Please mention ireland-guide.com when enquiring.

Capella Castlemartyr Hotel

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, this luxurious hotel opened to some fanfare in 2007.

The entrance is through impressive old gates in the centre of Castlemartyr village, skirting the edge of the18-hole Ron Kirby-designed golf course, and gives a hint of the lush variety to be found in the 220-acre estate. 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 renowned 18th century travel chronicler Arthur Young, and now fully restored as Knights Bar.

Just eleven of the hotel’s 109 guestrooms and suites are in the old house and the rest are in a new section alongside it which is uncompromisingly modern, yet sits surprisingly comfortably beside the elegance of the old; however, due to the low-rise design, corridors are extremely long and any guest with mobility problems should ensure a room as near reception as possible.

A porter greets you at your car and brings your luggage to your room, and the accommodation is predictably luxurious - the rooms are huge, ranging from a mere 500 sq ft to a Presidential Suite of over 3,000 sq ft and they sport correspondingly enormous beds and bathrolms – and all the expected technological bells and whistles, including a central computer system that controls all the room functions from the bedside.

The Capella has luxurious amenities although, due to the fact that its opening coincided with the sudden economic downturn, the emphasis at the time of going to press is on value for money rather than service, and the hotel has gained fame for its special offers.

In true country house style, however, guests can take the hotel’s resident dogs - a beautiful pair of setters called Earl and Countess - for walks on the estate.

Rooms 109; Lift; 24 hr room service; B&B €80-100pps. Heli-Pad.

Dining:

Given its location in an area internationally renowned for the range and quality of its produce, a welcome emphasis on cooking driven by the availability of seasonal produce was envisaged from the outset, applying in all areas from the Spa Café at the 24,400 sq ft Auriga Spa to the Bell Tower fine dining restaurant.

At the time of going to press, however, it seems that the policy to emphasise value for money has led to menus that are more restricted than might be expected in an establishment at this level, and choices tend to be on the safe side.

Aperitifs and after dinner drinks can be taken in Knights Bar - complete with restored rococo ceiling and baby grand piano.

Self Catering

In addition to the accommodation and amenities offered at the hotel, the Castlemartyr Resort offers guests the option of staying at the 42 contemporary Golf Lodges (built within the old walled garden, and with direct access to the golf course) and 10 cottagey Mews Residences in the 'Old Bawn' area of the castle, both of which have been open for business since early August 2007 (click this link Self Catering Lodges for details).

Golf

The 18-hole Ron Kirby designed link style championship golf course opened fully in 2008 and Castlemartyr Golf Club (with pro shop and all services) opens in April 08.

Bell Tower Restaurant: Seats 60 (private room, 8); children welcome (high chair, children's menu); air conditioning; L Sat & Sun, 12-2.30pm; D daily, 6-9.30pm. Open all year. Amex, Diners, MasterCard, Visa, Laser.

Directions:

On main N25 from Cork.