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Carton House Hotel

Previously the residence of the Dukes of Leinster, Carton House is an imposing mansion designed in classic style by the renowned architect Richard Castles, and built around 1740.

It is set in one of Ireland's finest country estates - now home to two championship golf courses. No guest could fail to be impressed by the building itself, which is vast yet very elegant - and it has now been skilfully adapted to its new use through a stimulating combination of old and new.

It is a natural choice for major corporate events and meetings, and would make a wonderful venue for special occasions of all kinds - these are, after all, uses that are not so very far from its previous life of entertainment on a grand scale. Public areas include a whole series of grand rooms, including The Duke's Study and The Gold Salon, each more impressive than the last, and the old kitchen - with its vast cast-iron stoves still in place - is now a bar, furnished rather surprisingly (but comfortably) in a very modern style.

The accommodation has been designed and built in sympathy with the main house; the style is luxurious and contemporary, pleasingly bold in scale and with some appropriately regal colours - and, of course, rooms have all the little luxuries including robes and slippers and a minibar, as well as king size beds, LCD screen television, DVD and CD player.

Sporting activities are central to Carton House, and are a major attraction at a stylish destination so close to the capital - as is the hotel's leisure centre which has a full range of beauty and health treatments, an 18m pool, children's pool, jacuzzi, sauna & steam room, gym with cardiovascular & strength equipment and a juice bar. There are also two outdoor tennis courts, personal training and a wide range of specific training lessons.

Prices are not unreasonable for a hotel of this calibre, and promotional offers are often attractive. Conferences/Banqueting (multiple rooms available to max. 480), broadband wi/fi; Spa, golf (36); Rooms 165; B&B from about €140 pps.

The Linden Tree:

The hotel's fine dining restaurant is a famous and beautiful room overlooking the golf course and gardens, and has been allowed a more classical style, with pristine white linen and simple, elegant table settings.

A visit here will always be worthwhile for the overall experience - at the time of our visit the restaurant was still finding its feet, but the menus are changing as we go to press. The Linden Tree is mainly an evening restaurant but it is also open for Sunday lunch which, unexpectedly for an hotel of this calibre, is a buffet.

* An informal dining option is also available (to members and visitors) in the Clubhouse, which is some distance from the house in renovated stables.

Seats 160. Reservations necessary, held for 15 minutes only. D Mon- Sun, 6.30-9.30. A la carte; starters from about €6.50, main courses about €25, desserts €8.25. SC discretionary. L Sun only, 2-5pm, 3-course buffet. €30. Otherwise lunch for pre-booked groups only.

Directions:

20 km west of Dublin's city centre (about 30 minutes from Dublin airport), Carton House is just east of Maynooth and signed from the town.