Dunraven Arms

an idyllic old ivy clad hunting lodge hotel

Louis Murphy runs the show here at the Dunraven Arms.  He knows what his customers want. This hotelier is a Master of the Art of Charm – and it shines through at all times. His team work to his own high standards to provide a consistent and professional service that always has a friendly and welcoming approach.  The Dunraven Arms is known for that and time spent here is a refreshing break for the weary soul and tired spirit. There’s life in this place and it’ll bring you back to life when you need it.

The Dunraven Arms is located just off the centre of Adare village, an idyllic heritage village with its Franciscan Friary Tower; Desmond Castle built by the Normans, and of course, this picture book hotel.   This is one of the oldest hotels in Ireland, established in 1792. The original building was already in place when in the1830’s,  the third Earl of Dunraven bucked the trend for replacing old thatched roofs with slate,  and rebuilt Adare village with larger thatched houses, some of which can be seen across the road from the hotel. The Dunraven Arms is part of the charming scenery and a great base for exploring all the heritage sites of village life including the tower, castle, Augustinian Priory, the Trinitarian Abbey and The Washing Pool where villagers washed and watered their horses. Horses are a strong theme at the Dunraven Arms.  Louis and Bryan Murphy are keen huntsman so equestrian breaks here are part of the package. The hotel is often referred to as the Foxhunting Centre of Ireland and offers a choice of nine different local hunting packs for enthusiasts.  All equestrian events are booked and looked after by Louis and Bryan. A full service includes valet service for hunting attire, storage of riding equipment and transport.

For guests who just want to relax, the luxury bedrooms here provide a range of comfort levels.  Standard bedrooms have great beds and elegant en suite bathrooms, while the twenty four junior suites and six full suites provide total grandeur with a choice of four posters, half tester canopied beds, separate sitting areas with sofas and armchairs and in some cases beautiful fireplaces, all graceful surroundings in which to relax.  All rooms are first class in the finish of linens, carpets, drapes, and furnishings. Whatever your choice of room, it’s easy to be tempted to stay here a while longer than you planned!  And with a seventeen metre swimming pool, bubble jet pool, steam room, treatment rooms, relaxing sauna and full gymnasium with personal trainers- you probably won’t even leave the hotel.  Especially not when you’ve tried the food!

Here at Good Food Ireland – we seek out the very best of cuisine in our members.  At the Dunraven, the magnificent Maigue Dining Room fits our bill.  Serious dining takes place amid the well-proportioned room with period features, crisp white linen clad tables, sparkling silver and glass ware and a graceful silver service style. At dinner, the menu includes Home Cured Organic Clare Island Salmon Gravadlax with Tartare of Burren Smokehouse Smoked Salmon and a Dill Crème Fraiche. Our favourite was the Burren Smokehouse smoked mackerel pate with Beetroot Syrup, Roast Beetroot and Horseradish.  There’s a soup of the day and other starter choices too – just to whet your appetite a little! After that move onto the mains, with roast Silver Hill Duck, Sweet Potato Puree and Spiced Lentils, or Castletownbere Hake with Leeks Fondue, Tomato Tartare and Plum Tomato Coulis.  But the speciality of the house here is the wonderful Prime Roast Rib of Irish Beef Carved from the majestic silver trolley in the centre of the dining room. One look at this and your main course is almost decided before you even sit down. It’s a proper serious piece of dry aged rib hung for 28 days on the bone, roasted and served to preference – all stages from rare to well-done are offered. Chef David Hayes is expert at cooking it to cater for all tastes, and you wonder how they do it because they get it right every time! It comes dressed simply on the plate with some good intensely flavoured beef gravy.  We can tell you now it’s divine – and not to be missed if you are a beef lover. Louis usually carves if he’s around and a second helping is never out of the question. Of course you will always want one!  After the beef or whatever your choice of main – enjoy a delicious selection of home-made desserts like our refreshing Blackcurrant Parfait with Berry Compote and Blackcurrant Coulis, or other selections usually  influenced by season.  The Wine List to match all this gorgeous food is well constructed, with some classic reds to accompany that beef. Most are sourced from the famous vineyards of France with a couple of New World wines too.  Whites for fish are well balanced and include at the top end, Chablis Premier Cru and Puligny Montrachet, with more affordable Muscadet de Sevre et Maine Sur Lie and Italian Pinot Grigio all here.

If you fancy a lighter bite, you can enjoy the bar menu at the Resident’s Bar and Conservatory – served from noon till late and usually with a selection including home-made soup, sandwiches and the Dunraven home made burger on fresh in house baked ciabatta rolls.

After dinner and retiring to that comfy room, breakfast is a hearty start to the day.  A big buffet includes all the usual cereals, fresh fruit, yogurts, juices.   The hot selection has a full leg of glazed roast ham served from the trolley in place of the usual rashers.  This is carved by hand by one of the breakfast staff and slices are generous.  Enjoy them with eggs and all the traditional Irish breakfast accompaniments and plenty of tea or coffee.  You’ll be ready for the exploration of all those historic sights afterwards! A stay here at the Dunraven is hard to top - it’s also a very popular location for weddings and conferences.  But what we love is the short break away from the humdrum, to be well looked after in these generous surroundings, and to feel at home in one of Ireland’s oldest accommodation establishments, among the staff who feel like friends.

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Contact Details

To Contact a Member Directly, please click on the email or website below

Main St
Adare
Co Limerick
+353 (0) 61 605900
Email: reservations@dunravenhotel.com
Web: www.dunravenhotel.com

 

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