMA Destination Spa or play golf at the adjacent golf course.
The hotel’s Tasting Menu is not to be missed and the property is also home to one of Europe’s largest whiskey collections. Guests can enjoy whiskey tasting sessions led by renowned expert John Moriarty.
PARK HOTEL KENMARE
POWERSCOURT HOTEL AND SPA
Boasting Palladian-style architecture with 198 rooms, most with unobstructed views of Sugar Loaf Mountain, the five-star Powerscourt Hotel and Spa in County Wicklow is part of the Powerscourt Estate.
The property features a 20m Swarovski crystal-lit swimming pool, a Hamman suite, two championship golf courses, a secluded spa experience by ESPA and three very different dining venues.
It has sprawling manicured grounds and a range of activities on offer, including nature walks, falconry and whiskey tasting at the Powerscourt Distillery, where Fercullen Whiskey is produced.
