The

The
brainchild of Augustus Pugin (who also designed the Palace
of Westminster), Adare Manor in Co. Limerick is a
neo-gothic masterpiece. Limerick man JP McManus (one of Ireland’s
richest individuals) acquired the chateau-like structure in 2014
and following a 21-month renovation – said to be the most extensive
project of this nature undertaken in Ireland – the property has
been tastefully zhuzhed up.

The Great Hall Reception with its vaulted ceiling, carved
wood-panelled walls and black-marble fireplaces is decidedly grand
yet delightfully welcoming. Indeed, arriving at Adare Manor fosters
a sense of homecoming; Paul and PJ are the first people you meet
when you step out of the car, thanks to on-the-ball staff radioing
through your imminency.

A place that leaves you wanting for little – other than
permanent residency, perhaps – following check-in, there are
endless paths to explore, both literal and figurative. Woodland
walks and meanders along the River Maigue aside, there’s also the
option to borrow a duck-egg blue Pashley bike and set off with a
picnic in tow. Alternatively, guests can hit the golf course
designed by architect Tom Fazio (pegged for the location of The
Ryder Cup 2026) – though even idleness is a lustful activity here,
thanks to a well-stocked library, cinema and subterranean whiskey
bar.

Rooms

A glance out of the window (having opened your iPad-controlled
curtains) unveils the graceful French gardens, flowing River Maigue
and a steady stream of golfers pitching in the distance. In the
room, expect oversized four-poster beds, monogrammed slippers and a
generously filled (and complimentary) minibar. From the freshly
baked Irish barmbrack bread on arrival to touch-sensitive reading
lights, no box is left un-ticked. If availability allows, ask for a
room on the upper floors in the old building which are fitted with
Georgian-inspired furniture, silk wallpapers and a marble en-suite
bathroom completed by rainfall showers and double vanities.

Breakfast

Served in The Gallery, breakfast is a hybrid of buffet and a la
carte. Help yourself to juice, cereals and pastries before turning
your attention to a menu featuring porridge, waffles, avocado, eggs
and pancakes. The room itself is also rather delicious thanks to
high ceilings, a trellis-panelled roof and gargantuan tapestries
hanging on either side of the long hall.

Hosted in the second longest room in Ireland ­­- after Trinity
College Long Room – the Gallery is used for afternoon tea,
available from 12.30PM. Go for Adare’s own blend (the 1832) to
accompany your jam-laden currant scones.

How about lunch and dinner?

Five chefs and a dog travelled cross-country in a campervan to
source the best of the Emerald Isle’s produce and incorporate it
into house menus. Head chef Mike Tweedie – a Devon-born man with a
predilection for Connemara lamb and Atlantic lobster – heads up The
Oak Room where diners can choose from a four- or six-course menu.
Request a table in the enclosed terrazzo for an added side of
romance.

If you’re looking for something a little more straightforward,
The Carriage House is a good casual dining option. Not void of
ceremony, it serves simple meals – burgers, fish and chips, salads
– and is a definitely more luxe than your average golf clubhouse.
Designed with a punchy pragmatism in shades of prune and mauve met
by jewel-toned textiles, it’s open from 8AM and offers an ideal
interlude between holes. Other options include the Library and the
Drawing Room, which serve light bites until 5PM.

Is there a bar?

A drinking den you’ll hope no one else discovers, the Tack Room
is a snug spot in the basement level of the hotel with an
impressive bar. Ceilings are low and barrel-vaulted making for an
art-deco feel that sets it apart from the rest of the house. Peruse
100 rare whiskeys and the cigar room in the far corner.

Overlooking the formal gardens, The Drawing Room is an opulent
affair that has been treated to a gold-leaf ceiling, cream
upholstered walls and bespoke drapery adapted from an archived
18th-century textile. Needless to say, a cocktail here The Drawing
Room evokes sophistication at any time. Choose from a menu of
covetable concoctions curated by the house mixologist; features
speciality liquors and sophisticated flavours, giving classic
cocktails a fresh and subtle twist.

Within a short distance you’ll find…

The golf course. Stretching in every direction across the
estate, there are rumours that the owner is bidding for the Ryder
Cup to be held here in 2026, while also is also vying for the title
of best parkland course in Europe.

For those wishing to explore beyond Adare Manor, the village
itself is particularly idyllic. Awash with a hotchpotch of thatched
houses, it’s delightfully twee; stumble upon craft stores,
galleries and Desmond Castle before pausing in a cosy pub for a
well-earned pint.

Things you should know…

The cinema screens films daily on a 140-inch screen. Evening
screenings take place at 9.30PM and show a mix of classic and
contemporary cinema – though if you’re the only theatregoers you
can select your own.

The spa, supplied with La Mer products and bespoke oils, makes
for an extraordinary pampering experience. Seclusion is central to
its operation, with guests rarely seeing one another; everything
from the pre-treatment area to the relaxation room promotes
solitary relaxation. Block out a good 45 minutes post-treatment to
luxuriate in your surroundings.