Please mention ireland-guide.com when enquiring.

Dromoland Castle Hotel

The ancestral home of the O'Briens, barons of Inchiquin and direct descendants of Brian Boru, High King of Ireland, this is one of the few Irish estates tracing its history back to Gaelic royal families, and it is now one of Ireland's grandest hotels, and one of the best-loved.

Today's visitor will be keenly aware of this sense of history yet find it a relaxing hotel, where the grandeur of the surroundings - the castle itself, its lakes and parkland and magnificent furnishings - enhances the pleasure for guests, without overpowering.

It is an enchanting place, where wide corridors lined with oak panelling are hung with ancient portraits and scented with the haunting aroma of wood smoke, and it has all the crystal chandeliers and massive antiques to be expected in a real Irish castle. Guest rooms and suites vary in size and appointments, but are generally spacious, have all been refurbished recently and have luxurious bathrooms.

The Brian Boru International Centre can accommodate almost any type of gathering, including exhibitions, conferences and banquets.

Conference/banqueting (450/300); business centre; secretarial services on request. Leisure centre (indoor pool, sauna, jacuzzi, masseuse, beauty salon, hairdressing); Spa; championship golf (18); tennis, cycling, walking, clay pigeon shooting, croquet, fly fishing, garden, snooker, pool table. Gift shop, boutique. No pets. Children welcome (under 12's free in parents' room, cot available free of charge, baby sitting arranged).

Rooms 98 (6 suites, 8 junior suites, 13 executive, 49 separate bath & shower, all no smoking, 1 disabled). Lift. 24 hr room service. Room rate €443 (max 2 guests), SC inc. Breaks offered. Closed 24-26 Dec.

Earl of Thomond Restaurant:

Dining here is a treat by any standards - it is a magnificent room, with crystal, gilding and rich fabrics, and has a lovely view over the lake and golf course.

Outstanding food and service match the surroundings, and then some: begin with an aperitif in the Library Bar, overlooking the eighth green, before moving through to beautifully presented tables and gentle background music provided by a traditional Irish harpist. David McCann, who has been doing a superb job as executive head chef since 1994, presents a table d'hôte menu, a vegetarian menu, and an á la carte offering a wonderful selection of luxurious dishes.

The table d'hôte is more down-to-earth - a little less glamorous than the carte but with the same quality of ingredients and cooking; although the style is basically classic French some dishes highlight local ingredients and are more Irish in tone. Delicious desserts include a number of variations on classics and there's an excellent range of Irish farmhouse cheeses.

Lunch is only served in the Earl of Thomond Restaurant on Sunday, when an appealing menu offers a wide choice of interesting dishes - often including a special Dromoland version of Irish Stew.

The cooking here is invariably superb, and excellent service, under the direction of restaurant manager Tony Frisby, is a match for the food.

The wine list - about 250 wines, predominantly French - is under constant review. (House wines from about €27). The breakfast menu includes a number of specialities - buttermilk pancakes with lemon & maple syrup, Limerick ham with mushrooms, poached eggs, toast & cheddar cheese - as well as a well-laden buffet, and the traditional Irish cooked breakfast

A 15% service charge is added to all prices. Seats 90 (private room 70). D daily, 7-9, L Sun only 12.30-1.30; Set Sun L €40; Set D €65; Vegetarian menu €56; á la carte D also available. *The Gallery Menu offers a lighter choice of less formal dishes throughout the day (11.30-6.30), including Afternoon Tea. *Beside the castle, the Dromoland Golf and Country Club incorporates an 18-hole parkland course, a gym, a Health Clinic offering specialist treatments, also the Green Room Bar and Fig Tree Restaurant (6.30-9.30), which provide informal alternatives to facilities in the castle, including excellent food (9am-9.30pm). Closed 24-26 Dec. Helipad. Amex, Diners, MasterCard, Visa, Laser.

Directions:

26km (17 m) from Limerick, 11km (8 m) from Shannon. Take N18 to Dromoland interchange; exit & follow signage.