Ireland: A Tailor-Made Journey into Traditional Irish Culture and Country Life

The Fitzwilliam Hotel Dublin
Dublin, Ireland

Ideally located overlooking St Stephen’s Green and lively Grafton Street, the Fitzwilliam Hotel is a sleek, modern hotel within walking distance of Trinity College and the city's main museums and attractions. The 139 rooms offer a dynamic blend of bold style and luxurious amenities. The hotel’s cozy bar, the Inn on the Green, serves drinks, light fare, and a wonderful afternoon tea; and Glover’s Alley offers a fine-dining experience.  

Mount Juliet
Kilkenny, Ireland

The grand, ivy-covered Mount Juliet was a family home until 1989 and today is one of Ireland’s most impressive country manor hotels. The River Nore weaves through the expansive estate that surrounds the hotel, walking and riding trails meander through woodlands and ornamental gardens. The hotel is a time capsule of Georgian décor, with period furniture, original paintings dating to the 1830s, a sweeping staircase, and elaborate stuccowork. The 32 individually decorated guest rooms are traditional in style yet equipped with modern conveniences. Amenities include the Michelin-starred Lady Helen restaurant, the handsome Tetrarch Lounge, a pool, gym, and spa. Guests can also take part in a wide range of on-site activities, including archery lessons, a falconry experience, salmon fishing in the River Nore, or fishing on one of the three private lakes. Mount Juliet is also known for its Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course and state-of-the-art equestrian center. 

Dunbrody Country House
Arthurstown, Ireland

Located on the River Barrow estuary east of Waterford city, Dunbrody Country House sits in an expansive estate of gardens and woodland, accessed by a long, winding drive. This Georgian manor house hotel has just 22 rooms, each individually styled with high quality furnishings and decor, including patterned wallpaper, antique furniture, and retro radios. The hotel is owned by TV chef Kevin Dundon and his wife Catherine and is renowned for its fine dining. The elegant and intimate restaurant, which opens onto a patio and garden, offers guests a five-course dinner or a gourmet tasting menu. More casual fare is available in Dundon’s Champagne Seafood Bar and in The Local, a tiny pub on the grounds. There are several living rooms in which to relax, a cookery school offering one-, two- and five-day courses, and a stylish spa in the old stables. There are also numerous walking paths which lead through the woods surrounding the property. 

Mustard Seed at Echo Lodge
Limerick, Ireland

This small, boutique property is located in a sleepy rural village just 15 minutes' drive south of Adare. Situated within an attractive manor house painted in a warm yellow, at the end of a long drive and surrounded by leafy trees and verdant lawns, The Mustard Seed at Echo Lodge pervades an air of seclusion and relaxation. With just 19 rooms and extensive grounds, this feeling of restfulness is accentuated through the quiet atmosphere of the property. Each of the rooms is individually designed, with original features such as wooden floors, antique furniture and leafy prints then in the higher room categories you'll find contemporary decor that remains in keeping with the country lodge style of the hotel. Dining here is a highlight, popular with locals for special occasions. Provenance is of supreme importance to the chef, so although the menu features dishes which combine Irish and exotic ingredients, these are sourced from local producers from County Limerick, County Killarney and County Kildare wherever possible. Dinner is either a set four course meal or an eight course tasting menu, each with creative and beautifully presented dishes.