Photos courtesy of Adare Manor
A genuine castle existed on this site until 1720, when it was replaced by a Georgian manor house. The second earl of Dunraven, stricken with gout, spent most of his time indoors, bored. His wife, Lady Caroline Wyndham, an heiress in her own right, suggested that designing a grand new home would give him something to do. He embraced her idea with gusto. For years, local artisans and architects labored to create a palace that would rival the magnificent French châteaux. Construction not only kept the earl busy, but it also provided work for villagers during the devastating famine that struck Ireland in the mid-19th century.
The earl spared no expense. Throughout the manor are 52 chimneys, 75 ornate fireplaces, 365 leaded-glass windows, and plenty of arches, gargoyles, bays, and window frames elaborately carved in stone. It also holds a 132-foot-long minstrels gallery—the second longest in Europe—“”inspired by the Hall of Mirrors in Versailles, and 17th-century Flemish choir stalls outfitted with doors imported from a confessional box in Vienna.
Though the earl didn’t live to see his dream finished, his son, the third earl of Dunraven, did. The Dunraven family continued to living in the manor until they sold it to an investment consortium in 1982.
Pamela’s Perspective
If you’re a family or in a large group, self-catering accommodations are available on the estate. Townhouses of either two or four bedrooms are actually less expensive than inside the manor. Fifteen minutes away, deluxe villas offer every amenity possible. Transportation is on hand to take you to the main manor house.
Adare Manor
A 19th-century manor
Contact
Adare, County Limerick
Tel: ++353 (0)61 396 566
Hotel website
Reserve with Booking.com
Fast facts
64, including 13 suites (staterooms)
Double rooms: 220–580 euros
Staterooms: 390–1195 euros
Special packages available
Open: all year
Getting there
Adare is southwest of Limerick on N21. The castle is signposted.
What to do
On site: golf; fishing; clay
pigeon shooting; bicycling;
swimming pool; spa
Nearby: horseback riding;
Desmond Castle; Ring of
Kerry
Weddings
Receptions; churches in Adare village; inquire hotel for details.
UPDATE 2019 coming soon!
Besides offering the usual resort facilities, this fantastic multi-towered and turreted Gothic extravaganza exudes a friendly atmosphere that extends throughout the manor and the surrounding 1000-acre estate.
Some ornate hotels can be overwhelming, but good taste reigns throughout Adare Manor.
The three-story-high reception hall boasts a magnificent wood staircase, crystal chandeliers hung from wood-coffered ceilings, and stone archways. Newspapers are laid out next to inviting tapestry-covered couches.
In the library, you can warm up by the fireplace while daydreaming over garden views, and perhaps choose a book from the outstanding selection to enjoy in your room.
Period reproductions furnish most guest rooms. The enormous staterooms feature Gothic ceilings, antique furnishings, and lace curtains. The hotel’s premier room, the Dunraven Stateroom, enjoys a sweeping view across the river.
Walking through the grounds reveals many small surprises: pet graveyards, a 300-year-old cedar of Lebanon tree, ruins of a former lodge, and inscribed stones.
Something special
Robert Trent Jones designed golf course