Entering through old gates in the centre of Castlemartyr village and then skirting the edge of the
18-hole Ron Kirby-designed golf course, arriving guests get a hint of the lush variety to be found in the 220-acre estate. Built around a 17th century manor house and the ruins of an adjacent castle that belonged to the Knights Templar and dates back to 1210, the Castlemartyr Resort in East Cork is
an impressive property by any standards.
The driveway leads past the ancient castle to the
beautiful entrance of the old house, which was once owned by Sir Walter Raleigh (who later sold it to the Earl of Cork, Richard Boyle) and includes among its special features a ballroom declared ‘the best room in Ireland’ by the 18th century travel chronicler Arthur Young and now fully restored.
Accommodation in the hotel’s 103 guest rooms and suites is predictably
luxurious - the new rooms are vast, ranging from a mere 500 sq ft to a Presidential Suite of over 3,000 sq ft and they sport correspondingly enormous beds and fully marbled bathrooms, all with separate bath and shower – and all the expected technological bells and whistles, including a central computer system that controls all the room functions from the bedside.
Resort facilities include an impressive leisure centre and spa and numerous activities are offered, both onsite and nearby. The hotel has close links with the Old Midleton Distillery and other highlights in the area include Cobh ('the Queenstown story'), Fota Island (Fota House, Arboretum & Gardens; Fota Wildlife Park) and the East Cork Food Trail, which includes the Ballymaloe Cookery School & Gardens.
Executive head chef Kevin Burke oversees a choice of dining options, ranging from evening fine dining in the 65 seater The Bell Tower restaurant, to an all-day lounge menu in Knight's Bar and informal meals at The Castlemartyr Links at the clubhouse. Traditional Afternoon Tea is popular, and can be served on the Garden Terrace in fine weather.
The Castlemartyr Resort has luxurious amenities with an emphasis on service and quality – genuine warmth and friendliness are noticeable from the moment of arrival, followed through by discreet, professional service in all areas. Guests are made to feel very special throughout their stay and this is a place for real people, where families (and their pets) are made especially welcome.
The lucky winner of this free competition will enjoy a luxurious short break for two people sharing (subject to availability), to include:
• 2 nights B&B
• Dinner one evening
Read more about Castlemartyr Resort on their website.
To enter the competition simply tick the answers to the questions below, you must be a logged in member to enter (if you are not a member click here to join, it's free):